Steven Raichlen's Healthy Latin Cooking: 200 Sizzling Recipes from Mexico, Cuba, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Beyond

In trimming a cuisine notoriously high in fats and cholesterol, James Beard and IACP Award winner Raichlen (Miami Spice) relies on today's popular approaches, increasing the ratio of vegetables and fruits to meat, and creating rich flavors with herbs, spices and chicken and vegetable stock. Nutritional data is provided for each recipe as it's usually prepared and for Raichlen's revision. To lighten his Jalapeno Poppers, Raichlen employs a favorite method he calls bake-frying, whereby food, lightly sprayed with oil, is oven-baked rather than deep-fried (reducing the per-popper fat from 11.3 grams to 1.4). Guacamole contains half the usual fat when lightened with tomatillos. Tostones--plantain slices usually fried twice--are simmered first in chicken stock and then bake-fried. Paella is healthier with reduced oil, skinless chicken breasts and dry-cured country ham instead of pork sausage. Huevos Rancheros are made with egg substitute; Picadillo becomes Turkey Picadillo with ground turkey breast substituting for beef. Grains and vegetables receive their due in dishes like Quinoa Salad and Yuca with Garlic-Lime Sauce. For fans of Latin fare who must cut their fat intake, Raichlen's latest collection offers comfort food. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Oct.)