This list includes 6 Mexican foods that start with I, from “Iguana en Mole” to “Izote (Yucca Flower)”. Many of these dishes appear in home cooking, regional menus, and street-food traditions across Mexico.

Mexican foods that start with I are traditional or regional dishes whose Spanish names begin with the letter I. They often reflect indigenous ingredients and local techniques, such as the use of izote flowers in central Mexican cuisine.

Below you’ll find the table with Dish, Translation, Region, and Main ingredients.

Dish: The dish name in Spanish, so you can recognize it on menus and in recipes.

Translation: A concise English translation or short description that helps you identify the food quickly.

Region: The Mexican state or region where the dish is traditionally found, helping you trace its cultural origin.

Main ingredients: A short list of two to five core ingredients so you know the typical flavor profile and what to expect.

Mexican foods that start with I

NameAlternate namesRegionCore ingredients
Iguana en MoleMole de iguanaOaxaca, Guerrero, Istmo de TehuantepecIguana meat, chiles, spices, chocolate
Indios Vestidos (Dressed “Indians”)Chiles rellenos en caldilloCentral MexicoAncho chiles, cheese, tomato, onion
Imperiales (Imperial Cookies)Galletas Imperiales, Polvorones ImperialesNational (various bakeries)Flour, butter, sugar, nuts
Itacate (Food to-go bundle)Taco de itacate, el itacateNationalVaries (leftovers), corn tortillas, paper or cloth
IxtabentúnXtabentúnYucatán PeninsulaHoney, anise, rum
Izote (Yucca Flower)Flor de izote, Flor de palma, HuisoteCentral and Southern MexicoYucca flower, egg, tomato, onion

Descriptions

Iguana en Mole
An ancient, pre-Hispanic dish where iguana meat is cooked in a complex mole sauce. A rare delicacy with a flavor often compared to chicken.
Indios Vestidos (Dressed “Indians”)
Dried ancho chiles stuffed with cheese, battered, fried, and served in a light tomato broth. A comforting and traditional homestyle dish.
Imperiales (Imperial Cookies)
A type of rich, shortbread-style cookie or crumbly polvorón found in traditional bakeries. They are buttery and simply melt in your mouth.
Itacate (Food to-go bundle)
A Nahuatl word for a bundle of food, typically leftovers from a party or gathering, that guests are given to take home as a gesture of hospitality.
Ixtabentún
A sweet, anise-flavored liqueur from the Yucatán, made from the honey of bees that feed on the ixtabentún flower. Often served straight or with coffee.
Izote (Yucca Flower)
The edible flower of the yucca plant, often scrambled with eggs, added to stews, or made into patties. It has a delicate, slightly bitter flavor.
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