Cookbook reviews

Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip
Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip

Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip excerpted from Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals by Amina Al-Saigh. Photography © 2024 by Amina Al-Saigh.

Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals by Amina Al-Saigh

In Souk to Table, popular food blogger Amina Al-Saigh (@hungrypaprikas) is here to help you figure out dinner for your family with her easy, quick, and accessible Middle Eastern recipes, inspired by her heritage and using flavours she knows and love. She understands how busy life can get and how sometimes cooking Middle Eastern dishes can be overwhelming, but with the right know-how and the right recipes, you can serve up delicious and bold flavours and not spend all day in the kitchen!​

This homestyle cookbook gathers the best of the region—dips, condiments, salads, sides, mains, soups, stews, desserts, and drinks—using easy-to-find, fresh ingredients and delicious Arabic spices.​​ In Souk to Table, you’ll find:

  • 100 easy-to-make and delicious recipes from Amina’s homeland of Iraq, as well as Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, and beyond​
  • Dinners that can be made in under an hour for easy weeknight cooking, as well as traditional dishes “worth the effort” for weekend cooking​ and hosting
  • A simpler approach to Middle Eastern cooking without sacrificing any of the authentic flavours​
  • A stunning photo accompanying every recipe​
  • How to stock your Middle Eastern kitchen

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Strawberry Shortcake
Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake excerpted from The Hebridean Baker: The Scottish Cookbook by Coinneach MacLeod. Photography by Susie Lowe.

The Hebridean Baker: The Scottish Cookbook by Coinneach MacLeod

Internationally bestselling author Coinneach MacLeod takes you on a thrilling journey to Scotland―without leaving the comfort of your kitchen!

Join the Hebridean Baker on an irresistible culinary voyage to the heart of Scotland’s islands that will inspire you in the kitchen. From savoury pies to biscuit tin favorites, cakes for every occasion and forgotten culinary gems, these recipes are woven together with a delectable and captivating narrative.

The Hebridean Baker: The Scottish Cookbook is a celebration of tradition, innovation, and the sheer joy of sharing delicious food. Each chapter weaves a broad narrative of tradition, folklore, travel and the vibrant cultural tapestry of the Hebrides whilst inviting readers to savour the essence of Scotland, one delectable recipe at a time. With tales of island life, encounters with pioneering women, the musical influence of Gaelic across the Atlantic, and maritime adventures around lesser-known isles, this is not just a cookbook; it’s a cultural expedition.

What readers are saying about the Hebridean Baker: (more…)

Tandoori Wings
Tandoori Wings

Tandoori Wings excerpted from Southern Get-Togethers: A Guide to Hosting Unforgettable Gatherings―Plus Entertaining Inspiration, Tips, and 100+ Recipes by Kelsey Barnard Clark. Photography by Antonis Achilleos.

Southern Get-Togethers: A Guide to Hosting Unforgettable Gatherings―Plus Entertaining Inspiration, Tips, and 100+ Recipes by Kelsey Barnard Clark

Southern Grit author, Top Chef winner, TV personality, and queen of Southern hospitality Kelsey Barnard Clark presents more than 100 irresistible recipes perfect for a crowd, plus all the expert wisdom and inspiration you need to host exceptional gatherings.

“A perfect guide for planning gatherings of any size; great for any collection.”—Library Journal, starred review

Call some friends, arrange some flowers, and whip up a quick bite. Let’s get the party started, y’all!

Chef Kelsey Barnard Clark catered her first wedding at age fifteen and has been hosting events ever since. In these pages, Kelsey distills her hard-earned party-planning wisdom into practical advice for newbie and experienced hosts alike: “I’ve made all the mistakes already, lived to tell the tale, and want to give you the benefit of my experience so you can stop worrying and start celebrating. This is a self-help book for throwing the damn party.”

With more than 100 crowd-pleasing recipes, this book has everything you need to do just that, demonstrating how easy it can be to host anything from a casual stop-by, low country boil, or BYO burger night to a bridal shower brunch, formal French dinner, or hunting season feast. No matter the event, Kelsey’s wide-ranging and accessible recipes make entertaining a joy, never a chore. Recipes include such gems as:

  • NOLA Barbecue Shrimp
  • Southern-Style Ramen
  • KBC’s Smoked Brisket
  • Zucchini Gratin
  • White Sparkling Sangria
  • Bananas Foster
  • And many more Southern classics with a twist (and classics with a Southern twist) like Jambalaya, Hot Honey Chicken, Green Pickled Tomatoes, and Beignets

Helpful tips on tablescaping, flower arranging, menu planning, food buying, and more ensure you have the confidence and know-how to pull off a memorable celebration of any size. Brimming with beautiful food and lifestyle photography, Southern Get-Togethers is a must-have manual on Southern hospitality and a lively, delicious, all-around cookbook that’s calling for a space on your shelf. (more…)

Sweet and Spicy Banana-Ketchup Roasted Carrots
Sweet and Spicy Banana-Ketchup Roasted Carrots

Sweet and Spicy Banana-Ketchup Roasted Carrots excerpted from In the Kusina: My Seasonal Filipino Cooking by Woldy Reyes is available. Photography by Fujio Emura.

