The all-time best cookery books

A great cookbook is a treasure forever. As beautiful as a work of art and full of foodie wonder. Stock your shelves with the all-time greatest cookbooks, as voted for by you (and the delicious team too)

The all-time best cookery books

In no particular order…

How to be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson
Cookery’s most luscious lady and queen of the finger-lick is a firm favourite with you for her indulgent guide to domestic wonder.
You said:
It started me baking and I never looked back.
@cayenne530

Completely love it! taught me all the baking basics.
Emily's Bakery

 

Fast Cakes by Mary Berry
No nonsense, simple, wonderful baking recipes from a lovely legend.
You said:
Mary Berry Fast Cakes circa '1994, signed by the lady herself.
@Wraggasaurus

Mary Berry anyday!
@jennyBcake
“In my daughter's words ‘Mary Berry is a domestic goddess - her book is my bible!’”
@Meltons1


Ottolenghi: The Cookbook by Sami Tamimi and Yotam Ottolenghi
Beautiful food made accessible to mere mortals. The Ottolenghi book sees you through every culinary occasion from breakfast muffins to dinner party staples as though you were born to cook.
You said:
Defo the Ottolenghi cookbook. Stunning, never fails to impress.
@thelostmarketer

The first Ottolenghi book. It's packed with flavor, so interesting to look at read and is very inspiring!
Helen Easom

The first Ottelenghi book is beautiful and fabulous. I could go on and on and on...
Elizabeth Owen

 
The Moro Cookbook by Samuel Clark and Samantha Clark
The first in a line of well-beloved cookery books from the iconic London restaurant. Moro’s blend of Spanish and Moorish recipes makes eating at home an event to celebrate.
You said:
All three are great but I would say the first Moro cookbook.
@bazzabridge

My favourite of all time: Casa Moro.
@thelostmarketer

 

Anything by Bill Granger
It seems the affable chef (and delicious. Magazine favourite) can’t put a foot wrong. In fact, you could not be pressed to pick between his much-rated books!
You said:
Anything by Bill Granger. Minimum effort, maximum flavour. And he has lots veggie recipes!?
Stefanie Hannes

Hmmm, I suppose mine is probably any of Bill Granger's ones…
@vintner_russellStefanie Hannes


The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook by Tarek Malouf
There is no escaping it, the cupcake revolution has stolen your hearts. Inspired by the cute-as-a-button culinary creations, you’ve taken to making them regular features in your very own homes.?
You said:
At the moment, my Hummingbird Bakery cookbook. I'm working my way through everything in it, #glutenfree versions of course!
@Frans_Food

The Hummingbird bakery book - everything always works. (A very close second would be my recipe book where I note down all the wonderful recipes of friends and family....delicious magazine features regularly!)?
Charlotte Rawstorne


Delia’s Complete Cookery Course by Delia Smith
For many of us, this iconic cookery book is as much a part of growing up as the first day of school and throwing a teenage strop. A national treasure, Delia has taken generations of debut cooks by the hand and got us all cooking.
You said:
Has to be Delia's Complete Cookery Course from the 1970's. Always my Mum’s go-to book, now mine as well.
@lanniesmith

Delia’s Complete Cookery Course :D
Lisa Chamberlain


A Cook's Companion by Stephanie Alexander
AKA, 'the bible'. At more than 1000 pages rich, It’s not light, it’s not cheap, but it may be the only book you’ll ever need.
You said:
Strange ingredient you don't know what to do with, or looking for a twist on an old favourite? This is your book!
Georgina Siddall

 

The Silver Spoon by Phaidon
Inspiring Italian home cooking for half a century and still a firm favourite. Originally commissioned by an architectural, it brought together a collective of food experts to create a treasure chest of Italian cooking.
You said:
The silver spoon; definitive Italian.
@LeighGoodStuff

It still hasn't changed. Favourite has to be... The Silver Spoon.

@Rosie_Hogg

 

River Cottage Veg Everyday by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
For committed carnivore Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to go veggie, meant something wonderful must have been cooking in the River Cottage kitchen. And it was. This vegetarian cookbook has already staked its claim as a modern classic.
You said:
I have to say my new favourite is River Cottage Veg Everyday!
@sarah_robbo

 

 

The delicious. Magazine team’s must-have cookbooks

Karen Barnes – Editor
Fave cookbook… it’s a difficult one. Top of list: my mum's recipe scrapbook. Most. Treasured. Possession. Closely followed by Elizabeth David's French Provincial Cooking and Nigel Slater's Appetite.

Susan Low – Deputy Editor
Beyond the Great Wall. This book goes way beyond the cliches and serves up inspiring recipes from across this vast country that you’ll seldom come across elsewhere.  Also The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan. Marcella’s always about substance over style and this book, a collection of two volumes is, to my mind, the resource for Italian cooking

Charlie Clapp – Cookery assistant
Nigel Slater’s The Kitchen Diaries. When I’m feeling uninspired I always flick through to get my thoughts whirring!

Charlie Cottrell – Acting web editor
The first Leon Cookbook: Ingredients and Recipes by Allegra McEvedy is treated with near-sacred reverence in my kitchen. It made seasonal eating simple and wonderful, at a time when many people were starting to rediscover what eating the seasons meant. And it has stickers.

 

 

 


What’s your favourite cook book? Have your say below.

 

 


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Comments

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Pam Cornwell

February 27

I have many cookery books but one of my favourite is Henrietta Green's New County Kitchen

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