You Can Learn How To Make Perfect Churros At Home With This Cookbook

Mexican food has been adapted by cultures around the world. With lots of Americanized spins put on it, you may not be aware of the origin of the dishes you frequently enjoy at your favorite local Mexican restaurant. That’s why cookbooks, especially from authors of Mexican descent, can be such helpful resources—they allow you to experience the stories and food from the culture as you recreate the meals.

“There is so much more than one kind of food that qualifies as Mexican food—cookbooks play an important role as chronicles of food through the specific lens of the authors,” says Annelies Zijderveld, author of Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea and a member of Equity at the Table. “I am still learning about regional Mexican cuisines outside of where my family is from, and it's a discovery to taste and paint beyond the lines of what I think of as Mexican food.”

Zijderveld loves to read about different authors’ takes on the same dishes, which can change from region to region and family to family, she explains. “Having their voices speak from the page and guide [you] in the kitchen keeps dishes alive and offers new perspectives,” Zijderveld says. “The other part here is this idea of Mexican diaspora: I'm just as interested, if not more interested, to see how the food changes as its people move.”

To read up on some of these incredibly flavorful recipes (enchiladas! tamales! flan! churros!) and the stories behind them, check out our list of the best Mexican cookbooks, below.