If you could keep only 1 cook book...

[2000lightyearsaway123]

What would it be?

I would like some new recipe ideas for day to day dinners. On the healthier side. And I love a cook book so want to treat myself with a new one .

Hit me with your favorites!

I think it depends who you are cooking for.

For a family Jamies Dinners or even Ministry of Food. I learned to cook properly from Ministry of Food but Jamies Dinners is probably one I used the most. Though I rarely refer to it now.

For healthy food any of the Hairy Bikers.

And for me and dh or family The Curry Secret is my absolute favourite. Indian curry was the thing I couldn't do like takeaways until I got that from recommendations on here.

Nosh Quick and Easy by Joy May. All of her books are amazing, good value meals that taste delicious. Quick to make and no measuring (uses a mug for everything). I buy other recipe books but they linger unused most of the time.

I have far too many cookery books, but my favourite has to be a really large Keith Floyd one, which tells you what to look for when buying meat, different sauces and dressings, French and British classics, just a superb book. Also a Madhur Jaffrey book which I have had for about twenty years.

The Leon fast vegetarian/fast vegan

I'd cry if I could only have one! By healthy do you mean low calorie? I don't own anything of that nature but I hear A pinch of Nom is the go to for that kind of stuff. I have HFW Veg everyday - I hated it, lacked inspiration, knew how to cook most of the things already - bit too everyday imo but it depends what you're after.

I'm enjoying Middle Eastern food at the minute and am loving the inventiveness of Rawia Bishara, both her books are quite amazing. And for days when I don't feel so much like slaving in the kitchen Diana Henry SIMPLE: effortless food, big flavours, you can tell she loves her food!

Dishoom is my current favourite - everything I've tried has been amazing.

My own that I've put together from various recommendations, tried and tested things from the net etc.

I couldn't choose one. I have hundreds and love them. Collecting cookbooks is my passion.

My top options that fit into your category would be

Diana Henry change of appetite .

Ottolenghi simple

Nigel slaters eat

Rick stein coast to coast

Valentine Warner's the good table

@waitingforadulthood
I have that Valentine Warner book but don't tend to pull it out much. Are there any recipes in there that you'd recommend?

Mrs Beeton all about cookery..

@TimeWastingButFun I do this too - I have an online and a Lever- arched version - I kick myself when I use an online recipe and then find it has vanished on the next search.

Nigella's How to Eat - I learned 'grownup' cooking from it over 20 years ago, and still use it loads now. I don't rate her later ones though.

Greengreengrass

I'm away from my books at the moment but-

Moussaka

Chilli con carne - note, he has a FAR higher tolerance for spice than me, so I use fewer chillis

Pickled onion steak and ale pudding

Venison curry

Baby onion pancetta pasta

Chicken stuffed with barley and liver

Duck breast with radish and broad beans

Squid with haricot beans and chard

Scallops in ponzu

Those are just the ones I make regularly, if I had the book I could suggest more

Tamasin's kitchen bible by Tamasin Day Lewis. I have about 30 cookbooks that i dip in and out of but it's a great cookery basics book.

I don’t tend to use cookbooks for everyday dinners. I’d probably keep a curry book but please don’t limit me to one! Fresh India or Vegan Richa are the two I tend to use most.

I have a bit of a cookbook addiction so would struggle to choose but recently I’ve been cooking a fair bit from Moorish by Ben Tish and Comfort by John Whaite. They’ll never beat the classics but are both lovely modern cook books with very appealing recipes.

@wildthingsinthenight

I have loads but I love Nigella's first one How To Eat as you can read it like a novel too. Also my new one Midnight Chicken by Ella Risbridger is fab

I have just been given Midnight Chicken as a present - I hadn't heard of it before but it looks interesting. Are there any recipes you particularly recommend? Also have How to Eat, which I have only used a few times & should use more