Cinco de Mayo, observed on the fifth of May, is a joyful celebration of Mexican culture, history and resilience - and a perfect opportunity to gather with loved ones. This year, draw inspiration from acclaimed Mexican Chef Pati Jinich and bring the spirit of Mexico into your home with vibrant, creative and delicious ideas that honor tradition while keeping things fun and family-friendly.
"Cinco de Mayo is all about family, community and celebration," says Jinich. "It's a day to connect with culture and each other, especially through food and shared experiences."
Here are five simple and meaningful ways to elevate your celebration:
1. Get crafty with decor
Kick off the festivities by turning your space into a fiesta of color and creativity. Craft DIY decorations like bright paper flowers, mini piñatas and hand-cut garlands. These fun projects are perfect for kids to join in - and the finished pieces will add a personal and festive touch to your home or backyard.
2. Set the tone with music
Music is the heartbeat of any celebration! Curate a custom playlist filled with upbeat Latin-inspired tracks - from traditional mariachi and cumbia to modern reggaeton - to energize the mood and get everyone dancing. Bonus: let guests add their favorite songs to the list for a collaborative soundtrack.
3. Brighten your space with bold colors
Cinco de Mayo is known for its vivid palette. Embrace the festive spirit with colorful tableware, vibrant napkins and fresh seasonal produce displayed in beautiful bowls or centerpieces. Think rich greens, yellows, magentas, blues and reds that echo the energy of Mexican markets and fiestas.
4. Add meaning with history
Honor the roots of Cinco de Mayo by learning and sharing its true story - it commemorates Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Make it fun with a trivia game or quiz cards that spotlight important figures, events and fun cultural facts. It's a great way to make the celebration educational and engaging for guests of all ages.
5. Serve up flavor with purpose
A celebration isn't complete without a delicious home-cooked meal! Try Chef Pati Jinich's Mexican Guajillo Migas made with Eggland's Best eggs - an easy, nutrient-rich dish bursting with authentic flavor. This traditional recipe from Guerrero, Mexico, features crispy tortillas mixed with fluffy scrambled eggs and a warm, mildly spicy guajillo-tomato salsa. Finish with fresh toppings like cilantro, scallions and avocado for a festive and satisfying dish that everyone will love.
Eggland's Best eggs contain 25% less saturated fat compared to ordinary eggs, which lowers your saturated fat intake and supports a balanced diet. They also contain more than double the Vitamin B12 compared to ordinary eggs, which provides a natural energy boost and keeps you energized throughout your celebrations.
Guajillo Migas
Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook time: 45 minutes; Yield: 5
Ingredients
Migas:
* 5 Eggland's Best eggs, large, lightly beaten
* 3 scallions, white and light green parts thinly sliced
* 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves
* 1 ripe avocado, pitted and sliced
Tortilla chips (fry or bake in the oven):
* 12 corn tortillas, cut into rectangles or bite-size pieces
* Vegetable oil for frying
* Kosher or sea salt to season chips
Guajillo salsa:
* 3 guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
* 2 garlic cloves
* 3/4 pound (12 ounces) ripe Roma tomatoes
* 1 1/2 cups chopped cilantro leaves and upper part of stems
* 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
Preparation
Tortilla chips:
1. Heat enough oil to reach 1 inch in heavy-bottomed skillet or casserole, set over medium heat, for at least 5 minutes. Test oil with a tortilla piece - once oil is actively bubbling around the tortilla, it's ready. Add a batch of cut tortillas without overcrowding the pan; they shouldn't be on top of each other. Fry 2-3 minutes, until they crisp up and achieve a golden color (don't let them brown or they will burn).
2. Remove with slotted spoon or spider and place on a plate covered with paper towels to drain. Immediately sprinkle salt to taste and continue with the rest of the tortilla pieces in batches until done. Reserve the frying oil.
3. Alternatively, you can preheat oven to 375 degrees, brush tortillas with oil, cut into bite-size pieces, place on large baking sheet and bake in the oven 15 minutes, flipping once in between. Sprinkle with salt when done.
Guajillo salsa:
1. Place chiles, garlic and tomatoes in a saucepan, cover with water and set over medium-high heat. Simmer for 10 minutes, until tomatoes are cooked and mushy and chiles are rehydrated.
2. Place cooked chiles, garlic and tomatoes into a blender, along with 1/2 cup of their cooking liquid, the cilantro and salt, and puree until completely smooth.
Migas:
1. In an extended skillet or casserole, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil from frying the tortilla pieces and set over medium heat. Once hot, add all the tortilla chips and let them reheat for a minute or two.
2. Pour in beaten eggs. Once they begin to set, add guajillo salsa. Gently begin to fold until everything is covered with salsa and the eggs are cooked, just a couple of minutes.
3. Remove from heat, top with scallions, cilantro and avocado. Serve.