Cooking Around the World: Latin American Cooking

The Alachua County Library District's selection of cookbooks is often a highlight of the nonfiction shelves--a massive wall of big, beautiful books, full of mouthwatering photos catering to every whim and palate. Cookbooks are more diverse and interesting than ever--and that includes the representation of great cultural cookbooks from international communities, large and small.

In this series, we're going to highlight the cookbooks of different international regions and cultures. Whether this is the food you grew up with, or brand new to you, we want to help you dazzle your taste buds with these delectable choices.

This month, we're highlighting books from Latin American communities--that includes North American, Central American, and South American cuisines. We're going to try to highlight cookbooks that represent more interesting or lesser-known aspects of these culinary cultures, as well as trying to incorporate books catering to different diets and dietary restrictions. Let's dive in! Buen provecho!

Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico

by
Rick Martinez

If you're a veteran of the cookbook aisles, can we suggest a brand new cookbook, only just released in May 2022? Rick Martinez is a veteran chef and recipe pioneer, known for his colorful aprons and friendly style as the host of several Latin cooking series found on Youtube. The product of several years of research, Mi Cocina is a combination travelogue, cookbook, and love letter to Mexican cuisine, covering 32 states and 156 cities worth of delicious food.

The Latin Table: Easy, Flavorful Recipes from Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Beyond

by
Isabel Cruz

Written by a successful chef and restaurateur, The Latin Table reflects Isabel Cruz's signature Latin cuisine with a health-forward focus. Isabel also incorporates some Asian fusion recipes, as well as cocktail recipes.

Southern Heat: New Southern Cooking Latin Style

by
Anthony Lamas

A growing genre of food, "new Southern" has become a term for Southern cuisine that reflects global flavors, pioneered by the diverse people that live all across the South. A chef based out of Louisville, Kentucky, Anthony Lamas' book reflects a diverse life experience and the best foods of the farms, towns, and cities of the South.

Latin Comfort Foods Made Healthy: More Than 100 Diabetes-Friendly Latin Favorites

by
Ingrid Hoffmann

We love books that break down barriers, and in cooking, health-mandated diets can make for a serious hurdle in sharing important events and traditions with all of your loved ones. Latin Comfort Foods Made Healthy features a wealth of Latin and Latin-inspired recipes designed to be diabetes-friendly. If you're looking for a cookbook that will let you share a meal with certain family members, or simply enjoy a more health-conscious version of your favorite Latin dish, this book is for you.

 

Our favorite part? This book is fully bilingual, so that patrons can share the cookbook with the whole family.

Latin Grilling: Recipes to Share, from Patagonian Asado to Yucatan Barbeque and More

by
Lourdes Castro

We recently highlighted this book in our blog post about summer grilling, but it's worth highlighting again, because grilling is such a great way to get some joy out of the heat of summer. This book has sections based on different regions of Latin America, including "party plans" and menus catered to each region.

Provecho: 100 Vegan Mexican Recipes to Celebrate Culture and Community

by
Edgar Castrejon

Vegan cooking just gets more and more delicious as time goes by, and making room for plant-based meals in traditionally meat-heavy cuisines is no easy task. This book features vegan adaptations of classic dishes, as well as some Salvadoran and Columbian influences. Most recipes are designed to take less than 30 minutes, and most use common ingredients! Neat!

Spirits of Latin America: a Celebration of Culture and Cocktails, with 100 Recipes from Leyenda and Beyond

by
Ivy Mix

Written by an award-winning bartender, this book reflects a journey across Mexico, the Caribeean, and South America, exploring liquor flavors across Latin cultures. For our patrons over 21, this is a great introduction to some highly-crafted cocktails representing a diverse range of flavors and experiences, and it's chock full of drink and travel photos.

By CynthiaM on July 25, 2022