What do you think?
Rate this book
Mexico: The Beautiful Cookbook
Mexico the Beautiful Cookbook captures the fascinating culinary heritage of Mexico in one stunning volume. The recipes, prepared by Acapulcobased Susanna Palazuelos, represent a vast selection of authentic Mexican dishes, from all of the states of Mexico. Many of them are unusual regional dishes that have been passed along by word of mouth. Contains over 250 recipes.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
1 person is currently reading
134 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 26, 2018
This book is not only a thing of beauty but a life-saver. Every recipe I've tried from it has been great, and I have feed them to people who really knows about Mexican Cuisine, like my grandmother.
But beyond that, the pictures, the way the recipes are organize, the little stories that accompany each section, it truly feels like discovering a little piece of Mexico each time I sit and read through this book looking for something delicious to cook.
If you're looking for a great Mexican Cooking book, this is it.
But beyond that, the pictures, the way the recipes are organize, the little stories that accompany each section, it truly feels like discovering a little piece of Mexico each time I sit and read through this book looking for something delicious to cook.
If you're looking for a great Mexican Cooking book, this is it.
April 16, 2010
This is a great cookbook. I have learned so much about creating Mole's. This book has been an invaluable source of great recipes! I own a variety of "the Beautiful Cookbooks" and this one and the Thai one are my two favorites!
August 16, 2012
This is the Holy Grail of Mexican Cookbooks! Love, Love, Love it!
December 20, 2012
Having recently read a number of books by Peter Robb, which include much detail of diet and food preparation among the politics and travel of his stories about Italy and Brazil, I decided it was time to review some of my cookbooks.
First, I choose Mexico the Beautiful Cookbook. It contains all the images which arose for me while reading A Death in Brazil, with the warmth of sun in the backdrops, spice in the pots and platters, and the relationships between which the placements of people and scenery suggest.
This is not a cookbook for the kitchen alone. It is a coffee table book full of images to tantalize and invite your imagination to go places even when your body can’t. But then it has the added advantage of bringing many sensations to the body through the preparations and the sharing of the meals it portrays.
That there is something for everyone in any spread of food is illustrated by an image of a crowd a few pages in before even reaching the contents. While two women spring to their feet waving and shooting, with those in the row behind them in various grimaces of engagement, others around the edges smile, frown or look off in distraction or boredom. A feast for the eyes prepares for the feast for all the senses.
Laid out as a combination of regions, as well as the usually expected food categories, it is hard not to notice chapters including rice dishes with soups and casseroles, or breads with desserts. This is certainly a journey to awaken curiosity and anticipation.
Such awakening begins from the very first page delving into the ancient Aztec influences which persist to today. One influence meeting another still goes on today, and contemporary dishes are included as well as the deep history and social life of this amazing region.
While vegetarians may still prefer a book exclusively for their own dietary interests, the chapter on vegetables, salads, beans and sauces provides a ready feast for convincing carnivore friends of broadening their diet in the most positive way. Quoting the ancient Maya leader Huehuetlalli, there is also encouragement to cultivate one’s own crops:
Take care of the things of the earth;
Do something, cut wood, work the soil,
Plant the cactus, plant the maguey.
You will have to drink, to eat, to dress.
Thus you will stand on your feet, be real,
Thus you will stride,
Thus they will speak of you, praise you,
Thus you will be known.
And so we know them here – by sharing their ‘fruits’, walking their pathways and tasting the essence of the life they continue to bring to us today.
First, I choose Mexico the Beautiful Cookbook. It contains all the images which arose for me while reading A Death in Brazil, with the warmth of sun in the backdrops, spice in the pots and platters, and the relationships between which the placements of people and scenery suggest.
This is not a cookbook for the kitchen alone. It is a coffee table book full of images to tantalize and invite your imagination to go places even when your body can’t. But then it has the added advantage of bringing many sensations to the body through the preparations and the sharing of the meals it portrays.
That there is something for everyone in any spread of food is illustrated by an image of a crowd a few pages in before even reaching the contents. While two women spring to their feet waving and shooting, with those in the row behind them in various grimaces of engagement, others around the edges smile, frown or look off in distraction or boredom. A feast for the eyes prepares for the feast for all the senses.
Laid out as a combination of regions, as well as the usually expected food categories, it is hard not to notice chapters including rice dishes with soups and casseroles, or breads with desserts. This is certainly a journey to awaken curiosity and anticipation.
Such awakening begins from the very first page delving into the ancient Aztec influences which persist to today. One influence meeting another still goes on today, and contemporary dishes are included as well as the deep history and social life of this amazing region.
While vegetarians may still prefer a book exclusively for their own dietary interests, the chapter on vegetables, salads, beans and sauces provides a ready feast for convincing carnivore friends of broadening their diet in the most positive way. Quoting the ancient Maya leader Huehuetlalli, there is also encouragement to cultivate one’s own crops:
Take care of the things of the earth;
Do something, cut wood, work the soil,
Plant the cactus, plant the maguey.
You will have to drink, to eat, to dress.
Thus you will stand on your feet, be real,
Thus you will stride,
Thus they will speak of you, praise you,
Thus you will be known.
And so we know them here – by sharing their ‘fruits’, walking their pathways and tasting the essence of the life they continue to bring to us today.
October 28, 2014
This is my most beautiful cookbook. It's a coffee table style book with gorgeous pictures from the different regions of Mexico and it's dishes. The recipes are authentic, approachable and which just entice you to get in the kitchen and cook.
October 1, 2011
The best authentic Mexican cookbook. Everything I cook from this book is wonderful. The only Mexican cookbook you need in your library!
November 21, 2020
I’ve owned this stunning cookbook since Border’s was still around (I bought it there on sale). The recipes are incredible and very regional and the photos are beautiful. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to actually read it! I learned so much about Mexican cuisine ❤️
October 15, 2022
The photos are lovely, but the recipes are detailed and look utterly authentic!
My "go to" book photos and recipes are very similar to these, so I'm anxious to get busy!!
My "go to" book photos and recipes are very similar to these, so I'm anxious to get busy!!
August 16, 2024
This is an oversized cookbook with great photos of Mexico and many of the dishes made from the recpes. It is excellent and the recipes are genuine and the real thing.
July 28, 2025
This is my most prized cookbook. Gourmet. Authentic. Delicious. And the photographs make the book art.
April 17, 2013
Beautiful pictures in this book. The recipes are easy to do. A lot of them, if you don't want to do each ingredient individually, can be purchased combined at the store. This really cuts down on the work. As much as I appreciate fresh, I also appreciate time savers. The book also reads with many of the words in spanish. Makes you really get in the mood.
November 15, 2007
I love this cookbook! The recipes are very traditional and really provides an authentic taste of Mexico with the recipes easy to follow and ingredients that are very accessible. Even if you don't cook, it is a beautiful book and be a great coffee table book. Buen provecho!
December 21, 2008
One of the best and most used cookbooks I have
November 30, 2007
This is my favorite Mexican cookbook. The recipes are authenic!
January 28, 2011
Dated but still beautiful.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews