What To Read

Alison Roman's desserts that just might break the Internet (again). Jamie Oliver's contribution to the one-pan dinner craze. Two tasty takes on Persian cuisine by way of Brooklyn. The must-have sequel to an indispensable palate bible. These inspiring cookbooks are sure to be the best new cookbooks of the year.

1. The Flavor Thesaurus: More Flavors: Plant-Led Pairings, Recipes, and Ideas for Cooks by Niki Segnit

The author of critically-acclaimed taste bible Flavor Thesaurus is back with a follow-up focused on plant-based fare. She blends science, history, and anecdotes in a handy cross-referenced format. Home chefs will learn to pick up complementary tasting notes and gain confidence mixing and matching ingredients like kale, fennel, pomegranate, lentil, miso, mustard, rye, pine nut, poppy seed, sesame, turmeric and many more in this new cookbook. Food columnist Bee Wilson gushes that it’s "one of my favorite food reference books of all time."

2. More Than Cake: 100 Baking Recipes Built for Pleasure and Community by Natasha Pickowicz

A tempting take on the community-building power of dessert told through 100 unique goodies that reflect the author’s Chinese and Californian heritage in one of the most invigorating cookbooks of 2023. Known for her buzzy collabs with the likes of Planned Parenthood and God’s Love We Deliver, the James Beard-recognized pastry chef and activist shares valuable baking tips and techniques in a sumptuous 300+ page ode to doing good through baking.

3. Sofreh: A Contemporary Approach to Classic Persian Cuisine: A Cookbook by Nasim Alikhani

Brooklyn’s beloved Persian resto opens its townhouse doors to a wider audience with chef Nasim Alikhani’s first cookbook, featuring more than 120 of the bold, herb and spice-accented recipes that have kept New Yorkers (and luminaries like President Biden) buzzing since its 2018 debut. You’ll find Iranian classics along with modern Sofreh faves like Rosewater and Cardamom Custard, Sour Cherry Rice, Roasted Cauliflower with Shallot Yogurt and Pistachios and Sour Chicken Stew.

4. On the Curry Trail by Raghavan Iyer

A carefully researched, illustrated exploration of the quintessential yet controversial curry by the late Indian cuisine ambassador. The book showcases 50 curry recipes from the global culinary diaspora that feature the unmistakable powder, invented by British colonialists as a convenient way to bring the subcontinent’s unique flavors back home.

5. Vegetable Revelations by Steven Satterfield

The James Beard Award-winning chef behind Atlanta’s venerable Miller Union returns to shelves with another gorgeous ode to veggies brimming with gorgeous full-color photos and conveniently parsed by categories like roots, leaves, stalks, legumes, nightshades and more. Fans of the the Root to Leaf author will revel in 150 inventive recipe ideas spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts, beverages and snacks, like Romanesco Campanelle with White Bolognese, Asparagus Bottom Soup, Yukon Gold Tartiflette and refreshing Honeydew Aquavit Slushies.

6. Yogurt and Whey by Homa Dashtaki

Another Iranian entry with Brooklyn roots makes our list. Highlighting the ancient, time-intensive craft that’s been in her Zoroastrian family for generations, the founder of indie yogurt company The White Moustache offers up 100 unique recipes using whey - that zesty, nutrient-rich elixir extracted from straining yogurt. Here it’s everywhere, from fun cocktails to traditional ghormeh sabzi stew and even her secret three-day process for making yogurt the old-fashioned way. Interspersed with hand-drawn illustrations and moving recollections of immigrating to the U.S. in the 80’s during the Iran-Iraq war, this book is as enjoyable to read as to cook with.

7. Africana: More Than 100 Recipes and Flavors Inspired by a Rich Continent by Lerato Umah-Shaylor

A flavor-packed culinary journey through the vast African continent guided by a popular UK-based, Nigeria-born TV presenter, food writer, and self-proclaimed love child of Beyonce and Nigella Lawson. Naturally, there’s iconic African fare like Tunisian tagines, South African malva pudding, Senegalese yassa, and multiple takes on the ancient and ubiquitous queen of West African cuisine, Jollof. Add her own original recipes and odes to all things hibiscus - a treasured ingredient from a childhood spent in Benin, and it’s no wonder fellow Brit Jamie Oliver picked this one for his cookbook club.

8. Love Is a Pink Cake: Irresistible Bakes for Morning, Noon, and Night by Claire Ptak

With her latest book, the ex-pat pastry chef behind London’s delightful Violet Bakery—and Harry and Meghan’s unforgettable wedding cake—makes it clear that oven-fired yumminess can be an all-day, sweet or savory undertaking. The Bay Area-bred Chez Panisse alum dedicates the first half of the book to her Cali roots, with seasonal treats like a Frances McDormand-inspired Tequila Pumpkin Pie. The second part is devoted to British affairs, including Huckleberry Basil Sugar Scones and her Hackney shop’s signature Bakewell Bars. The bonus? That coveted recipe for Amalfi lemon and Sandringham elderflower deliciousness concocted for the Duke and Duchess’ big day.

9. Cucina Povera: The Italian Way of Transforming Humble Ingredients Into Unforgettable Meals by Giulia Scarpaleggia

Who says you need fancy ingredients to make a stellar meal? In this homage to the Italian art of kitchen improvisation by an authentic Tuscan home cook, so-called peasant ingredients take center stage. Inside you’ll find 100 accessible, budget friendly, delectable recipes that celebrate the best of Italy’s use-what’s-available tradition, like the author's favorite Italian comfort food, Pappa al Pomodoro (a leftover bread and tomato soup), Florentine Beef Stew, Nettle and Ricotta Gnudi, and Sicilian Watermelon Pudding.

10. Asada: The Art of Mexican-Style Grilling by Bricia Lopez

Round up your fellow carnivores, the authors of the James Beard-nominated Oaxaca are back with a sizzling step-by-step guide to the culture and cuisine of Mexican backyard barbecuing. Oaxaca-born Lopez, who grew up working in her family’s L.A. restaurant Guelaguetza, has assembled more than 100 recipes starring marinated meats like ranchera steak, seafood, salsas, flavorful aguas frescas, and desserts. All washed down, of course, with ice-cold, smoky Morita chili-infused micheladas.

11. Sweet Enough by Alison Roman

Brooklyn-based cook and writer Alison Roman is best known for viral recipes like #TheStew and #TheCookies. With her latest dessert collection she shows dessert lovers who lack fancy equipment or hard-to-source ingredients how to produce her signature effortless cakes or other low-fuss hits like jam-swirled ice cream. As with her previous bestseller Nothing Fancy, Alison demonstrates once again that yummy, inventive eats can be both accessible and easy to prepare for everyday folks.

12. Table for Two by Bre Graham

Cupid's arrow, dipped in mouth-watering marinara sauce, and shot straight through our smitten hearts. That's the premise behind Bre Graham's debut cookbook, which is designed to woo your boo with delectable, unforgettable meals for two. Whether that special someone is your mom, your spouse or your best friend, the light-hearted book gifts us the mouth-watering tools to conquer their hearts and stomachs. But as Eater's Bettina Makalintal writes, "Graham reminds us how much love lives in the act of everyday cooking; it's on us to draw out the romance."

13. Eating from Our Roots by Maya Feller

An acclaimed nutritionist's multicultural ode to healthier, happier eating. Brooklyn-based Maya Feller scours the globe for flavorful, nutritious fare like West African Sweet Potato Soup, Lebanese Mezze, Cajun Gumbo and even savory baked goodies from Brazil. Add vibrant photos, insights from her chef pals, expert tips backed by science, and it's no wonder she's made devoted fans like Gwyneth Paltrow, who raved, "I’ve never come across a cookbook quite like @MayaFellerrd’s Eating from Our Roots... It’s gorgeous—a 10 out of 10."

14. Cooking for the Culture by Toya Boudy

Finding time to make a meal from scratch can feel like a luxury for many working-class Americans, and it's this complicated issue that's at the heart of Toya Boudy's singular and uplifting new cookbook, which draws heavily on her personal struggles growing up in New Orleans. The Food Network-featured chef presents us with moving recipes like crack-of-dawn Sweet Cream Farina, Commodity Box Peanut Butter Cookies, Jambalaya, Smothered Chicken, Red Gravy and other deeply personal takes on Big Easy recipes steeped in Black traditions, each with an inspiring, personal backstory. A tempting, inspiring and necessary addition to the cookbook genre that reminds us of the importance of making food.

15. Mayumu: Filipino American Desserts Remixed by Abi Balingit

Like many locked down urbanites in 2020, activist Abi Balingit sought solace in baking. But the treats coming out of her apartment's tiny kitchen had a surprising twist, fusing traditional Filipino desserts with mainstream Western sweets. The activist was soon churning out hundreds of "pasalubong" (souvenir) boxes filled with playful desserts to support her community in need. The irresistible results are on display in Mayumu, a stunning collection of 75 recipes and personal stories paying tribute to her Filipino American upbringing. The gorgeous cover alone will make you want to snag a copy to see what other baked magic awaits inside.

