Norteña - by Karla Zazueta (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Delicious and authentic recipes from a northern Mexican home kitc hen."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Delicious and authentic recipes from a northern Mexican home kitchen.

In this vibrant and personal cookbook, Karla Zazueta explores the recipes, cooking techniques, ingredients and traditions passed down through the generations of her family. This is a true taste of northern Mexico, bursting with flavor, color and history.

In Norteña, Karla Zazueta invites you to share the dishes and ways of cooking that she grew up with. Norteña--meaning "northerner"--tells the tale of the northern states of Mexico: of the coastlines and fresh seafood, the cattle ranches, sun- ripened fruits and vegetables, and family gatherings around the table.

She shares easy-to-follow recipes for the world-famous Baja fish tacos, "piggy" pinto beans, vegan chorizo, crab tostadas, sopes (corn patties) piled with fresh vegetables and served in a tomato broth, and empanadas Californianas (shredded beef empanadas), all accompanied by mouth-watering spicy salsas, fresh queso and zingy salads. There are recipes para la sed (for the thirst), which include the best margaritas, and favorite sweets like Mexican flan and camotes (sweet potato poached until tender in a sweet, spiced syrup). With ingredient substitutes and vegetarian variations, you can recreate authentic dishes for everyone to enjoy.

Engaging introductions describe the cultural events and influences that play such a huge part in the cuisine, such as for carne asada, which originated in the state of Sonora, or the tamales estilo Sinaloa, wrapped with special care at Christmas time.

Influenced by Karla's family's traditions, her travels and tastes, each recipe is packed with flavor and cooked with love. Let yourself be transported to the Baja peninsula, rolling corn tortillas in the sun, sipping on a refreshing michelada and cooled by the breeze coming in from the sea.

Contents

Buenos Dias/Good Morning

Esenciales Norteñas/Northern Essentials

Algo Picosito/Something Spicy

Del Huerto/From the Garden

Del Mar/From the Sea

Del Rancho/From the Ranch

Final Dulce/Sweet Ending

Para la Sed/For the Thirst

Carne Asada/Mexican Feast

Review Quotes

"A native of Ensenada in Baja California, Zazueta promotes that area's cuisine as well as that of all the Mexican states hugging the U.S. border and stretching east to the Gulf of Mexico ... Zazueta thoughtfully designs menus for those wanting to serve balanced meals and lists plenty of vegetarian options."--Booklist

"Zazueta explores the unique flavors of northern Mexico in this heartfelt celebration of her culinary roots ... [She] sprinkles in childhood memories, historical tidbits, and regional variations, and highlights classic recipes originating in the region ... This vibrant collection brings a rich culinary tradition to life."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Karla Zazueta grew up in Baja California, in the north of Mexico. When she left Mexico twenty years ago, she brought with her all her family's recipes and ways of cooking that had been passed down through generations. She built a career from her passion for cooking and started the popular blog, Mexican Food Memories.co.uk, where she writes about food and Mexican traditions. She runs cooking classes from her home, and hosts regular sold-out pop-up dinners in venues across London. Her writing has been featured in Guardian, Observer Food Monthly and BBC Good Food, and she has been a guest on BBC Radio 4's The Kitchen Cabinet with Jay Rayner. Find her on Instagram @mexicanfoodmemories.