Customer Reviews

Zarela's Veracruz

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

 

 

What a marvelous cookbook. With worthy introduction of the region of Veracruz and its culinary traditions and their influences, this book not only provides wonderful, unique recipes but accents them with the cultural flavor from which they originate.

The sub-title says what this cookbook is about well: Cooking and Culture in Mexico's Tropical Melting Pot. Also, a great section and the ingredients, their purchase and preparation.

The recipes are just wonderful! Tried the Tostadas with Hashed Crab, Masa-Sweet Potato Shells with Fillings, Santa Maria's Chicken Soup with Noodles, Shredded Chicken in Blackberry Liquor Sauce, Moors and Christians (black beans and white rice).

These are most delightful, easy to prepare and gorgeous and exciting to offer guest diners. This is a great cookbook to add to those who enjoy Latin-Caribbean style cooking. It's all here, with great color photos and well done recipes.

Zarela Martinez is one of my favorite authors of Mexican cookbooks. I have searched at great length to find books of Mexican cooking which are authentic, and not adapted to suit American palates. The cuisine of Veracruz is really varied and due to influences from Mexico, Africa, and the Caribbean. Most of the recipes in this book are not what one would think of as stereotypically Mexican. This makes a great armchair read, but the recipes are delicious, especially the shrimp marinated in beer and cooked with a chipotle chile paste. Out of this world!!!!

I purchased the book used and it arrived in excellent condition. Hardly looks used. Also, the recipes in this book are definitely authentic to the region. I lived in Xalapa, Veracruz and wished I had gotten the recipes for the food, especially sauces. Zarela does a good job of bringing authentic recipes to the English-speaking audience.

I purchased all three of Zarela's books from Amazon. They are all great and very enternaining reading. In her introductions to the book and her recipies, she gives a very detailed description
of the different local regions and customs. On "Zarelas Veracruz", she gives you the grand tour of Mexico's state of Veracruz. The ingredients are readily available at local markets. And the recipies are truly authentic as prepared in the local regions.

forty yrs ago i bought the complete book of mexican cooking by elizabeth lambert ortiz and thought that was the sum total of authentic mexican cuisine. it was full of the recipes that i knew growing up so i felt very comfortable with them. however, over the yrs i came to realize that there was much much more to mexican cooking and that the different regions of mexico have their own recipes, their own cuisine. during a book search i found zarela's book which delves into the cuisine of veracruz. i read the whole book and loved it. soon i found myself getting more and more into the wonderful line-up of fantastic dishes. not one recipe has disappointed me or my family and i'm not done yet.

in addition to irresistible recipes, i like stories in a cookbook such as this and also some good tips, hints and sources. this book does all of that and then some. buen provecho!