The Homesick Texan Cookbook

Lisa Fain, a seventh-generation Texan who relocated to New York City, channels her nostalgia for home into this collection of recipes and stories. After finding local options lacking in authenticity, she began cooking traditional dishes for friends and later shared them via her blog, Homesick Texan, which quickly gained a global readership. This volume translates that online community’s appetite into print, offering a diverse array of Lone Star State flavors. The book covers regional specialties from across Texas, including El Paso’s Salpicón shredded beef salad, Dallas-style Soft Cheese Tacos, and Houston’s Green Salsa made with avocado and tomatillos. Readers will find comfort food staples like cheese enchilillas with chili gravy and chicken-fried steak alongside creative twists such as Coffee-Chipotle Oven Brisket and Guajillo-Chile Fish Tacos. The collection also includes appetizers like Chipotle Pimento Cheese, sweet desserts including Coconut Tres Leches Cake, and classic chili prepared without beans. Fain’s approach reflects the state’s varied culinary history, drawing from potlucks, church suppers, and backyard barbecues. While the prose is described as evocative and unpretentious, the content is strictly focused on Texan home cooking traditions. This book suits those seeking specific regional American dishes or expatriates missing familiar flavors. It may not appeal to readers looking for modernist cuisine or non-Texan Southern styles.