Best Italian cookbook with everyday recipes

11 replies

elliej83 · 17/12/2017 19:37

I want to buy an Italian cookbook for a present for someone but not one that’s going to have a million and one ingredients. Something that you could make for a weekday tea inside. Don’t mind a little complex but some of them get ridiculous. Any favourites?

OP posts:

PerfumeIsAMessage · 17/12/2017 19:39

Diane Seed's 100 pasta recipes.

It's not sexy, there are no photos, but every dish is quick, authentic, and works.

HeyMuggins · 17/12/2017 19:40

Jamie's Italy
Nigella: Kitchen and/or Simply Nigella
Marcella Hazan for proper proper!

Jeanvaljean27 · 17/12/2017 19:45

Stick with the classics.

Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classical Italian Cookery.

Claudia Roden's The Food of Italy.

Or the book every Italian mother gives her daughter on her wedding day, The Silver Spoon (published by phaidon in the UK).

HeyMuggins · 17/12/2017 19:47

Argh curse you OP. Now I have to add The Silver Spoon to my already overflowing Amazon basket

worriedaboutchristmas · 17/12/2017 23:15

I don't rate Jamie's Italy AT ALL. I'm sorry, but the man is so wedded to chillis that I can only presume he has shares in the market. And I say that as a chilli lover.

I second the silver spoon as the actual giftable tome that the Italians would approve of, but also this antonio-carluccio.co.uk/books/two-greedy-italians/ greedy Italians book- the gnocchi, pasta and chicken dumpling soup are sublime and the book depicts a modern Italy with genuine, easy to follow recipes.

TheOriginalNNB · 17/12/2017 23:17

The Silver Spoon

No idea who it’s by but we have it. It’s a mahoosive hardback with literally hundreds of recipes. Some easy, some more complex. All gorgeous.

Would make a great gift (prob £20+ though)

TheOriginalNNB · 17/12/2017 23:18

Massive cross post there, soz!

Crispbutty · 17/12/2017 23:19

I use a lot of Gino d’acampo recipes and his books are easy to follow

Zhx3 · 17/12/2017 23:23

This is one that I bought in Italy, which has been translated. I really like it! It is a pasta cookbook, though. I'm not sure the links are working, copy and paste if not!

www.abebooks.co.uk/Recipes-Pasta-Italian-Cuisine-Paperback/17668480922/bd

BurnTheBlackSuit · 17/12/2017 23:26

Another vote for the Silver Spoon. It is literally brilliant.

frenchfancy · 18/12/2017 11:04

I'm not a great fan of the Silver Spoon - yes it has loads of recipes but there is no text to go with them, no serving suggestions or - this is easy for a Friday night. It is certainly not where I would turn to for an easy midweek meal.

That said I don't have a perfect italian book to recommend, but am always on the lookout. I've just put Ginos Italian escape on my wishlist.

Flip