Mexican Flavors

A master cooking teacher leads you on a delicious adventure with new approaches to Mexican cuisine that can be easily reproduced in any American kitchen.

Discover mouthwatering recipes that are based on Hugh Carpenter's cooking school in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, a famous artist community located in the high mountain country north of Mexico City. His wife, acclaimed food photographer Teri Sandison, brings the dishes to life with stunning photographs that capture the food and the town.

Mexican Flavors includes classic recipes such as Guacamole, Tortilla Soup, and Barbecue Chicken with Mole Sauce. But there are many gastronomic surprises such as Banana Salsa, Quesadillas with Papaya and Brie, Barbecued Caesar Salad with Chile Croutons, and Fallen Kahlua Chocolate Cake. The recipes use a wide range of seasonings to achieve innovative flavors with a Mexican flair—all from ingredients available at every American supermarket. Throughout the book, Hugh is at your side showing you easy preparation and cooking techniques, what can be completed in advance, and in page-after-page illuminating the techniques, the history, and the unique flavors of Mexican cuisine.


Three special sections show an innovative approach to some of Mexico's most famous dishes. Chile Rellenos are filled with Pulled Pork or a Pine Nut Goat Cheese Herb stuffing, and then smoked on the barbecue. Tacos and tostadas are deconstructed so that even those new to Mexican cuisine can create their own masterpiece. And enchiladas, with their fillings of duck, shrimp, or shiitake mushrooms, are a master class on fail-safe ways to create perfection.

"From appetizers to drinks, this is a book to enjoy day by day, fiesta by fiesta." —Cooking by the Book