132. Corn: Chef Edgar Rico

On this episode of Ingredient Insiders, hosts John and Andrea from Chef’s Warehouse welcome Chef Edgar Rico, chef and owner of Nixta Taqueria in Austin, Texas, for a conversation about Mexican culinary traditions, innovative techniques, and the ingredients that make his cooking stand out. The featured ingredient is corn, a cornerstone of Mexican cuisine and the foundation of Nixta's celebrated tortillas. Edgar explores the ancient process of nixtamalization, a technique that involves cooking and soaking corn in an alkaline solution to unlock its flavor, improve its nutritional value, and transform it into masa. He shares why this time-honored method is so important to his cooking and how it helps elevate something as simple as a tortilla into something extraordinary. Edgar also takes listeners behind the scenes of one of Nixta's most iconic dishes: duck carnitas. He discusses the inspiration behind this creative take on a Mexican classic and how it reflects his approach to combining traditional flavors with unexpected ingredients and techniques. From the rich history of corn to the inventive dishes coming out of Nixta's kitchen, this episode celebrates the intersection of culinary heritage, craftsmanship, and creativity, showing how honoring tradition can lead to something entirely new. Find Ingredient Insiders on YouTube HERE ! Follow @edgarrico @nixtataqueria @ingredientsinsiders @wherechefsshop In partnership with The Chefs’ Warehouse, a specialty food distributor that has been purveying high-quality artisan ingredients to chefs for over 30 years. https://www.chefswarehouse.com/ Produced by Gotham Production Studios . Find them on Instagram: @gothamproductionstudios