Enrique Olvera's 'Sunny Days, Taco Nights' badly botches the most basic and important component of the dish: the tortilla. Plus: Vegans are people, too.
I just read through the book and noticed that too. I'm also suspicious of the nixtamalized corn tortilla recipe below that one. I make nixtamalized corn tortillas–I own a molinito for the purpose and sold fresh tortillas at my farmers market. Most corn varieties will require an overnight soak in calcium hydroxide not quicklime (calcium oxide). I'd argue that the recipe in this book is dangerous to attempt and I've never seen a recipe quite like it. Major oversight indeed.
Kristina, thank you for this -- I also wondered about that recipe. I've only made nixtamal once, and it required an overnight soak with culinary lime (calcium hydroxide). I appreciate your pointing out potential danger.
Thank you, Nick! At least the guacamole will still likely be delicious, even without the cilantro. Plus, they could always figure it out and add it. Once you add water to that cornmeal, you've got a kilo of wasted cornmeal on your hands.
Great post Leslie - cringe-worthy mistake (lost in translation perhaps??). But adding Tu Casa Mi Casa to my list and inspired to make tortillas (with my Masienda masa harina!) tonight.
I just read through the book and noticed that too. I'm also suspicious of the nixtamalized corn tortilla recipe below that one. I make nixtamalized corn tortillas–I own a molinito for the purpose and sold fresh tortillas at my farmers market. Most corn varieties will require an overnight soak in calcium hydroxide not quicklime (calcium oxide). I'd argue that the recipe in this book is dangerous to attempt and I've never seen a recipe quite like it. Major oversight indeed.
Kristina, thank you for this -- I also wondered about that recipe. I've only made nixtamal once, and it required an overnight soak with culinary lime (calcium hydroxide). I appreciate your pointing out potential danger.
And I thought forgetting cilantro in my guacamole recipe in my first book was a bad mistake! Phew! Great post Leslie.
Thank you, Nick! At least the guacamole will still likely be delicious, even without the cilantro. Plus, they could always figure it out and add it. Once you add water to that cornmeal, you've got a kilo of wasted cornmeal on your hands.
Great post Leslie - cringe-worthy mistake (lost in translation perhaps??). But adding Tu Casa Mi Casa to my list and inspired to make tortillas (with my Masienda masa harina!) tonight.
Thank you, Janet! I do really love Tu Casa Mi Casa. If I had to lose all my Mexican cookbooks but one, that's the one I'd keep.