From plant-based bakes to sizzling South American recipes, there’s a cookbook to suit everyone’s taste. But sometimes, the sheer choice on bookshelves can make picking one tricky – whether you’re shopping for a gift or treating yourself to some culinary inspiration.
To give you a helping hand, we’ve pulled together some of our favourite cookbooks from the last few years.
1. Dishoom: From Bombay with Love
If you love Indian food, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with Dishoom, the restaurant chain that’s revolutionised Indian fusion cuisine in the UK.
Whether you’re already a fan of their legendary black dhal or just want to see what all the fuss is about, you can find out more with their book: Dishoom: From Bombay With Love.
To call this a cookbook does it a disservice. It’s essentially a love letter to Bombay, an homage to its fascinating food history, and a photobook that transports you to the most fascinating corners of this unique city. And of course, there are many recipes too, along with chef secrets. Learn how to make jackfruit biryani, masala chai, bacon naan, okra fries, and that iconic black dhal.
2. The Complete XXL Air Fryer Cookbook UK, by Marcus Harrington
If you’ve recently bought an air fryer – or you’re thinking about it – you’re definitely not the only one!
We’ve already written articles on the best air fryers and the best air fryer recipes, and if you’re looking for more inspiration, this next book might be for you. Marcus Harrington’s book will teach you everything you need to know about the kitchen appliance that’s taken over the world.
In The Complete XXL Air Fryer Cookbook UK, you’ll learn which foods are best to cook in an air fryer and the benefits and drawbacks of using one. You’ll also discover some of the very best air fryer recipes around – from breakfast and lunch recipes to dinner and snacks.
Air fryers aren’t only healthy and convenient ways of cooking, but they’re also incredibly versatile – and this book will prove just that.
3. Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love, by Yotam Ottolenghi
Yotam Ottolenghi needs no introduction in the culinary world. His book, Shelf Love, focuses on making something to cook with what you already have at home.
If you ever find yourself looking through your kitchen cupboard but having no idea how to create a tasty meal from what you’ve got, this book is for you.
Recipes are deliberately flexible too, allowing you to adapt them to what you have to hand, but each one is delicious – from the ultimate creamy hummus to a quick tandoori chicken and a tantalisingly tasty tomato salad.
4. Nistisima, by Georgina Hayden
A recipe book based on fasting may sound strange, but there’s a reason this book was the winner of the Observer Food Monthly best cookbook and a Sunday Times bestseller.
Written by award-winning author Georgina Hayden, this book explores the beauty of fasting in the Mediterranean (Nistisima means ‘fasting’ in Greek), and the recipes prove that meat doesn’t have to be the heart of a dish.
Nistisima: The secret to delicious Mediterranean vegan food (to use its full title!) focuses on the simplicity of cooking, yet these plant-based recipes are absolutely mouthwatering – from pumpkin, raisin and harissa pie to Greek ratatouille and rose pudding.
Whether you’re vegan, want to reduce the amount of meat you eat, or would just like to discover new recipes, this book ticks all the boxes.
5. Kin Thai, by John Chantarasak
British-Thai chef John Chantarasak made a name for himself on the BBC show, Great British Menu, and, in 2022, he released his first book: Kin Thai.
Though he was raised in Wales, Chantarasak regularly visited his father’s native Thailand, where he learned traditional cooking techniques from his grandmother. Now, he uses his unique experiences to expertly marry British and Thai influences.
Kin Thai is packed with colourful recipes that are big on flavour. Chapters are structured by dish, from snacks to curries, stir-fries, and salads, so it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.
The book examines how traditional recipes can be amplified and modernised with Western ingredients, and the recipes are varied and delicious. Highlights include roast duck red curry and rhubarb hot and sour soup.
6. Meliz’s Kitchen, by Meliz Berg
If you’re a fan of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food, this next book might be for you.
Turkish-Cypriot cook Meliz Berg already has a loyal following online, and she’s now turned her attention to books. Meliz’s Kitchen is a celebration of modern and traditional Turkish-Cypriot cuisine and the unique flavours that influence it – and this book collates the best of her recipes.
There’s something for every palate and occasion here. Whether you’re looking for lavish dinner party recipes or quick meals you can rustle up in minutes, Meliz’s Kitchen has lots to offer.
From tasty mezze dishes like stuffed vine leaves and comforting dinners like Cypriot pasta bake or creamy moussaka to syrup-soaked pastry dishes like tahini and carob molasses baklava, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
7. The Spanish Home Kitchen, by José Pizarro
Celebrated chef and restaurateur José Pizarro might own three London restaurants, but his heart still lies in his native Spain.
In this culinary chronicle, Pizarro travels back to his family home in the village of Talaván, in central-western Spain. This was the place where he learned about food – not only how to cook it, but how to grow it – and where he still draws inspiration from today.
As the name suggests, this book is a celebration of Spanish home cooking at its best. It contains more than 80 of Pizarro’s famous recipes – some of which were passed down from his mother and grandmother, others which are gathered from all over Spain.
Highlights include girolle and walnut croquetas, seared squid with caramelised fennel and onion, and cherries in syrup with pistachio ice cream.
8. On The Himalayan Trail, by Romy Gill
British-Indian chef, broadcaster, and author Romy Gill has written about regional Indian food before, but this time, she’s exploring the Himalayan trail – the regions of Kashmir and Ladakh, where the food is influenced by Mughal, Persian, Afghan and Central Asian styles of cooking.
