Recommend a Mexican cookbook

I'm looking for a simple but authentic Mexican cookbook as a gift.

I assume Bayless may be the way to go but wanted some suggestions before I order.

Cheers.

Abouna wrote:I'm looking for a simple but authentic Mexican cookbook as a gift.

I assume Bayless may be the way to go but wanted some suggestions before I order.

Cheers.

Bayless' "Authentic Mexican" is excellent.

Diana Kennedy's "The Essential Cuisines of Mexico" (a compilation of three of her books) is also excellent.

You can't go wrong with either one of those.

Best,
Michael

I have had great results cooking from Diana Kennedy's From My Mexican Kitchen (don't know if this is part of the trilogy mentioned above by Michael). I like the Bayless books, too, especially Mexican Everyday.

=R=

I'm still getting acquainted with Diana Kennedy's books (but have positive experiences). However, I've had Bayless's Authentic Mexican since it first appeared and my copy is getting pretty beat up: I've found the recipes well chosen and clearly explained and I've never had one fail on me. They may not have tasted precisely as I expected they would, but they always turn out and they're fairly easy to follow (some can be a little complicated--which is not a bad thing since, in my experience, it's usually because Bayless is "forcing" you to do things more authentically instead of taking an easy shortcut).

The only Bayless books I haven't been enamoured with are "One Plate at a Time" (from the PBS show) and "Salsas that Cook". Partly because they repeat some of the others, partly because they're lighter on recipes, heavier on pix, and partly because they don't go into as much depth on the history of the food.

ronnie_suburban wrote:I have had great results cooking from Diana Kennedy's From My Mexican Kitchen (don't know if this is part of the trilogy mentioned above by Michael). I like the Bayless books, too, especially Mexican Everyday.

=R=

My wife gave me Mexican Everyday for Christmas. Through first glance it looks to be excellent.

Thanks everybody!

I figured it would be down to either a Bayless or Kennedy book. I checked out one of Kennedy's earlier books from the library a while back. I wasn't enamored with the format. While I appreciate some background and history, what I'm really after is something akin to a Judy Lew Chinese cookbook, straight forward (pics are nice) and uncomplicated (the presentation I mean not the recipe, I don't mind complicated preparations).

I'll throw one more out there, the book from which I learned the basics of Mexican cooking: Zarela Martinez's Food From My Heart: Cuisines from Mexico Remembered and Reimagined. "Everyday Mexican" is also a very good book, but I find myself cooking more recipes from the Zarela Martinez book (although there's two recipes in the Bayless book: the swiss chard tacos and mole amarillo, that are in standard rotation in Chez Binko.)

I've found the very best Diana Kennedy book to be The Art of Mexican Cooking (1989). I rarely see this book mentioned. The recipes are a little more advanced than her earlier books, but they more than make up for the additional effort - more authentic and more delicious. It is my go-to book for traditional Mexican dishes.

I have the first edition from 1989. There seems to be a recent 2nd edition.

Bill/SFNM

the wimperoo wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:I have had great results cooking from Diana Kennedy's From My Mexican Kitchen (don't know if this is part of the trilogy mentioned above by Michael). I like the Bayless books, too, especially Mexican Everyday.

=R=

My wife gave me Mexican Everyday for Christmas. Through first glance it looks to be excellent.

One question: Are there recipes for Tamales in there?

Abouna wrote:

the wimperoo wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:I have had great results cooking from Diana Kennedy's From My Mexican Kitchen (don't know if this is part of the trilogy mentioned above by Michael). I like the Bayless books, too, especially Mexican Everyday.

=R=

My wife gave me Mexican Everyday for Christmas. Through first glance it looks to be excellent.

One question: Are there recipes for Tamales in there?

The Kennedy book contains method advice and a few different tamale recipes but the Bayless book does not. However, Authentic Mexican by Bayless has several recipes for tamales and a good amount of background information and method advice, as well.

=R=

I love the Susana Trilling Seasons of My Heart Cookbook. I went to her cooking class in Oaxaca and we actually made several types of the tamales--all came out great, but I liked the ones filled with rajas (poblano peppers and onions)

thaiobsessed wrote:I love the Susana Trilling Seasons of My Heart Cookbook. I went to her cooking class in Oaxaca and we actually made several types of the tamales--all came out great, but I liked the ones filled with rajas (poblano peppers and onions)

That sounds very interesting. Did you happen to write about attending the class anywhere? I'm a long time Mexican food fan (I'm half Lebanese and you'd be surprised at the similarities in culture and food philosophies). Our whoe famliy would like to do a Mexico trip but are so unfamiliar with the region that it's a bit daunting.

That sounds very interesting. Did you happen to write about attending the class anywhere? I'm a long time Mexican food fan (I'm half Lebanese and you'd be surprised at the similarities in culture and food philosophies). Our whoe famliy would like to do a Mexico trip but are so unfamiliar with the region that it's a bit daunting.

I posted about my experiences here
But this post is reminding me, I should add some pictures. Cynthia went to one of the classes as well (her post inspired me to go).