my favourite cookbooks of 2015

cookbooks 2015

Another year brings another list of my favourite cookbooks. Jamie, Nigel and Nigella have all got new books out in 2015, Ottolenghi brought out another volume and Bake Off continued to inspire a clutch of recipes.

As in previous years, several books have come my way. Some stick around and some move on. Missed my round-ups from before? Here they are:

The 2014 cookbook list

The 2013 cookbook list

The 2012 cookbook list

The 2011 cookbook list

The 2010 cookbook list

If you’re looking for a cookbook gift for that foodie someone in your life, you could do worse than buying one of these!

3. Noodle Kids by Jonathon Sawyer

noodle kids

Last year, MiMi’s Noodle was my pick of the year. It seems only right that torch is borne by Noodle Kids! It’s an absolute charmer of a book, using the loose American definition of ‘noodle’ to take in pasta. But the recipes are delightful, suitable for the whole family and actively encouraging them to get involved. It’s created a wonderful new staple in our house: the “noodle party”, where you lay out lots of lovely meat, vegetables and condiments along with some freshly cooked noodles and broth. Then everyone piles in to make their own personalised bowl of noodles. Great communal food. The book is peppered with cheeky asides offering tips to mini-cooks in the kitchen. A very cute buy.

Buy Noodle Kids on Amazon

2. In The Mood for Healthy Food by Jo Pratt

in the mood for healthy food

This is the book I have cooked more from than any other. It’s been a constant presence in my cookbook stand and despite the ‘healthy’ tag the recipes are packed with flavour and fun. There’s lots of great, sensible substitutions helping to cut down on your meat intake and replace with vegetables. It’s helped me make great tasting meals that lose nothing from their fattier versions: wonderful seed-and-lentil-packed meatballs, creamy yghurt dressings and wonderful ragus. A delight to cook from.

Buy In The Mood For Healthy Food on Amazon

1. The Food Lab by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

the food lab

I’ve been following J. Kenji Lopez-Alt for years. Through his Serious Eats column I’ve joined him on many madcap experiments finding the ultimate cookie, the best brining methods and stupendous air-fried chicken. He’s an inspiration.

“If there are three rules that I think would make the world a better place if everyone followed them, it’d be these: challenge everything all the time, taste everything at least once, and relax, it’s only a pizza.”

This quote distills everything brilliant about The Food Lab book. It’s less of a recipe book (although it has plenty of those) and more of a exploration of why cooking techniques work. If that sounds hopelessly nerdy, that’s because it is. And superb because of it. Discussions range from stainless steel woks to microwave radiation, from ceramic knives to egg cooking times. Much in the way Heston does with his books, J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s book forces you to think about the processes you carry out when preparing your favourite meals. In this, you can improve them no end, and decide for yourself how hot the water needs to be for pasta, or why meat caramelizes at certain temperatures. If you want to be a better cook – not just the one with the most recipes – this is the perfect book.

Buy The Food Lab on Amazon

That was my year in cookbooks – what were your favourite books this year?

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