One of the questions that came up repeatedly in the wake of my last post was about recipe books. I’ll be the first to admit that I have a huge weakness for food related titles.
I read recipe books like other people read novels and my Amazon wish list is almost exclusively filled with publications from up-and-coming cooks and world-famous chefs. My dream kitchen features floor-to-ceiling shelves so I can continue adding to my collection without ever worrying that I’ll run out of space.
Despite the wealth of titles currently on display in my kitchen, there’s still a select group of favourites that remain in constant rotation. These are the books I wouldn’t be without, the titles that tend to shape my weekly meal plans, and the tomes that I turn to again and again for inspiration and advice.
Although I enjoy all of the books in the bestselling Leon series, this is definitely the one I reach for the most. A book of two halves, it begins with fast food for every occasion, while the second half features meals that can be made in advance when you have time to spare, to be enjoyed when you don’t.
While it’s not a true vegetarian recipe book, it’s ideal for those of you that want to reduce the amount of meat in your diet as it’s treated as a side dish rather than the main event. A number of my favourite family friendly veggie meals are taken from the pages of this book.
Be sure to try: Dalston Sweet Potato Curry, Quick Bean and Lettuce Stew, Mima’s Greek-ish Butter Beans, and Coconut Chicken and Petis Pois Curry {which works perfectly with Quorn too}.
As a self-confessed Nigella fan girl, I own each and every one of her recipe books, but this is probably the one I enjoy reading and cooking from the most. A compendium of sorts, it not only contains a wealth of mouth-watering recipes, it’s also packed full of practical advice regarding kitchen equipment and store cupboard ingredients. Almost every dish includes clear instructions for making ahead or freezing and there are also clever suggestions for using up leftovers.
A contender for kitchen bible status, it effortlessly blends weekday meals with dinner party fodder. You’ll find indulgent cakes next to simple bakes and huge Sunday dinners alongside the lightest of lunches. In short, I think it covers all bases and would make a perfect introduction to cooking for fledgling chefs.
Be sure to try: Mexican Lasagna with Avocado Salsa, Marmalade Pudding Cake, Praised Chicken, Flourless Chocolate Lime Cake with Margarita Cream, Asian Braised Beef with Hot and Sour Shredded Salad, and Beer-Braised Beef Casserole.
Jamie Oliver’s publications for time-poor people who want to eat well are without doubt the books I use most. They are not without their flaws. It’s been well documented that the recipes can’t really be completed in the allotted time, but strip away the gimmicky USP and you’ve still got a collection of recipes ideal for those of you looking for healthy fast food.
My advice when cooking from this book in particular is to ignore the full meal suggestions and zero-in on a single main course, perhaps with a side dish or salad. Carefully read through the entire recipe, picking out the instructions that apply, and feel free to tweak things to suit the way you work best in the kitchen.
Be sure to try: Pregnant Jools’s Pasta, Summer Veg Lasagna, Curry Rogan Josh and Carrot Salad, Chicken Pie with all the sides, and Asian-Style Salmon with Noodle Broth.
The format of this book is much simpler than 30 Minute Meals and I use it more as a result. Its tour de force is the incredible array of salads littered throughout. Getting to grips with the combinations suggested revolutionised the way we eat and inspired me to make salad a main event at every meal.
Be sure to try: Golden Chicken with Braised Greens and Potato Gratin, Cajun Steak with Smoky Baked Beans and Collard Greens, Ultimate Pork Tacos with Spicy Black Beans and Avocado Garden Salad, Killer Kedgeree, Broccoli Pasta, and Prawn Linguine.
Baking is a big part of what goes on in my kitchen. While I possess countless titles dedicated to the art of making cakes, biscuits, brownies and more, this is the book I return to again and again. Whether you’re a keen pastry chef or preparing to make your first cake, Nigella’s quintessential baking book will be a welcome addition to your library.
Be sure to try: Victoria Sponge and all its variations, Snickerdoodles, American Breakfast Pancakes, Blackberry Galette, Plum and Pecan Crumble, Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake, Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes, Snickers and Peanut-Butter Muffins, and Coca Cola Cake.
Now it’s your turn. Which recipe books do you reach for the most? Which titles couldn’t you live without?
