With the whole of the UK at home and the chances of perfecting your culinary prowess a more approachable pipe-dream, we thought we’d give you a helping hand. Of course, with the boom in Instagram chefs, cook-a-longs and YouTube videos, people often forget about the humble cookbook. For us, it’s one of life’s simple pleasures: leafing through new recipes, marking pages to come back to later, making a shopping list of all the new and exciting ingredients you’ll cook with. We’ve rounded up some of this year’s hits to make for easy cookbook shopping, whether it’s for you or gifting to a loved one this festive season.

In Bibi’s Kitchen – Hawa Hassan

Grandmother’s are some of the best cooks in the world and this is a fact that Somali chef Hawa Hassan wanted to underline in this book. Packed with 75 recipes of grandmothers (or bibis) from 8 different African nations, get lost in delicious recipes and culinary education of Africa.

The Island Kitchen - Selina Periampillai  

Mauritian cuisine is often underrepresented and Periampillai is all about bringing the flavours of Mauritius to a wider audience. This book is full of midweek meals and tasty feast ideas packed full of flavour and modern Mauritian flare.

 

Flavour - Ottolenghi & Ixta Belfrage

Vegetables need not be flavourless ever again with this newly released food bible. Specialising in showcasing just what you can do with vegetables, some fan favourites include Miso Butter Onions and Spicy Mushroom Lasagne.

 

The Rangoon Sisters: Recipes from our Burmese Family - Amy & Emily Chung

Mention Burmese food and many people would be stumped to think of a few dishes. These sisters have been serving up their deliciously traditional Burmese plates in their supperclubs and have now turned their attention to releasing over 80 recipes with sections focused on Snacks, Curries, Noodles, Sweets and more.

 

The Whole Chicken – Carl Clarke

If you’re a fan of Chick ‘N’ Sours or just a fan of chicken in general, this is the book for you. Showcasing just how you can eat and create recipes using all parts of a chicken, Clarke also includes handy tips for preparation.

 

Nadiya Bakes – Nadiya Hussain

One of the queen’s of the British baking world is undoubtedly Nadiya and her latest book is a testament to that. Packed full of easy bakes, things to impress and her ‘Money Can’t Buy You Happiness’ Brownies, this is a great book for any budding bakers out there.

 

Dumplings and Noodles: Bao, Gyoza, Biang Biang, Ramen and Everything In Between – Pippa Middlehurst

Making noodles and perfecting your dumpling wrapper technique may seem like unachievable tasks but with the help of Pippa’s debut book, you’ll be a maestro in no time. Filled with recipes like Biang Biang Noodles, Gyoza and much more, each one comes complete with step-by-step instructions, techniques and substitutes too.

 

Simply: Easy Everyday Dishes – Sabrina Ghayour

Iranian-born Sabrina provides us all with the inspiration, cooking insight and instruction to knock up a Persian feast of our own in the comfort of our own homes. Whether you’re looking for an Effortless Eat or Something Special, she has you covered.

 

Community Comfort - curated by Riaz Phillips

Featuring recipes from 100 chefs, this was the standout e-cookbook of this year. Packed full of food from cooks solely from migrant backgrounds, with proceeds helping families affected by the pandemic, buy this and be seriously inspired.

 

The Pie Room – Calum Franklin

Everyone loves a good pie when it comes to warming Winter eats, that’s a fact. But how many of us actually make one from scratch? Packed full of 80 achievable but equally show-stopping pies, you’ll be a pie connoisseur in no time.

 

Coconut & Sambal – Lara Lee

Authentic Indonesian cookery need not be such a taxing feat with the help of this new cookbook. Lee takes us on a journey through her Indonesian kitchen, cooking classics such as Beef Rendang and Nasi Goreng on the way.

 

Falastin – Sami Tamimi & Tara Wigley

Palestinian food is delicious and greatly underrepresented in popular culinary media but this book is a means to bridge that gap. Get lost in traditional recipes, discover contemporary twists and be prepared to whip up a Palestinian feast in no time.

 

Jikoni: Proudly Inauthentic Recipes from an Immigrant Kitchen – Ravinder Bhogal

Born in Kenya to Indian parents and then moving to London has meant that Ravinder’s cooking and food experiences have sure been a melting pot of cultures. Having a “playful approach” to flavours and ingredient pairings has produced this magnificent cookbook packed with traditional influences and modern twists.