46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive and Informative, 4 Dec 2001
By Nicholas Zukin "extramsg" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: 1000 Mexican Recipes (1,000 Recipes) (Hardcover)
Very good book. Most books so comprehensive are little more than a smattering of questionable recipes. Not so with this one. It's not the Mexican Joy of Cooking or Mastering the Art of Mexican Cooking, but it wouldn't take much to put it close. It covers the basics and then gets right to the dishes, starting with salsas and moving on to entrees, each chapter using previously learned techniques and recipes. In each chapter the recipes start simple and foundational becoming more complex and sophisticated as the chapter concludes. Another nice feature not found in many cookbooks so comprehensive is that each recipe is given context, sometimes with a lengthy introduction, but always with something useful. A very nice touch. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in Mexican cooking. Truly, I'd like to give this book 4 1/2 stars. The only thing it's missing is Joy of Cooking style in-depth discussions of technique. But it's certainly not lacking instruction in technique. btw, I've tried several of the dishes and salsas and have been very pleased so far (my favorite so far is the red pumpkin seed cooked salsa as an enchilada sauce -- was great for leftover turkey!).
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic bible of Mexican cooking, 25 Mar 2002
By Midwest Book Review - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: 1000 Mexican Recipes (1,000 Recipes) (Hardcover)
1,000 Mexican Recipes is a classic bible of Mexican cooking. As one enthusiastic reviewer wrote, "If you can't find it here, you won't find it anywhere!" There are indeed cookbooks within cookbooks for the Mexican cuisine sophisticated palates. As with any ethnic work, much lore and history is interwoven with the thousand recipes, so you get a cultural and geographic education along with the inspiring presentations of imaginative Mexican delicacies. Thereare not just recipes but whole chapters devoted to Salsas, Appetizers, Enchiladas Tamales and Tortillas, Salads, Soups, Poultry, Meats, Fish, Vegetables, Beans Rice and Pasta, Eggs, Breads, Desserts and Beverages. There is also a Mexican Cooking Glossary and mail order sources for ingredients listed. This is a hefty book, 644 pages, packed with both familiar and obscure Mexican foods and preparation tips. For anyone who is a serious Mexican foods fan or cook, 1,000 Mexican Recipes is a must. Even the lovely illustration on the cover has a key inside that explains what each item or food is! Now that is what I call making ethnic cooking and foods accessible! Some of the more unusual sounding recipes included Cactus Salad with Tuna (page 202), Tamales in Bana Leaves, Oaxacan Style (p. 153), and Chicken, Ticul Style (p. 288) which contains black beans, Yucatan tomato sauce, pickled red onions, Yucatan habanero sauce, fried plaintains, fried whole tortillas, chicken, and cotija, or feta cheese!
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding collection, 18 Aug 2006
By Jackie Tortorella - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: 1000 Mexican Recipes (1,000 Recipes) (Hardcover)
This was my first Mexican cookbook. My husband and I love Mexican food, and I decided to see whether I could learn how to make some of the tasty dishes myself as opposed to buying pre-packaged mixes and salsas in a jar. 1000 Mexican Recipes was a fortunate choice! I learned the basics in the first chapters, and this gave me the confidence to try the main dishes. Wow! I was amazed at the difference it made to use some fresh ingredients and cook them properly for best results.
The book has no pictures, so it's not a "coffee table book." Instead, it is a no nonsense guide to Mexican cooking that has very, very clear instructions and explanations. After trying some of these recipes I felt confident to add some creative touches of my own.
I really recommend 1000 Mexican Recipes for the cook who wants to learn the techniques and ingredients of Mexican cuisine. It may not sit on my coffee table, but it is on a bookshelf right next to my kitchen....and it's getting dog-eared!