In the Kusina: My Seasonal Filipino Cooking by Woldy Reyes

A brightly flavourful, artfully presented celebration of chef and tastemaker Woldy Reyes’ heritage, featuring more than 100 recipes for classic Filipino dishes updated to be lighter, fresher, and vegetable-forward.

Growing up in Southern California as a first-generation Filipino American, Woldy Reyes felt like an outsider, always straddling two worlds. At home, his family ate adobo with rice, gathered in the kitchen to roll lumpia, and roasted a whole goat in the backyard to make kalderetang kambing (celebratory goat stew). At school, all he wanted was Lunchables and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. It wasn’t until he discovered the power of food as a means of connection―to strangers and friends, to his heritage, and even to himself―that he began cooking in earnest and sharing his story through the dishes he made. His signature style, now beloved by his catering clients in New York City and beyond, highlights classic Filipino food but with a focus on local, seasonal produce and artful presentation.

In the Kusina is Woldy’s story told through a collection of vibrant, vegetable-forward recipes and his distinct lens as a queer Filipino American. These aren’t your lola’s traditional dishes; here, Filipino tastes and techniques are reimagined for a new generation of home cooks, resulting in a trove of elegant and boldly flavourful recipes organised by season, including:

  • Garlic Furikake Rice with Fried Egg
  • Purple Daikon, Coconut Labneh, and Peanut Salsa Toast
  • Oyster Mushroom Skewers with Mushroom BBQ Sauce
  • Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Miso Tahini and Pomegranate Seeds
  • Decadent hot and cold drinks, luscious desserts, and much more

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Sugared and Peppered Plum Galette
Sugared and Peppered Plum Galette

Sugared and Peppered Plum Galette excerpted from Galette! by Rebecca Firkser (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2025. Photographs by Jessica Marx.

The genius galette—unfussy, easy to make, and fully customisable—is presented in 50 mouthwatering recipes in a book that every baker needs in their library. 

The galette is a rustic, free-form tart. It requires a few simple ingredients, and minimal equipment, meaning that with some pantry basics, a home cook can put one together for no more than the cost of fresh (or frozen!) produce. A galette can be sweet or savoury, filled with any imaginable combination of fruits or veggies, meats, cheeses, and spices. Great for a party, they can be prepared in advance, but they also come together quickly when you’re in a pinch—and galettes can be made year-round with whatever produce is available.

Galette! celebrates this humble pastry, offering easy-to-follow and customisable recipes. With one basic crust recipe, endless galette possibilities are within reach. Incorporate summer’s bounty into a galette with peaches and granola or use pantry items in a galette with marinated artichokes and tomatoes. Brown-Buttered Apples and Honey, rolled out and baked like a slab pie, is the perfect dessert for a crowd, while individual Lemony Spinach and Rice galettes work well for a family dinner.

No matter the filling, galettes are the ideal, foolproof bake for home cooks. (more…)

Dark Chocolate Tart
Dark Chocolate Tart

Dark Chocolate Tart excerpted from My Vegan Kitchen: Delicious plant-based recipes for every day by Dunja Gulin. Photography by William Reavell.

My Vegan Kitchen: Delicious plant-based recipes for every day by Dunja Gulin

The perfect collection of recipes to equip and inspire anyone starting out on their vegan journey.

60 deliciously achievable recipes from creative chef, teacher, and nutritionist Dunja Gulin that will convert even non-vegans!

Clear, accessible information about key vegan ingredients, getting all the essential vitamins and minerals on a vegan diet, making clever substitutions and how to make and buy everyday store cupboard basics.

Recipes range from tasty breakfast and brunch ideas to simple, fun food for every day, including spicy burgers with sweet potato wedges, tofu sandwiches and a versatile pizza base.

Stylish dishes such as warm spelt and asparagus salad, minestrone with pearl barley, hazelnut panna cotta and cheat’s ice cream make delicious vegan entertaining easy. (more…)

Ricotta and Pistachio Cannoli
Ricotta and Pistachio Cannoli

Ricotta and Pistachio Cannoli excerpted from Disney Enchanted Baking by Thibauld Villanova. Photography by Nicolas Lobbestaël.

Disney Enchanted Baking Hardcover by Thibauld Villanova

Celebrate your love of Disney and Pixar with 33 delicious recipes for you to bake and enjoy! Step-by-step instructions guide you to create savoury breads, irresistible cookies, and party cakes.

BRING THE WORLD OF DISNEY INTO YOUR KITCHEN: Dive into enchanted worlds as you create enticing and delicious recipes that celebrate your favourite characters and movies.

