Customer Reviews

Aunt Clara's Dominican Cookbook

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

 

 

I always wanted to have a Dominican cookbook in English, none were to be found. If you are proficient in Spanish you were lucky, but if your Spanish had got rusty after arriving in the States at an early age (like my eldest child), or your children couldn't follow simple directions in Spanish - let alone follow a recipe - (like my younger ones) well, sorry, no cookbook for you!

And then, I came across this book. I have bad and good things to say about this book. Luckily mostly good or I would be US$49.99-short and a disappointed customer.

The good news: The book is absolutely faithful to Dominican cookery. No made-up recipes like many other "Caribbean" cookbooks that promised authentic recipes and delivered none. The recipes are also very simple and don't call for fancy ingredients. The dishes that I have prepared taste exactly like the ones my "mami" prepared. Every recipe has a picture! That was the selling point for me. What point is there in a cookbook that doesn't show you how the dishes are supposed to look at the end? The pictures are fantastic. The book is filled with much more than just recipes and is seasoned with good humor, you can actually enjoy reading it.

My complaints: How comes they had enough money to fill the book with photos but couldn't make it a hardback? This is the kind of book destined to become a family heirloom, it should be a hardback. I hope they make a hardback edition in the future. And second, although the authors give each recipe in its original Spanish name and also in English, I don't agree on how they translated some of the names (perhaps they did it into British English?). But the last one is a minor nitpick really.

When I saw the price of this book I figured I would get a nice hardback with tons of wonderful recipes...instead I received a cheaply printed paperback with no "wow" recipes in it. In fact, there are some recipes that call for certain ingredients which aren't even mentioned in the directions! I would suggest getting the other Dominican cookbook which is half the price and offers the same recipes, this one is not worth the money.

I love Dominican comida (food). Whilst I can prepare a few dishes, my husband does most of the cooking. Every traditional Dominican recipe I can think of, I have found in this book. In my opinion, the authors couldn't have done a better job. The photos are beautiful, and throughout the book, there a wonderful stories for the reader's enjoyment. A traditional Dominican cookbook made in English has been long-awaited. I plan to pass one down as a treasured family heirloom to each of my children.

Thanks for a wonderful idea that has finally come to fruition.

The first day I got the book I cooked from it. They have amazing recipes. Everything I have cooked from that book has come out perfect. The instructions are very clear and easy to follow.

I too would have liked to see a hardback version of the book for the price. I like how the book has pictures of every dish. I'm just happy to see more cookbooks in english--and in measurements that are easy to follow.

I've only had the cookbook for about a week, but I have tried a few of the recipes and read through a few more. Overall, I really like it, even if it is a little pricey. The pictures and layout are great, and the recipes look really enticing.
My only complaint is that I wish the directions were a little more clear; sometimes they are downright ambiguous. This is probably fine for someone who is more familiar with the food, especially if they have seen it prepared before, but for a gringo like me, I am often left questioning what I am supposed to do.
One examples is the recipe for Pera Pina doesn't ever say how much water you are supposed to use, and although sugar is called for in the directions, it isn't listed in the ingredient list. Like I said, if you have made or have seen Pera Pina made before, this wouldn't phase you, but for someone like me, it made it hard to figure out what I was doing.
I think the cookbook could benefit greatly from another editing and a run through in a test kitchen by cooks unfamiliar with Dominican cooking.

I love this book, it doesn't get any better than this, I highly recommend it if you want to try a dominican recipe, there's no way going wrong with this book!!!

My husband is Dominican and this cookbook has brought back many memories for him. It may not be easy finding all the ingredients, but the food sure is good!

I agree with the second reviewer. I also bought this book (4 of them actually) thinking I would get nice hardcover books; instead it is slim book with medium quality photos. I praise the effort to compile Dominican recipes in English, since there are few available. But the quality of the book does not justify the price at all.

I recently purchased this cookbook and so far I'm very satisfied with it. All the recipes are easy to follow true Dominican recipes. The book itself is very entertaining and inspiring. I tried making "Pastelon de Berenjenas" or Eggplant Torte (which at first sight seems kinda weird if you've never made it before) but it was delicious. It tastes like the one my Mom used to make. I normally substitute regular salt for Goya season salt with pepper and add some Sofrito and Sazon here and there to make the recipe my own. If you know how to cook then you know exactly what I'm saying. It tastes great!
Being Dominican myself I am very familiar with most if not all the recipes in this book. I wish the authors would have incorporated more meat recipes. I also would've liked to see the book on paperback but it's not a big deal. This book gets a 5 star regardless.
Aunt's Clara Dominican Cookbook is well worth buying. I will definitely pass it on to my children. Highly recommended!