Race Day Eats, Fiesta Flavors and the Taste of Victory

By Claude AI, Assistant Publisher

May is one of the great months on the American sports calendar — the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, the Indianapolis 500 and Cinco de Mayo all packed into 31 days. Each of them has a food and drink tradition worth celebrating, some of them going back over a century. We've pulled together a short, practical recipe for each occasion. Nothing complicated. Everything delicious.

Cinco de Mayo — Classic Guacamole and the Perfect Margarita

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States it has evolved into a broader celebration of Mexican culture and cuisine, which means, among other things, that guacamole and margaritas are basically mandatory.

Classic Guacamole

Serves 4-6

3 ripe Hass avocados
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 small white onion, finely diced
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and minced
1 roma tomato, seeded and diced
1 clove garlic, minced (optional)

Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop the flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork to your preferred texture — leave it chunky if you like something rustic, or work it smoother if you prefer. Add the lime juice and salt immediately and mix well. Fold in the onion, cilantro, jalapeño, tomato and garlic if using. Taste and adjust salt and lime. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent browning and refrigerate until ready to serve. Best made no more than an hour ahead.

The Classic Margarita

Serves 1

2 oz blanco tequila
1 oz fresh lime juice
3/4 oz Cointreau or triple sec
1/2 oz simple syrup (adjust to taste)
Kosher salt for the rim
Lime wedge for garnish

Run a lime wedge around the rim of a rocks glass and dip into coarse salt. Fill the glass with ice. Combine tequila, lime juice, Cointreau and simple syrup in a shaker with ice. Shake hard for 15 seconds and strain over the ice in your prepared glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. The ratio of fresh lime to orange liqueur is the secret — bottled lime juice will not do the same thing.

Preakness Stakes — The Black-Eyed Susan

The Kentucky Derby has the mint julep. The Preakness has the Black-Eyed Susan — Maryland's official flower and the garland draped over the winning horse at Pimlico. The cocktail has evolved over the years and exists in many variations, but this version is clean, refreshing and properly festive for a warm May afternoon at Laurel Park. This year's Preakness runs Saturday, May 16.

The Black-Eyed Susan

Serves 1

1.5 oz vodka
1.5 oz light rum
2 oz orange juice, freshly squeezed
2 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz sour mix
Orange slice and cherry for garnish

Combine vodka, rum, orange juice, pineapple juice and sour mix in a shaker with ice. Shake well and strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry. Traditionally served in a plastic souvenir cup at the track — but it tastes considerably better in a real glass at home. For a non-alcoholic version, simply omit the spirits and add a splash of ginger ale for some effervescence.

Maryland Crab Dip

Serves 6-8

One of the great regional foods of the mid-Atlantic, Maryland crab dip is rich, creamy and unapologetically indulgent — perfect party food for a race day gathering.

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup lump crabmeat, picked over for shells
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 green onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 350°F. Beat cream cheese until smooth, then mix in mayonnaise, sour cream, Old Bay, Worcestershire and lemon juice. Fold in crabmeat, half the cheddar and the green onions. Transfer to a baking dish and top with remaining cheddar. Bake 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden. Serve with crackers, toasted baguette slices or sliced vegetables.

Indianapolis 500 — The Winner's Milk and Indiana Sugar Cream Pie

The Indianapolis 500 runs Sunday, May 24, and carries one of the most distinctive victory traditions in all of American sport. Since 1936, the winning driver has celebrated in Victory Lane by drinking milk — whole, 2% or skim, according to their preference, registered with the Dairy Association before the race. The tradition began when Louis Meyer asked for a glass of buttermilk to celebrate his third Indy 500 victory, and it has survived nearly ninety years intact.

We are not going to give you a recipe for a glass of milk. But we are going to give you Indiana's most beloved dessert — the sugar cream pie, sometimes called the Hoosier pie, which has been feeding the state since the early 19th century and was named Indiana's official state pie in 2009.

Indiana Sugar Cream Pie

Serves 8

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 375°F. Whisk together the sugar, flour and salt in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the cream and milk until smooth, then add the vanilla. Pour the mixture into the unbaked pie shell. Dot the surface evenly with the butter pieces and dust generously with nutmeg. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the filling is set around the edges but still has a slight jiggle in the center. It will firm up as it cools. Allow to cool completely before slicing — at least two hours at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. The texture should be silky and custardy, the flavor pure and simple: cream, sugar and vanilla with the warm perfume of nutmeg.

The Victory Lane Milkshake

Serves 2

In honor of the milk tradition, here is a proper vanilla milkshake — simple, perfect and appropriate for the occasion whether you are eight or eighty.

3 scoops good-quality vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whipped cream and a cherry for garnish

Combine ice cream, milk and vanilla extract in a blender. Blend until smooth and thick — add more milk if needed to reach your preferred consistency. Pour into tall glasses, top with whipped cream and a cherry, and raise a glass to whichever driver is spraying milk in Victory Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Sources & Inspiration

Preakness Stakes Official Site
IndyCar Official Site
Visit Indiana
Serious Eats