Review: The Basque Book by Alexandra Raij

Everything Basque, from scrambled eggs to squid in ink

I received The Basque Book from Blogging for Books  (a fun program that involves free books and a place to talk about them) in exchange for this review.

A cookbook, a story, and, as its subtitle declares, “a love letter in recipes,” Alexandra Raij’s The Basque Book celebrates traditional cuisine from northern Spain. The book narrates the author’s ongoing relationship with Basque cooking, from her introduction to the tradition (by way of her future husband, a native of the region) to her adventures at the Basque restaurant she and her husband began.

The recipes in The Basque Book center around simple ingredients prepared with creativity and care. Traditional Basque cooking relies heavily on seasonal, homegrown food, resulting in recipes centered around an array of vegetables, meats including seafood and rabbit, eggs, and abundant olive oil and salt. Staple sauces and broths, such as mayonnaise, vegetable marmalade, and fish stock, appear frequently. Because of this, the cookbook begins with a section on basics before exploring vegetables, eggs, soups, and other categories. Each section includes a mix of casual and complex dishes, from soft-boiled eggs (with instructions to pierce the shell with a pin for easier peeling) to the unique and difficult “squid in its ink.”

The Basque Book abounds with lively, detailed descriptions of the culture and cooking of this region. Each recipe begins with an introduction to the dish—its charming characteristics, fascinating history, or personal connection to the author. Beyond simply laying out the steps for preparing the dish, the instructions offer advice for mastering the recipe, such as notes on appearance, suggestions for navigating challenges, and ideas for plating appealingly. Colorful photographs of fresh vegetables, Spanish landscapes, and delectable food are scattered throughout the cookbook, as are page-long musings on the connections between food and daily life for traditional Basque communities and for the author’s family.

With its deeply personal tone, artistic design, and rich traditional recipes, The Basque Book welcomes readers into the culture surrounding Basque cooking.