Latinísimo Home recipes from the twenty-one countries of Latin America

Food historian and writer Gutierrez's (Latin American Street Food, 2022) fifth cookbook is possibly her most ambitious, with recipes that delve into cuisines from across Latin America, delivering classic, home-cooked dishes readers could find in the kitchens of 21 different countries. The first chapter contains essential building blocks, covering sauces to spices, broths to crepes. Following chapters divide the recipes by essential ingredients, with introductions that highlight the importance of each--historically and today--and share the dish's country of origin, difficulty, and cooking time, along with other great reading. For home cooks being introduced to new ingredients, Gutierrez gives plenty of tips for procuring and substitutions. Her extensive research is evident as she shares a concise culinary history of Latin America, including influences like immigration, colonization, and Indigenous food. Photos, while not numerous, are beautiful. The focus here is on recipes, and the author's warm voice keeps the book from becoming encyclopedic. The breadth of this cookbook, combined with its practical charm, makes this a perfect choice for libraries looking to get a great, all-in-one Latin American cookbook.