Chile-Lime Sauce (Chile-Limón)
When my friend/almost daughter Annie came to the house one day she saw my bottle of commercial chile limón seasoning made by the producers of the very popular and delicious hot sauce La Valentina and said, “There’s one in every Mexican household,” and I must admit I...
Hearts of Palm Dip (Ensalada de palmitos)
Hearts of Palm Dip (Ensalada de palmitos) They key is to use the very best olive oil you have. Hearts of palm are actually pretty bland and need the kick of a good extra-virgin oil.Recipe: Zarela's Veracruz, Houghton Mifflin, 2001 1 28-ounce or two 14-ounce cans...Spicy Pineapple Salad (Ensalada de pina con jalapeño)
My philosophy of life has long been: Can I do something about it? If I can, I do; if I can’t I try to forget it and live with it. In this new section of my website, I plan to debunk the myth that all Mexican food is heavy, highly caloric, and not good for you. This...
Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo
Brussels Sprouts with Chorizo You either love or hate Brussels sprouts but for those who love them here is an exceptional way of preparing them that my son Aaron came up with. At my restaurant Zarela we used our homemade chorizo instead of the Spanish. 2 pounds...Beans Fried in Butter
Beans Fried in Butter One thing I’ve learned when eating in Veracruz is to expect the unexpected. I never know when I’ll come across some charming original touch that transforms the familiar.It happened to me at La Viuda Restaurant in Alvarado when our order arrived...
The many lives of Zarela Martínez
Culinary legend Zarela Martínez introduced finely tuned, highly researched regional Mexican cuisine to a national stage, and has continued to blaze trails for more than three decades.