The 10 best new cookbooks of 2017
If you haven’t already got these cookbooks smeared with sauce, sticky with caramel or ringed with coffee from use in your own kitchen, you’ll now know what to ask for for Christmas.
These are our favourite recipe tomes of the year, packed with dinner ideas, sweet treats, show-stealing sides and tempting snacks – and they’ll look pretty great on your coffee table too.
1. Sweet by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh
The Ottolenghi stores have always been famed for their giant meringues, and now Yotam and his long-time pastry collaborator Helen are sharing all their dessert based secrets. Some of the recipes do involves tonnes of ingredients, but there’s a precision to pudding making, and these guys have it nailed.
Make the: Peanut sandies – and squish them together with Nutella, you won’t regret it.
2. Two Kitchens by Rachel Roddy
Rachel Roddy’s stories from her Italian kitchens – she’s got two now – are as mesmeric as her food. Think traditional dishes from Rome and Sicily, with lots of love thrown in.
Make the: Deep fried aubergine and tomato pasta, it’ll remind you of summer.
3. The Savvy Cook by Izy Hossack
If there are students in your life, or you have a hankering for quick, veg-heavy suppers with flair, Izy’s your gal.
Make the: Corn kernels with chilli, crumbled feta and crispy onions, it’s super moreish.
4. Chai, Chaat & Chutney by Chetna Makan
If you’re au fait with curries and naan but want to delve deeper into Indian food and the culinary variations between regions, Chetna’s collection of street food recipes will educate, and please tastebuds.
Make the: Dabeli – bread rolls filled with a mixture of potato curry, spicy chutneys, peanuts and fresh pomegranate seeds, with a tangy hint of lime.
5. Baking Fiction by Kate Young
Reading can make you hungry, especially when you come across passages devoted to food. Kate’s taken it to the next level, conjuring up dishes you’ll find in literature – it’s both inventive and beautifully done.
Make the: Harry Potter’s treacle tart – best eaten while reading the books.
6. On The Side by Ed Smith
Too often side dishes are thrown together with little thought or care, and at the last minute. For Ed Smith, that’s a travesty, hence this book celebrating all things on the side.
Make the: Carrots with brown butter and hazelnuts – nutty, tasty and pretty healthy.
7. Comfort by John Whaite
Perfect winter fodder, this stack of recipes ticks every craving, whether you’re in need of something cheesy, sticky, gooey or hearty. It’s very stylish too.
Make the: Sticky Lebanese sprouts – you’ll never eat boiled ones again after trying these.
8. Feasts by Sabrina Ghayour
This is the ideal book if you love hosting a party and feeding the masses – expect dishes that will wow, chock-full of punchy flavour, and menu plans to make catering easier.
Make the: Sticky tamarind ribs, they’re rich and unctuous.
9. At My Table by Nigella
Nigella does it again. At My Table is filled with gentle, nourishing and relaxing dishes you might not actually want to share with anyone else.
Make the: Butternut squash and sweet potato curry – it’s vibrant but still cosy.
10. Stir Crazy by Ching-He Huang
For quick suppers that are sour, sweet, bitter, tangy and packed with colour, Ching-He’s stir fries are brilliant – you won’t want to reach for a packet sauce again.
Make the: Spicy satay chicken – a sauce better than anything you’d get from the Chinese takeaway.
The Press Association
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