The quesadilla is a popular Mexican snack that is simple to make at home. Photo: Peter Chorba

In China's biggest cities, myriad restaurants serve up many types of international cuisine. And while American food is very popular in China, a typical American restaurant will often include dishes with Mexican influences such as nachos, tacos and chili con carne. But apart from this, Mexican food is somewhat underrepresented in China, that is, considering its strong presence in American food.

Although locating a Mexican restaurant in China may prove a harder find than the typical American or Italian fare out there, you need not fret. Preparing your own food can provide an easy and creative alternative to enjoying the delicious flavors of Mexico.

With a few simple ingredients and clever recipe-planning, a trip to the supermarket brings you halfway there.

While Chinese cuisine typically uses rice or noodles as a base for many dishes, for Mexican food, it's the tortilla. A tortilla is a type flatbread that is thin with a soft and chewy texture.

If you've ever made homemade dumpling skins, then making homemade tortillas should be a piece of cake.

• flour (220 grams)
• salt (5 grams)
• baking powder (1 gram)
• vegetable shortening, lard or butter (50 grams)
• hot water (120 milliliters)

1. In a bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking powder.

2. Once the dry ingredients have been mixed well, add your choice of fat in and stir until the mixture takes on the form of small crumbs.

3. Make a small well in the bowl by pushing the center of the mixture to the edges and create enough space for the hot water. Add the water and work the mixture from the edges inward until the water is fully incorporated.

4. Transfer the mixture to a cutting board and knead for a few minutes with extra flour. After that, separate the dough into eight equal parts.

5. Flatten each ball of dough into a large circle and cook each tortilla for 1 minute on each side at medium to high heat. After cooking them, you should have eight tortillas that are slightly golden with a healthy number of browned spots.

Now that your tortillas are done, it's time to make an easy Mexican favorite: quesadillas! Quesadillas are a satisfying snack that can be made very quickly and in hundreds of ways.

For a basic quesadilla, simply spread a layer of shredded cheddar cheese on a tortilla. Then place another tortilla on top of the cheese. In a flat pan at medium heat, cook the quesadilla for a few minutes on each side, until the cheese has melted. Cut the quesadilla into pieces and eat them with both hands like a slice of pizza.

While this recipe is very basic, quesadillas are customizable, which also makes them a great way to use up leftovers in your refrigerator. Take your quesadillas to the next level by adding some peppers, onions and mushrooms along with a protein like chicken or beef, and then use some cilantro or sprinkle a bit of chili powder or cumin on top for that extra kick.

When I make quesadillas, I prefer them with sharp cheddar cheese, chopped peppers and spring or red onions, along with some Tabasco sauce to give it that extra bit of kick. It's a tasty bite that can be ready to eat in less than 10 minutes.

But just remember, nothing complements a quesadilla better than salsa. While there are a bunch of different kinds of salsa, during particularly hot days, pico de gallo is my personal favorite.

Pico de gallo literally means "rooster's beak" and is a fresh, uncooked mixture of tomato, onions, hot peppers and lime.

• tomatoes (2 or 3)
• red onion (half)
• hot pepper (1)
• cilantro (25 grams)
• the juice of one lime
• pinch of salt

1. In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients together before adding the lime and salt. 

2. Before serving, refrigerate the pico de gallo for 30 minutes so the salsa is cool but not cold.

This kind of salsa is a very refreshing condiment that can also be used for our next recipe to make fajitas.

While quesadillas are an appetizing snack, they're not usually substantial enough for a meal. For dinner fajitas, simply incorporate the homemade tortillas and pico de gallo made earlier.

Fajitas are made with grilled strips of meat, an array of condiments, and like the quesadilla, served on a tortilla. Common condiments used in fajitas include rice, shredded cheese, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, lettuce, guacamole, hot sauce and grilled peppers and onions.

Take the meat and add condiments to taste before wrapping them up - like you would with Beijing duck - and dig in.

When I cook Mexican food, I often coat each side of the cut of meat I'm using with chili powder, which helps to spice up the meat and make it a better match for the Mexican flavor palate.

And when I make fajitas in China, I tend toward chicken because it's cheap and available in larger cuts at most grocery stores, but beef, fish and pork are also fine.

To make fajitas, grill and cook your meat thoroughly using olive oil or butter to prevent the meat from getting too dry. Then place the strips of meat in the center of a tortilla from earlier and assemble your condiments. Also feel free to pile on the pico de gallo or any leftover ingredients from the quesadillas, like the cheese, peppers and onions. It's that simple.

By making tortillas and a fresh salsa like pico de gallo, preparing a great Mexican meal in your Chinese kitchen is hardly any effort. Apart from the cheese and the baking powder, the ingredients aren't imported so they can be found at any grocery store.

While some might say that there are too few Mexican eateries in China, these dishes ensure that the flavors of Mexico can still be easily had, and in the comfort of your own home.