Seasonal Spanish Food: 125 Simple Recipes to Bring Home the Flavors of Spain
Much more than a basic collection of tapas recipes, this beautifully illustrated volume from an acclaimed, London-based chef offers an intimate introduction to Spanish culture and a vicarious tour of the Spanish countryside. Divided into seasonal categories, the mouthwatering, authentic recipes incorporate basic ingredients and preparations that don’t require advanced skill; this is simple, exquisite food as families prepare it, not elaborately constructed culinary towers, and Pizarro encourages improvisation and blending of dishes. A native of Extremadura, Spain, Pizarro offers lengthy personal stories and explanations with each dish, and frequent passages delve further into subjects such as vinegars, Christmastime, the mantaza (or traditional pig slaughter), mushroom gathering, and, of course, Spanish wines. Full-color portraits of both the completed dishes and seductive, amber-sunlit scenes of Pizarro dining outdoors with friends and family give the book coffee-table appeal while reinforcing the sense of both a cuisine and a country. Much has been written recently about Spain’s current culinary renaissance. This title celebrates traditional recipes and will surely arm home cooks with a new repertoire of household favorites. --Gillian Engberg