September is National Hispanic Heritage Month

This month, Dietitian In Your Kitchen is focusing on the food and culture of Latinx and Hispanic peoples. September 15 is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile, and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period and Día de la Raza is October 12. (source)

Did you know that many of our favorite foods are native to the Americas, including: tomatoes, potatoes, corn, bell peppers, chilies, chocolate, peanuts, pumpkin, and avocado! Can you imagine an Italian pasta without tomatoes, a spicy Indian curry without chilies, or a French patisserie without chocolate? Me neither! It’s important to recognize where our food comes from and the cultures and traditions that surround them. To learn more, check out these fantastic cookbooks and recipe blogs by Latinx chefs, and send me a message if you want me to come to your kitchen and make some tamales!

Dora’s Table

Chef Dora Stone turns traditional Mexican recipes into plant-based modern creations. Her blog, Dora’s Table, is available in English and Spanish.

Stephen Raichlen’s Healthy Latin Cooking

This was one of my first cookbooks. I learned how to peel a plantain, make a tortilla, and season perfect homemade salsa. It includes recipes from all over the Americas, including central and South American specialties.

Decolonize Your Diet

This beautiful cookbook celebrates traditional foods and cultural traditions. Cooks of all skill levels can find something to love in this book, from easy quesadilla fillings to Xocolatamal, chocolate tamales from scratch! Yum!