FAMOUS DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD / PLATOS FAMOSOS DE TODO EL MUNDO

Edited by Maze (Healthy Foods from A to Z, 2015, etc.), a bilingual cookbook that introduces readers to iconic foods from cultures around the world.

Take a tour of international flavors through 30 ethnic recipes in this engaging, educational cookbook in English and Spanish. From British shepherd’s pie to Chinese kung pao to Israeli cabbage rolls, each recipe delves into its corresponding culinary tradition. Cooking tips and tricks kick off the book: If you ever wondered what to use to thicken sauces (cornstarch), how to clean a cast-iron pan (water, oil, and salt instead of soap), or how to prevent bamboo skewers from burning (soak them overnight in cold water), you’ll find answers here. The introduction emphasizes the emotional and nostalgic ties people feel to the food of their homelands and ways the United States, a country rich with immigrants, benefits from the abundance of culinary options. Breaking bread, the book states, is a timeless unifier: “In an age of zillions of impersonal gadgets, a shared meal may be one of the last bastions of true interpersonal connectivity and communication in our country and across the world.” While inspired by the traditional dishes of their countries of origin, some recipes have swapped red meat and pork for healthier proteins like chicken and turkey, and in some cases, the recipes have gone vegetarian. Further healthy hints, like substituting sweet potatoes for white potatoes or using ghee instead of butter, are offered at the end of the book. All dishes in the cookbook cost less than $18 to prepare, and each recipe includes nutritional facts. The brightly colored pages feature whimsical fonts and enticing food photography. Readers won’t just learn how to cook these dishes, they’ll learn about the historical and cultural origins of them; e.g., New Orleans’ staple jambalaya was born out of Spanish paella and a dish common among French Cajun settlers in the Louisiana bayou.

A vibrant culinary take on the American melting pot via an international array of recipes and flavors.