Tell me about your favourite cookbooks

[Catinthecorner]

DH and I are talking about a new kitchen and to celebrate I might purchase a cookbook or two. Tell me about the ones you love and why!

It depends what types food you like!

Or are you looking for a more general cookbook with assorted recipes?

I have used nigella’s feast a lot. The chocolate cake hall of fame in it is excellent.

@fawndrench good question. I’m pretty broad in range, but not a big sweet/dessert fan. I generally avoid too much stodge.

Savoury wise I’m fairly easy going, yes to Spanish/Italian/Indian/Asian/middle eastern/Mexican/pretty much anything. Currently loving Persiana (only years after everyone else). Love both simple supper/after work get it done type stuff and more dinner party type food.

My favourite cookbook is Persiana! Her other books are fab too but in my opinion that’s the best one. Others I love are Rick Stein’s Thailand book, some brilliant stuff in there, and also the ‘what Katie ate’ series. Marcus Wareing ‘new classics’ has some brilliant recipes in especially simple midweek meals.

Apples for jam by Tessa Kiros is one of my favourite books. I also came on to look for recipe book inspiration, so I’m glad you posted op.

@purpledaisies I assumed feast was all ‘occassion’ food (Xmas, etc). Was I wrong?

@1sttimeunicorn I’m so glad someone else likes it still! I have Rick Stein’s road to Mexico and am guilty of looking at the recipes and then not cooking them. I love the ideas, time to turn them to actions. Is the Thai one the Eastern odyssey?

@laughteronthewing I’d have never looked at that one as if I noticed it I would have assumed it was all sweet stuff. Good spot.

I love asian flavours so here are a few re ommemdations. Rick stein’s ,Eastern Odyssey’ is great - when I’ve cooked anything I’ve eaten in SE Asia It has been an excellent recreation. ‘Amazing Malaysian’ by Norman Musa is more narrow but equally great - the satay sauce recipe is worth the book price alone. I’m currently loving ‘Japaneasy’ by masterchef winner Tim Anderson - it required a quick specialist shop but has definately been worth it. ‘Sichuan cookery’ by Fuchsia Dunlop is another classic with clear, well written recipes that opened my eyes to a whole new area of cooking.

Diana Henry is a great cookbook author. I’ve got 5+ of her books and have cooked some gems from each of them. ‘Roast figs, sugar snow’ is great for wintry food, ‘ crazy water, pickled lemon has lighter stuff.

Feast has some occasion food but loads of nice recipes for slightly nicer than normal everyday (fish pie, pasta dishes, a really good aubergine bake).

I've said this before on a similar thread but my favourite is Vefa's Kitchen. It's Greek and Cypriot food.

I love Jerusalem too but have had it since Xmas and not made anything yet. I think I just like the pics.

Jamie's America and Nigella's Kitchen have recipes in them I've made so many times I know them by heart.

I have 77 cookbooks and second lots of those mentioned above... Jerusalem, anything Fuchsia Dunlop, Diana Henry (Simple is great and if you like chicken the A Bird in the Hand), I've got 3 by Sabrina Ghayour and agree Persiana is the best of the bunch.

I also love Nigel Slater (I have 7 of his!)

If you like middle eastern food I recently bought Zaitoun which is Palestinian and really nice.

I have a bunch of Italian books - Locatelli, Anna del Conte, Gino D'Acampo (pasta book is great!), River Cafe Italian, Polpo, Bocca - I'd probably go with Locatelli Made in Italy tbh.

If you like veggie food you can't go wrong with Anna Jones.

And randomly the Hairy Bikers books are great too - I have the perfect pies one and absolutely love it.

Hmmm feeling inspired to spend the evening with my cookbooks now!

Oh and I forgot Rick Stein - the far eastern odyssey is great, but I'd also suggest his India book. I have both Meera Sodha books which I love, but Rick really does make a great curry (although less everyday than a look of the Meera Sodha Indian recipes).

My cookbook that gets the most use is Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals. No, they don’t take 15 minutes, but they are v yummy especially the fish recipes and have to be pretty easy by definition(I am not a great cook). I also feel because there isn’t a huge amount of actual cooking going on he has had to compensate by putting in some great flavours - the tagine with the preserved lemons and saffron and olives is my favourite meal, I could eat it every other day.

Made in India - Meera Sodha

Apples for Jam is also my favourite and I would reccomemd any of Diana Henry's books. If you prefer lighter food, A Change of Appetite is a good one of hers to get. Also based on what you have said you like to eat, I would recommend the Moro cookbooks.

Tom kerridge, called lose weight for good or something.
I use it ALL the time. Huge portions, and it’s all delicious. DP loves it too. Not really ‘diet’ food, just seems to be low carb, but easy to add accompaniments. Seems to have little certain tweaks to things that takes them to another level. He does faff with roasting mince which I don’t bother doing, but it’s ace.
Favourite recipes from it: turkey ragu, lasagne, chicken with mascarpone and tomato sauce, chickpea and spinach curry.

I have a couple of Donna Hay books that I like.

Persiana is a well thumbed number in my kitchen.

Also Plenty and Plenty More by Ottolenghi, which are heavy on the veg. I’m trying to eat more veg.

I have a huge tome called Silver Spoon which I think is an Italian version of a Mrs Beeton/ Delia Smith and if you have a veg glut from your garden, will furnish you with a dozen recipes for eating said veg!

For the winter, I like the Covent Garden Soup recipe books. Always good for soup Inspo.

Like the sound of ‘Japaneasy’. Love an excuse to go cookbook shopping!

Nigel Slater, as much for reading as cooking from. Use quite a few of Jamie's books - have most of the early ones, Naked Chef, Return of NC etc. Also like Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey, and the Hairy Bikers Asian Adventure is also good.

Delia's Complete Cookery Course for Yorkshire puds, Victoria sandwich, oven timings and temperatures etc - i.e. for anything where you have to follow a recipe properly! Also have her Summer and Winter books - the hot and spicy prawns in the summer book is one of my desert island dishes.

The Australian Women's Weekly books are brilliant at pared down recipes - I use the Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese ones constantly and the barbecue book has my favourite satay sauce recipe.

Morning!

That looks fab redgreen, I an jealous! Crafts are not my strong point and christmas is tge one time I really wish it was!

Well I spent a lovely hour yesterday sat with a cup of going through Delias Happy Christmas, making lists of all the recipes I want to give a go. Hoping to do the same woth Nigella today!

Happy sunday everyone!

Whoops wrong thread