My 10 Favourite Cookbooks

So let's be honest, most of us love cooking, but dread the cleaning process after. Having said that, with this coronavirus pandemic, we now all have plenty of time to cook, clean and chill after. Due to this, I have decided to list my top 10 cookbooks which you will surely find useful for your kitchen endeavours.

Even after the lockdown is over, you will find them all very handy!

1- Hawksmoor at Home: Meat - Seafood - Sides - Breakfasts - Puddings - Cocktails

Carnivores will love this cookbook from the Hawksmoor team, a truly epic guide to steak, seafood and all sorts of sides. As well as recipes, this book instructs readers on how to buy and cook the best steak, shares a method on how to make ‘the best burger in Britain’ and even includes a cracking beef Sunday roast suggestion. Alongside the food there are also cocktail recipes and wine pairing suggestions for various meals - a must for those who love to entertain. You will surely love this cookbook if you are a meat lover!

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

2- Falastin: A Cookbook

Written by two members of the Yotam Ottolenghi cookbook team, Sami Tamimi and Tara Wigley, the book shares over 110 modern and contemporary recipes that have been reworked in the Ottolenghi test kitchen for the modern home cook. Tamimi worked in West Jerusalem and Tel Aviv before moving to London in 1997 where he was head chef at the deli Baker & Spice. Here he met Yotam Ottolenghi, an Israeli who also grew up in Jerusalem. Ottolenghi left in 2001 to start his own place, and Tamimi joined not long after; they have been business partners ever since.

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

3- Dishoom: The first ever cookbook from the much-loved Indian restaurant

Dishoom’s waiting times are almost as famous as its signature Indian dishes, but week seven into lockdown and we would give anything to be queueing outside for a bacon naan. Fortunately for all of us, the restaurant has its own cookbook detailing the recipes for its much-loved Bombay comfort food, including its signature black dal. With more than five hours cooking time, it’s the perfect recipe for a nation with more than a little extra time on its hands. If you are a lover of Indian food, this book is guaranteed to impress!

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

4- Ana Ros: Sun and Rain

This is the cookbook of the celebrated Slovenian chef Ana Roš, who you might remember from "Chef’s Table". The book is organised similar to "Everything Is Under Control", with memoir up top, using each dish as an occasion to tell a life story, but includes the actual recipes at the end. The photos by Suzan Gabrijan, of the misty countryside, herds of cows and goats with silky hides, and dishes presented on tree barks, are quiet and calming (yes, even the one of post-hunt bloody deer heads).

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

5- Everything is Under Control: A Memoir with Recipes

Similar to the previous book "Sun and Rain", this cookbook is incredible as it is very different to the usual recipe books. This is a story that is structured as a series of vignettes with recipes at the end. Dancer-turned-chef Phyllis Grant shares a fast-paced, mouthwatering memoir about cooking and motherhood. She writes in visceral, short scenes that leave a lot of white space on the page for you to fill in (with deep thoughts). The recipes in the back of the book - a strawberry balsamic tart, vanilla ice cream, a salad dressing - are supporting characters here. If you are interested in a wonderful story with a sprinkle of recipes, this book is the perfect read to add to your cheffing skills!

This book is poetry. This book is truth. In structure and tone it's like nothing I have ever encountered. Every woman should read it and every man should read it, too, because it's about the reality of how we live our lives. - Jeff Gordinier

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

6- Tasty Every Day: All of the Flavour, None of the Fuss

This list would definitely be incomplete if it didn't include a book by Buzzfeed's Tasty. I always find myself binge watching their endless amounts of videos on how to cook specific meals. One thing I did realise was that their books are surely worth the money as they include recipes and cooking instructions for meals that are not posted on their social media. It is specifically designed to get you to delicious-avenue on as short a route as possible, these 75 anything-but-average recipes will help you fit dinner (and more) into your packed schedule. If time is not in your hands but you are looking for some inspiration for a quick meal, then this will be your go-to cookbook!

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

You are still reading! That's great! Now that you have impressed your household with how amazing your cooking and food presentation is, you can wow them with these incredible desserts. Read below for some recipe books that will definitely sate your sweet tooth!

7- The Pastry School

A book for anyone who’s ever drooled over Julie Jones’ Instagram snaps, this beautiful tome features the chef’s highly decorative (and highly flavoursome) pies, tarts and pastry creations, which look (almost) too good to eat. This might be a more elaborate commitment to the kitchen, but there’s nothing like a lockdown to teach yourself how to become a pro baker. This book will improve your dessert game when it comes to home cooking! Be sure to have a look at it and experiment with the delicious recipes she share.

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

8- Baking at Republique: Masterful Techniques and Recipes

Margarita Manzke was born and raised in the Philippines and grew up working in her family’s restaurant just outside of Manila. Republique baker and co-owner Margarita Manzke has captured the essence of the mesmerising pastry counter at the popular Los Angeles restaurant in this book. There are chapters dedicated to staple doughs like brioche, croissant and pâte á choux, and 100 recipes that apply the basics learned to achieve bakery-quality results in the home kitchen. Baking At Republique is for the serious home baker looking to up their game with new techniques and recipes, from classic chocolate chip cookies to halo halo cake inspired by the flavours of the Philippines.

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

9- Simple Cake: All You Need to Keep Your Friends and Family in Cake

If pastry isn't your favourite type of dessert, then this (you guessed it) cake-based cookbook might be exciting! From occasions big and small, now and in the years to come, this book has got your back. Written by baking enthusiast Odette Williams, Simple Cake contains recipes for 10 base cakes, 15 toppings and inventive decorating ideas to mix and match, allowing for easy customisations to suit your tastes or those of the special people you’re baking for. This surely is not the most time efficient type of dessert to cook but once you have baked a delicious cake and shared a few slices with your family members, the remaining slices can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days until it starts tasting stale. Despite this, I am sure it won't last that long anyway!

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.

10- The 3-Ingredient Baking Book

Perfect for someone who’s new to baking, this book is filled with easy-to-follow, 3-ingredient recipes crafted by Charmian Christie, recipe developer, culinary instructor and creator of the blog The Messy Baker. Recipes range from entertaining-worthy desserts like mini baklava and strawberry Eton mess to simple bites like peanut butter cookies and chocolate hazelnut mug cake to treat yourself. In this book, Christie offers tips and tricks on how to avoid common baking mistakes, and essential pantry items and equipment. This book will not disappoint, even if you have never baked before. The best thing about it is that you will not have to shop for hours to find all the ingredients needed and the portions are too much.

Purchase it here if you're interested in reading it.