Love Audrey xxx
I love the chatty style of Nigella’s books, and I find them hard to resist too! A couple of years ago an ex-boyfriend bought me the Larousse Gastronomique for Christmas. It’s not something I use every day, but if there’s an ingredient in a new recipe that I am unfamiliar with it’s the first place I turn. It also lends a satisfying heft to my recipe shelf 🙂
I’d never heard of Larousse Gastronomique, but after Googling I think I need it!
xxx
I love cookbooks too! I’m currently on a self-imposed spending ban as I’ve got around 40 and don’t use them all. I’m glad to see some of your favourites are ones I use often too. I adore Nigella’s Kitchen too amd Jamie’s 15 Minute Meals. Have you got his Save With Jamie book? It’s got some fab recipes especially the fish pie and the chilli and Mary Berry’s new one (Cooks the Perfect…) has some great recipes that I’m enjoying trying out.
Have a lovely weekend x
I had a big cull of recipe books before we moved house, purely so I could buy new ones once we were settled! Save With Jamie is definitely on my wish list.
xxx
I too am a Nigella fan. One of my favourites of hers is Nigella Express. Try the Minute Steaks with Potato & Mushroom Gratin and Macaroni Cheese (with naughty cheats cheese and condensed milk sauce!). But my favourite all time ever cook book is Delia Smiths Complete Collection. It’s filled cover to cover with the tastes of my childhood and the recipes always delight, nourish and most importantly…work. Delia is my cooking guru, she can do no wrong. I can’t even say which are my favourite recipes, they are too numerous to list, you just have to try them all
I have Nigella Express and use it all the time. My favourites are the Curry in a Hurry and the Red Prawn and Mango Curry.
Intrigued by your passion for Delia as I really associate her recipes with my mum and my gran. I only have one of her titles {Frugal Food}, but I’ve photocopied recipes from their books and love some of the things I’ve tried. Her Summer book in particular holds fond memories as my mum used it a lot in the mid-90s. Very tempted by the Complete Cookery Course, it’s only a tenner on Amazon at the moment!
xxx
Sitting down with a coffee/wine, poring over cookbooks is one of my favourite things to do. Whether whilst doing the online shop or planning a meal with friends, It really is one of my favourite things to do.
I love jamie and nigella too! Although, I agree that there are flaws with the 30 min one (I don’t have the 15mins). I have the Leon, Ingredients & recipe one and love it…the chilli recipe is my favourite.
I really would struggle to pick my top 5. But here goes (it’ll probably change next week):
1. Jerusalem, Ottolenghi
2. Everyday , bill grainger
3. The Kitchen Diaries, nigel slater
4. Kitchen & Co, French & Grace
5. A bird in the hand, Diana Henry
I’m exactly the same Leeanne, sometimes I plan menus for fantasy dinner parties and I have a permanent mental list of recipes I want to try.
Love your Top 5. I’m really keen to add something by Ottolenghi to my collection. I’ve bought ‘Plenty’ for friends, but I don’t own it myself. I love Nigel Slater’s food writing, but I don’t own any of his books either. Must rectify this. Bird in the Hand had been mentioned a few times in the last week, I’m very tempted! Hmmm… sharing this post could end up costing me quite a bit of money. Now I want ALL THE BOOKS!
xxx
Ah, I have all of those too. Love Nigella and often settle down with a glass of wine to read How to Eat or How to be a Domestic Goddess. I’d be very hard pressed to choose my top 5 as I’m also a cookbook fanatic but Nigel Slater’s The Kitchen Diaries 1&2 would definitely make it on there. I’m also very fond of Appetite, another Nigel book and Jamie O’s Cook with Jamie. For baking, Dan Lepard’s Short & Sweet is also great and I also love Plenty.
One of my favourite Nigella’s that gets read all year is Nigella’s Christmas – I love that book and it never fails to make me feel Christmassy – even in summer!
There’s also a wonderful vegetarian book called The Vegetarian Epicure. It’s definitely a product of it’s time (1960’s / 70’s) and I’ve inherited my mum’s copy. It’s written by Anna Thomas and it’s def worth a look. Next one on my must buy list is Simon Hopkinson’s Roast Chicken and Other Stories…I could go on but I’d be here all day!
Xxx
PS love the new look.