Veracruz All Natural

Reyna and Maritza Vazquez grew up in Veracruz, Mexico. A rural coastal region, it is famous for its colorful, healthful cuisine. In Veracruz, cooking with red meat is rare, and local dishes are vegetable-forward with proteins like fish, shellfish, chicken, and eggs. Such are the one hundred recipes in Veracruz All Natural, inspired mostly by the home cooking with which the women grew up, along with easy favorites from their restaurants.

Throughout, Reyna and Maritza tell the story of their food, which, in turn, is their story: In 2008, they walked across the Mexican-US border. They made their way to Austin, Texas, where they sold roadside ices. With their first profit, they opened a humble food truck, and then a few more. Now, they have a fleet, plus a restaurant, La Fonda. It won a Michelin Gourmand Award last year. They are local heroes with a national story, beloved for their unparalleled food, of course, but also for their generosity, grit, and openness about their immigrant story.

Beautifully photographed in Austin, the recipes include:

- El Breakfast Taco
- Chicken and Vegetable Stew (Puchero de Pollo y Verduras)
- Shrimp and Scallop Aguachile (Aguachile de Camarón y Callo)
- Veracruz-Style Snapper (Huachinango a la Veracruzana)
- Achiote and Citrus-Braised Pork (Cochinita Pibil)
- Whole-Wheat Conchas (Conchas Integrales)
- Cantaloupe-Seed Horchata (Horchata de Semilla de Melón)