Learn how cooking recipes gave national identity to Mexican cuisine

The publication of the first recipes in Mexico emerged in 1831, starting with them a new publishing genre not only in the country but throughout Latin America.

Libro de cocina arreglado a los usos y costumbres nacionales (1910) by Printing house E. GuerreroArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

The first Mexican recipes were attached in the context of the recent decolonization and the search for national references.

Libro de cocina arreglado a los usos y costumbres nacionales (1910) by Printing house E. GuerreroArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

The editors of the cookbooks helped forge a particular image of the Mexican nation through gastronomy, which turned out to be one of the most consistent and enduring expressions of nationality to this day.

Hombres desgranando maíz sobre un petate (1908)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico

The predominant aspects in Mexican recipes to provide the so-called mexicanization of the cuisine were first the typification of local ingredients and dishes and the creation of a national culinary repertoire.

Hombres cocinando en un horno de barro (1908)Archivo General de la Nación - Mexico

Cocina con hornos de piedra by C. B. WhiteArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

Libro de cocina arreglado a los usos y costumbres nacionales (1910) by Printing house E. GuerreroArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

The use of vernacular  Spanish was used for the implementation of a national culinary vocabulary that opened up to a new historical temporality through the appropriation and reinvention of precolonial kitchens.

Libro de cocina arreglado a los usos y costumbres nacionales (1910) by Printing house E. GuerreroArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

Over the years, the Mexican culinary narrative of highlighting the local ingredients and dishes of the country by the authors of the recipes wasrealized as  the main feature.

Restuarante de la Ciudad de México by Hermanos MayoArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

Restuarante de la Ciudad de México by Hermanos MayoArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

Libro de cocina arreglado a los usos y costumbres nacionales (1910) by Printing house E. GuerreroArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

This feature can be seen in the "Cookbook arranged to national customs and customs", first collection,published in 1910, which has in its various recipes of popular Mexican gastronomy dishes such as chillies stuffed with picadillo, butter-fried breasts, stuffed zucchini, chicken in adobo and egg polish.

Libro de cocina arreglado a los usos y costumbres nacionales (1910) by Printing house E. GuerreroArchivo General de la Nación - Mexico

The "Cookbook Arranged to National Uses and Customs" was published by E. Guerrero's defunest printing press, which was located at 101 Correo MayorStreet. Thistype of printing press played a very important role for the preservation of national popular culture by editing and publishing    countless recipes  and booklets of other themes, which people of that time could acquire.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Related theme
Taste Mexico
Taste Mexico: learn the histories, meet the makers, and discover the secret ingredient of Mexico's food culture
View theme