美国国家公共电台 NPR--Rick Martínez brings 'rapture' to the kitchen with his new cookbook 'Mi Cocina'

Rick Martínez brings 'rapture¹' to the kitchen with his new cookbook 'Mi Cocina'

Transcript²

In 2019, Rick Martínez set off on a 20,000 mile road trip.

He flew to Mexico, bought a car and traveled to all 32 states in the country, doing research for a cookbook that would capture each regional cuisine³ of Mexico. Everywhere he went, he asked cooks a simple question: "Out of everything you make, what do you like best?" He picked his favorite meals and adapted them in his new cookbook, Mi Cocina: Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico.

Clarkson Potter

For Martínez, every recipe in the book is connected to a memory. The tortas de lechón, slow-roasted pork sandwiches, were inspired by the ones he encountered in Aguascalientes. The salsa de chipotle y chile de árbol was inspired by the salsa made by a woman he met in Guanajuato.

Martínez told NPR his goal with this cookbook is to "expand the canon" for what Mexican food in the U.S. can be. "When I was asked to develop recipes for publications or for YouTube, I was always asked to develop a variation of an existing dish. So, a different version of an enchilada or a taco," he said. Mi Cocina showcases the wide breadth of cuisine from Mexico's diverse regions.

Martínez grew up in Austin, Texas. His parents cooked for the family every day. His father made breakfast, and his mother made dinner. His mother was especially interested in reconnecting with the family's Mexican heritage. She taught herself to make tamales. She used ingredients like dried chillies and avoided shortcuts⁴ like canned sauces. "My aunts saw it as the equivalent of churning your own butter," he writes. Martínez learned to cook from watching her.

His other sources of knowledge were two white chefs: Diana Kennedy and Rick Bayless, who taught Mexican cooking on TV. "I knew a lot more about Mexico and culture and food because of them," Martínez said. "But there was a part of me that was like, why is it that they get to do this? There are talented Mexican chefs." Now, Martínez hosts the food series Pruébalo and Sweet Heat on YouTube.

Martínez knew the food in Mexico was going to be amazing. But his motivation for traveling the country went deeper. "It was important for me to do this because I needed to understand where I came from," he said. In Mexico, he would be around more people who looked like him.

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Martínez writes that he used to be apologetic about being American. But in Mexico, locals would tell him, "'No, tu corazón es Mexicano.' Your heart is Mexican."

To listen to the broadcast version of this story, use the audio player at the top of the page. Natalie Escobar edited this story for the web.

Salsa de Chipotle y Chile de ?rbol

Smoky dried jalape?os and chile de árbol, stewed⁵ with tomatoes

MAKES 1? CUPS

INGREDIENTS

4 medium Roma tomatoes(1 lb/453 g), cored and roughly chopped

2 chiles chipotles for mild or 4 for hot, stemmed

2 chiles de árbol for mild to 4 for hot, stemmed and seeded for a milder flavor

? medium white onion (3.5 oz/98 g), roughly chopped

1 garlic clove⁶, peeled

1 teaspoon⁷ Morton kosher salt (0.21 oz/6 g), plus more to taste

Fresh lime juice (optional)

DIRECTIONS

In a medium saucepan, combine the tomatoes, chipotles, chiles de árbol, onion, garlic, salt, and ? cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until the chiles and vegetables are soft, for about 15 minutes.

Remove from the heat, cover, and set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly. Transfer to the jar of a blender and purée on medium-low until almost smooth. Taste and season with more salt and lime juice if desired.

DO AHEAD:

The salsa can be made 2 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, or freeze for up to 1 month.

1 rapture   

n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜

参考例句：

• His speech was received with rapture by his supporters.他的演说受到支持者们的热烈欢迎。
• In the midst of his rapture,he was interrupted by his father.他正欢天喜地，被他父亲打断了。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 cuisine   

n.烹调，烹饪法

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• This restaurant is renowned for its cuisine.这家餐馆以其精美的饭菜而闻名。

4 shortcuts   

n.捷径( shortcut的名词复数 )；近路；快捷办法；被切短的东西（尤指烟草）

参考例句：

• In other words, experts want shortcuts to everything. 换句话说，专家需要所有的快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Offer shortcuts from the Help menu. 在帮助菜单中提供快捷方式。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 stewed   

adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏，兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅，还能煮鸡子吃！还要它？” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

6 clove   

n.丁香味

参考例句：

• If tired,smell a whiff of clove oil and it will wake you up.如果疲倦，闻上一点丁香油将令人清醒。
• A sweet-smell comes from roses and clove trees.丁香与玫瑰的香味扑鼻而来。

7 teaspoon   

n.茶匙

参考例句：

• Add one teaspoon of sugar.加一小茶匙糖。
• I need a teaspoon to stir my tea.我需要一把茶匙搅一搅茶。