The basic and most important ingredient in Aztec gastronomy was corn, a crop that was very important to the Aztec society. Corn played a very important role in the Mexican economy, since it served as currency for a time. Other important foods were beans and the different varieties of amaranth grains, and chia. The combination of corn and these basic foods would have provided the Aztec people with a decent diet without significant deficiencies in vitamins or minerals. Aztec empire. Tenochtitlan. Peoples of Mesoamerica