The holiday offers the perfect excuse to try your hand at Mexican cooking. Go beyond the taco kit with these dishes from The Globe's recipe archive.

Margarita mousse Pile it in sugar-rimmed margarita glasses and drizzle a little extra tequila on top

Camarones al ajillo Translation: shrimp with garlic sauce (and guajillo peppers)

Green tostados Making everything from scratch is what makes this dish delicious

New Mexican coffee flan Although similar to crème caramel, this flan has a firmer texture.

Yellow beans with pepitos Pepitos are Mexican dried pumpkin seeds. You can substitute sunflower seeds or nuts if desired

Corn chowder with chipotle peppers This lovely corn soup can be further enhanced with the addition of sautéed smoked bacon

Chicken legs with molé sauce This is considered a festive sauce and can take all day to prepare

Tequila flambéed strawberries A delicious, boozy dessert

Grilled-corn and tomatillo salad This salad is as colourful as it is tasty

Mexican chicken with grilled tomato and avocado salsa This slightly spicy, citrus-scented chicken should be served with warm tortillas

Couscous with Mexican flavours This version of the popular side dish features subtle heat and vibrant colours

Smoky shredded chicken For an informal meal, serve with a green salad and lots of hot tortillas

Mexican salad All your favourite Mexican flavours - plus Thousand Island dressing

Crepes Mexicana These crepes are made with cornmeal instead of flour

Find more ideas for festival meals in our searchable database of more than 2,500 recipes. Start here.