Customer Reviews

The Book of Latin American Cooking

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I spent my childhood in Colombia and greatly miss some of the "Criollo" cooking of the region. This is one of the few Latin American cookbooks that includes many recipes from South America, along with the more common Central and North American (Mexican) recipes. She has an extensive introduction describing the cooking of different regions and a chapter on ingredients. There are many recipes in different categories, but I believe in a book this size it was impossible to do justice to the cooking of some of the countries represented. Think of it more as an introduction to the cuisine of those countries. I found that there were only two Bolivian recipes listed, and there were very few Argentinian, Paraguayan, Peruvian or Venezuelan recipes. The book does include the Argentinian dishes with which I am most familiar. I wish she would visit the region again and write another book! I have found this book useful in recreating some of the recipes from my Childhood. Some of the recipes I looked up seemed complex and had ingredients that I could not locate, but most of the recipes seem easy to prepare, and adapted to ingredients that can be found in the US. The Colombian recipes included are representative of the two regions that she states she visited, the Coastal Region, and the area surrounding the Capital, Santafe de Bogota (However, my Aunts would be mortified to hear of an "Ajiaco Bogotano" made without Guascas and with just any kind of potato instead of with "papas criollas"). There are not a lot of recipes from the Colombian interior and Mountain regions where I spent most of my childhood, or from the region bordering Venezuela. This is understandable in a cookbook that covers so many diverse cuisines. I will be purchasing some more specialized cookbooks on Colombian cooking. One that I like and I would recommend, is "Cocina Colombiana, Paso a Paso". It is currently out of print, but if Colombian Cooking interests you, you may be able to find a used copy. I am also looking for books on Argentinian and Peruvian Cooking. Any suggestions? Since I own this book in a paperback version that is just starting to fall apart, I will be purchasing it in hardback.

I have tried dozens of the recipes in this book, from appetizers and salads, to entrees and desserts and each recipe has been a highly pleasing adventure. The dishes are very authentic, and bring out flavors and combinations that are very new to the American palate. I have many cookbooks, and this is by far the one I've enjoyed the most. I plan to prepare every recipe in this book and I look forward to trying Elisabeth Lambert Ortiz' other books. Muy bien!! -Bob

Lots of wonderful authentic latin recipies. They have all been very intersting and delightful so far. Some of the dishes can be a little complicated to prepare though.

_The Book of Latin American Cooking_ is one of my favorite cookbooks. It's full of unique ideas and combinations that you just can't find elsewhere. For example, I was surprised to see how much a pureed corn sauce tasted like it contained dairy.
I would never have thought of making a soup with pureed avocados! A lot of the recipes sound odd but are delicious. A few, admittedly, are just odd.

I was having a look here to see if there might be a hardback edition. My current copy needs to be replaced!

Since my father was Colombian and my mother born in America, I enjoyed delicious Colombian cuisine when we visited his family--arepas, sancocho, empanadas, etc--but never learned how to cook this type of food at home. Luckily for me, Elisabeth Ortiz has compiled this wonderful book!

She begins the book with a comprehensive list of common ingredients of South American cuisine, including a description of the ingredient and where one might find it. She then continues the book with the usual categories of Meats, Vegetables, Sauces, etc. She includes background and information about the food for each of her recipes. For example, she might describe when and where the meal might be served, or some helpful tips about a particular ingredient.

I have made several recipes from this book, and they've all turned out beautifully. The instructions are detailed and easy to follow, even for someone who, like me, has little experience in the particular cuisine. More importantly, though, everything is delicious!

I especially like to use the recipes in this book for special occasions. For example, my favorite dish, Pabellon Caraqueno (Steak with rice, black beans, a plantains--the national dish of Venezuela), while simple, takes several hours to prepare. However, I guarantee that, after you've arranged this meal on a platter and set it down in front of your guests, you will be rewarded with some 'Ooohs' and 'Aahhs' and many satisfied taste buds.

This book is a really good voyage into the art of Latin American cooking. The text talking about traditions and the culture in general is very informative and interesting. I bought this product because I read that the book had pictures - I prefer cookbooks that show photos of the recipes - and this book has zero photos of the recipes. I was a little disappointed. Just wanted to make sure that no one else bought the book without knowing this fact. I have tired a few recipes and they are very good, it's just the lack of pictures that bothered me. Happy cooking!

This meticulously researched volume offers a mouthwatering and practical introduction to the region's cookery. It is packed with authentic and trustworthy recipes as well as a generous amount of essential information and would be an excellent addition to any cookbook collection.

Also recommended: "The Complete Book of Mexican Cooking," by the same author.

Ther recipes are easy to follow. Background is given on each of the countries, and most importantly, they come out tasting great!

With no photos of the food, and tons of information about the places, history and preparation of the food I found this book to require a good bit of study before settling in on one receipe.

Great Book. Recipes are easy to follow. Very complete. I have a Colombian background and the most popular Colombian meals are in this book. I also enjoyed the history as well as the separate sections for sauces.