Packed with recipes, stories, and photos of the snow-capped Himalayas, this book is as beautiful as it is inspiring.
Throughout the book, Gill examines the life and history of the Kashmiri and Ladakhi people, and why their little-known cuisine plays such a vital role in their culture.
Recipes include deep-fried aubergine, Kashmiri rogan josh, minced lamb patties, and morel mushrooms cooked in spicy gravy. These mouthwatering creations shine a light on the magnificent cuisine of this special part of the world.
9. Feel Good Food, by Joe Wicks
Bestselling fitness guru Joe Wicks’ books are consistently bestsellers, and this one is no exception.
Packed with energising, healthy, and satisfying recipes, Feel Good Food focuses on family-friendly meals that are delicious, budget-friendly, and go a long way to boosting physical and mental health. What we eat can transform our mood and this book sets out to demonstrate that.
From quick yet energy-boosting breakfasts that’ll carry you over to the afternoon to simple weeknight dinners and indulgent feasts for friends, there are recipes for everyone here.
There are also plenty of ideas for healthy snacks and stress-free cooking, and Joe shares plenty of his own home-cooking hacks along the way too.
10. Meat-Free Mexican, by Thomasina Miers
In recent years, Mexican food has rocketed in popularity across the UK – and the success of chain restaurant Wahaca is a testament to that.
Not content with making mouthwatering and authentic Mexican food accessible in this country, Wahaca founder Thomasina Miers is now setting out to prove that Mexican food doesn’t have to be meat-centric.
Celebrating seasonal vegetables, flavoursome pulses, and punchy herbs, Meat-Free Mexican is full of enticing vegetarian and vegan recipes that’ll flood your kitchen with colour, flavour, and fragrance.
The pages are bursting with crowd-pleasing tacos, enchiladas smothered with fiery chillies, zingy salsas, smoky moles, seriously satisfying sweet treats, and delectable drinks.
11. Bread Ahead, by Matthew Jones
If you’ve ever been to London’s Borough Market, there’s a very good chance you’ll have noticed the Bread Ahead stall – it’s the one that always has throngs of people circling it, drooling at their sweet and savoury baked goods!
And if you’ve always wanted to become a master baker, or dreamed of making cakes worthy of The Great British Bake Off, this might be the book for you…
Featuring over 90 classic baking recipes, Bread Ahead will be your new baking bible, whatever your skill level.
If you have a sweet tooth, you might be tempted by the chocolate chip cookies, Victoria sponge, or millefeuille, and if you prefer savoury, you can master the perfect sourdough. There’s even a whole chapter dedicated to Bread Ahead’s famous filled doughnuts!
12. Sicilia, by Ben Tish
There was a time when Italian food was lumped into one bracket, but things are quite different today.
Ben Tish’s Sicilia explores the uniqueness and beauty of Sicilian food – and this particular style of Italian cooking is arguably the most diverse. With influence from mainland Italy, North Africa, and Middle Eastern cuisines at its heart, Sicilian food absolutely deserves its own book.
Sicily is a land of contrasts – a place where ornate glamour sits beside frugal humility – and its cuisine is just as contradictory.
In Sicilia, Tish explores the complex history and culture of the local food, and the recipes will leave your mouth watering. Think saffron arancini, smoky artichokes with lemon and garlic, roasted squid, aubergines stuffed with pork, bitter chocolate torte, and limoncello semifreddo.
13. West Winds, by Riaz Phillips
If you love Jamaican and Caribbean food or just want to learn more about Caribbean culture and cooking from an award-winning food writer, you’ll almost certainly enjoy West Winds.
Riaz Phillips might have grown up in London, but throughout his childhood, he ate mostly Caribbean food, and in his new book, he celebrates the food of his past while looking to the dishes of the future.
West Winds is so much more than a collection of recipes, it’s a homage to the Jamaican heritage, landscape, and people. Packed with sun-drenched photos, personal anecdotes, and stories about the Rastafari culture and Ital food, it’ll definitely get your sense of wanderlust going!
Recipe highlights include langoustine soup, red pea soup, veggie curry, and all kinds of delectable bakes.
14. Notes From a Small Kitchen Island, by Debora Robertson
Nigella Lawson claimed that she wanted to eat “every single recipe in this book”, which tells you just how good it is.
Deborah Robertson’s Notes From a Small Kitchen Island is for you if you enjoy reading beautiful food writing just as much as you enjoy dreaming about recipes and cooking them. This book by the renowned food writer is a story about a life lived for food.
Through her prose, Robertson transports you to the places where she learned the most about food, sharing her stories and recipes as she does so.
From leek and ham hock pudding to a succulent plum cake (and an intriguing Meemaw’s Texan margarita pie!), there’s a recipe for every palate here. And because the recipes range from simple to spectacular, there’s one for every occasion too.
Final thoughts…
A good cookbook doesn’t just inspire you to don your apron and head straight to the kitchen, it also has the power to transport you to other countries and cultures.
Food has a way of joining all kinds of people, no matter where we’re from. And by sharing recipes and culinary stories, it’s easy to feel connected to other places, no matter how far away they may be.
Hopefully, there’s at least one book on this list that tantalises your taste buds and leaves you feeling inspired… because after all, that’s what cooking is all about.
For more cookbook recommendations, you might want to check out our article: 17 recipe books to satisfy your culinary curiosity.
Are you interested in any of these cookbooks? Or have you read any other good cookbooks this year? We’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments below.