Diasporican: A Puerto Rican Cookbook by Illyanna Maisonet

I have been eagerly awaiting this debut cookbook from Maisonet, the first Puerto Rican food columnist in the US, and am thrilled that her bold (and often funny) voice is undiminished in Diasporican. As forces have dispersed generations of Puerto Ricans, food remains a vital thread—a connection that Maisonet explores through history, memory, and recipes. The result is a collection of delicious traditional dishes (with Taino, African, and Spanish influences) like Arroz con Gandules, pasteles, and the essential sofrito, as well as those that (by necessity or impact) incorporate ingredients from the diaspora. “A delicious journey through purpose, place, and the power of food.” —José Andrés.

—S.B.