For many people in the U.S., the typical taco is made using a premade taco shell consisting of a fried corn tortilla, plus seasoned ground beef, lettuce, and cheese. But that’s not exactly authentic.

No dish proclaims “¡Viva México!” more than the spectacular chile en nogada. A seasonal specialty from Puebla, Mexico, the meat-and-fruit-stuffed poblano pepper is a phantasmagoria of colors and ...