16. The Gourmand's Egg by The Gourmand

From Warhol to Velazquez, eggs and art have long been intertwined. That's the premise behind TASCHEN's debut collaboration with famed London food and culture journal The Gourmand, which celebrates this humble household ingredient, powerful source of life, and artist's muse. The first of a new series celebrating individual ingredients (lemons and mushrooms are next in line) this book includes original egg recipes, musings and tales about the egg, historic artworks and no shortage of eye-catching visuals. As chef, food writer and critic Ruth Reichl observes in the book, "In cooking -- as in almost every-thing else, It all starts with an egg."

17. Vietnam: Morning to Midnight by Jerry Mai

For those whose taste buds yearn to roam, allow Jerry Mai to be your culinary travel guide. The Vietnamese-Australian chef and restauranteur's new cookbook takes us on a locals-only journey to the lively streets of Vietnam, where breakfast starts with crispy pork banh mi, cold noodle salads refresh at lunch, and dinners are communal feasts of dishes shared with family and friends alike. And, of course, there's snacks galore: savory pancakes, rice paper rolls, sweet treats, drinks and more.

18. The Food Almanac: Volume Two by Miranda York

To every season, food, food and more food! The Food Almanac II is a phenomenal follow up by influential food and travel writer Miranda York that, like its critically-acclaimed predecessor, breaks down each month of the year along gastronomical lines. Each month features a seasonal three-course menu from writers like Jeremy Lee, Tommi Miers, Emily Scott and Calum Franklin, plus a thematic mix of memoir, history, short stories, poems and reading lists. Emiko Davies, a cookbook author and food journalist who contributed a January menu of Cavolo Nero with Bottarga, Lentil and Sausage Stew, and San Miniato-Style Spicy Marmalade, claims that it's "guaranteed to make any food (and food writing) lover's day."

19. One: Simple One-Pan Wonders by Jamie Oliver

Our love for "one-pan" cookbooks knows no bounds, especially when they're as exceptional as Dinner in One: Exceptional & Easy One-Pan Meals and The Wok: Recipes and Techniques. British superchef Jamie Oliver gets in on the one-pan craze with this new collection of 120 recipes that have a mere 8 ingredients or less. Each recipe in One: Simple One-Pan Wonders guarantees minimal prep time, offers maximum convenience to busy home cooks, and makes clean-up time blissfully stress-free. All hail the one-pan wonder!

20. The Everlasting Meal Cookbook by Tamar Adler

Named by Vogue as one of the most anticipated new cookbooks of the year, Tamar Adler's The Everlasting Meal Cookbook is the essential guide to transforming leftovers into delectable, sustainable meals. There's 3,500 creative ideas all organized alphabetically by leftover, so readers can flip through to discover exactly what to do with that bowl of cold rice or lonely half-eaten burrito chilling in the back of their fridge. Prep times are minimal, and none of the recipes require precise measurements, making it one of the best cookbooks for home cooks to reduce food waste, save money and help the planet while they're at it. This book is a follow-up to Adler's much acclaimed book An Everlasting Meal, which Nigella Lawson says is her go-to gift.

21. Win Son Presents a Taiwanese American Cookbook by Josh Ku, Trigg Brown, Cathy Erway

Win Son Presents a Taiwanese American Cookbook is the eagerly awaited culinary offering from Josh Ku and Trigg Brown, the duo behind the popular Brooklyn eatery Win Son. Ku was born to Taiwanese parents in Queens, while Brown was mentored by a Taiwanese-American chef. The friends bonded over their shared love for a traditional Taiwanese dish called Tsang Ying Tou, before opening their popular Willamsburg restaurant Win Son. For this cookbook, they've teamed up with James Beard Award-winning food writer Cathy Erway for a deep dive into the rich history and diverse culinary influences of the fascinating island nation.

22. A Cook's Book by Nigel Slater

If you're looking for a cookbook that's truly more than just a collection of recipes, A Cook's Book by Nigel Slater might just be your jam. First released in the UK in 2021, the venerated English columnist offers a glimpse into his culinary heart with personal essays and signature recipes. From the first jam tart he made with his mum, or recalling the sublime moment of joy when he took his first bite of buttercream-topped chocolate cake, this is prime Slater waxing gastronomical. Plus, don't miss his classic food memoir, Toast, celebrating its 20th anniversary.