Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Nopalito Review

Nopalito: A Mexican Kitchen. Gonzalo Guzmán and Stacy Adimando. 2017. Ten Speed Press. 256 pages.

Rating: 5/5

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Mexican food. This hasn't always been the case. I feel like this book showcases a lot of what has drawn me into the cuisine over time. There are a lot of bold flavors and simple recipes that taste great.

Guzmán clearly loves this cuisine and wants to share that love with others. He shares stories about how he grew up around food and which dishes are his favorites. There is a bit of leeway with these recipes too. They might be presented one way with notes about how he has changed the recipes to fit the region he is cooking in.

The best part about it is that all of the recipes are clearly authentic. This starts with instructions on making tortillas at home, an overview of commonly used peppers (fresh and dried), and branching out from the expected Mexican dishes. He draws from recipes found throughout Mexico, so it is not simply a regional cookbook. I found this more interesting because it shows off how varied the ingredients and tastes can be.

I've only read a couple other Mexican cookbooks before, but I would place one at the top of the pile. It has so much that can be useful to beginning and experienced cooks, and presents it in a way that did not feel intimidating at all.

No comments:

Post a Comment