EXPLORE 30+ RECIPES: Create Mousse for Jack-Jack (Incredibles 2), Royal Wedding Cake (The Little Mermaid), Bananas Foster for Louis (The Princess and the Frog), and many more delicious treats for you to enjoy with your family and friends. The step-by-step instructions are illustrated with beautiful photos of completed recipes to help ensure success!

FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Perfect for kids, adults, and families, this book has easy-to-follow recipes, making it perfect for fans who want to extend their Disney and Pixar love through baking.

GREAT GIFT IDEA: Perfect for every occasion, Disney fans of all ages will adore this deluxe cookbook.

ADD TO YOUR DISNEY COLLECTION: This delightful book pairs beautifully with the Disney Enchanted Recipes Cookbook. And you can continue to cook with Disney with Insight Editions’ full line of Disney cookbooks, including Disney Villains: Devilishly Delicious Cookbook and Disney Princess: Healthy Treats Cookbook. (more…)

Mochi Filled with Sweet Red Bean Paste
Mochi Filled with Sweet Red Bean Paste

Mochi Filled with Sweet Red Bean Paste excerpted from Vegan Japan: 70 Comforting Plant-Based Recipes Hardcover by Julia Boucachard.

Vegan Japan: 70 Comforting Plant-Based Recipes Hardcover by Julia Boucachard

Easy, homey Japanese recipes—veganized! Chef Julia Boucachard brings the flavours of her childhood to plant-based cooking in Vegan Japan. With a focus on seasonality, balanced flavours, and simple techniques, she proves that nourishing, flavour-packed Japanese food doesn’t have to be complicated.

Inside, you’ll find:

  • Classics like Kabocha Stew, Miso Butter Ramen, Yakisoba, Onigiri, and Gyoza
  • Yoshoku (Western-inspired Japanese dishes) like Napolitan and Japanese Potato Salad
  • Cleverly veganized takes on meat and seafood favorites like Karaage and Maguro Don
  • Homemade condiments and sauces, including Ponzu, Mentsuyu, and Japanese Mayo
  • Tempting street foods, wholesome vegetable sides, and sweet desserts

With stunning photography, charming illustrations, and an illustrated guide to must-have pantry staples, Vegan Japan is your gateway to authentic plant-based Japanese home cooking. (more…)

Rice and Nori Rolls
Rice and Nori Rolls

Rice and Nori Rolls excerpted from Eat Like a Monk: A Plant-Based Guide to Conscious Cooking and Mindful Eating by Jody Eddy. Photography by Waterbury Publications, Inc.

Eat Like a Monk: A Plant-Based Guide to Conscious Cooking and Mindful Eating by Jody Eddy

Embark on a culinary journey to more mindful and meditative mealtimes. With 50 plant-based recipes inspired by monastic kitchens across East, Southeast, and South Asia, Eat Like a Monk will teach you the joys of conscious cooking and how to embrace eating as an act of enlightenment.

Immerse yourself in the wisdom of the monastic kitchens of Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, India, and other countries, with dishes designed to nourish your body, mind, and soul. Sidebars on hospitality, sacred spaces, and temple rituals will teach you the joys and health benefits of conscious cooking and how to embrace eating as an act of enlightenment.

Recipes include pickled plum onigiri, jackfruit curry, samosas, lotus seed congee, and Buddha’s delight.

FOOD AS MEDITATION: Explore the art of conscious cooking and eating with insights into the traditions that have guided monastic kitchens for centuries. Discover mindfulness rituals, learn about sustainable farming practices, and find inspiration to create a more balanced and harmonious culinary lifestyle in your own home.

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Knobbly Chocolate Oat Cookies
Knobbly Chocolate Oat Cookies

Knobbly Chocolate Oat Cookies excerpted from Small Batch Cookies: Deliciously easy bakes for one to six people by Edd Kimber. Photography copyright 2024 © Edd Kimber.

Small Batch Cookies: Deliciously easy bakes for one to six people by Edd Kimber

“A brilliant idea for a book and a must-have.” – Nigella Lawson

There are times when nothing but a warm chocolate chip cookie will hit the spot. Bad day at work? Chocolate chip cookie. A great day at work? Chocolate chip cookie.

The need for an emergency solitary cookie or two can strike at any time, but baking recipes typically serve large groups, which is perfect for a party, a celebration or a crowd, but not when there’s just one (or two) of you and you would rather not spend the money on making a big batch or be faced with eating the same thing all week.

In Small Batch Cookies, Edd Kimber showed that good things really can come in small packages. For this new book he wants to focus on cookies, probably the easiest – and arguably most popular – kind of baking there is. Nothing has quite the allure of a cookie straight out of the oven! The classic cookie is chocolate chip, but there is no one single perfect version – the variations are endless and range from double and triple chocolate to dark chocolate and cherry, and white chocolate and lemon. Other less familiar but no less delicious types of cookie include vanilla, peanut butter, ginger, oat and raisin and coconut. The recipes also include vegan cookies and cookies for those with allergies and intolerances. (more…)