Finding great cookbooks that bring together authentic recipes from around the world is not always easy. After searching long and hard — and testing many disappointing ones with poorly explained or badly proportioned recipes — here is my personal selection of the best international cookbooks. A curated list for curious, adventurous cooks!
1. On va déguster l’Italie! (Let’s Taste Italy!)
A wonderfully comprehensive Italian cookbook by François-Régis Gaudry — a sort of tongue-in-cheek encyclopaedia of iconic Italian recipes. Why is cream a crime in carbonara? Where does pizza really come from? What’s the difference between a cappuccino, macchiato and mocaccino? A true gastronomic bible that answers every question you never knew you had about Italian food.
2. Jerusalem – Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi
A love letter to the food of Jerusalem — a city where cultures, religions and cuisines collide in extraordinary ways. Recipes inspired by Jewish, Arab, Armenian and Christian culinary traditions. Deeply flavourful and beautifully written.
3. Plenty – Yotam Ottolenghi
A revelation for vegetable cooking. Ottolenghi transforms ordinary vegetables into stunning, deeply satisfying dishes with bold spices and unexpected combinations. Essential for anyone who wants to cook creatively with vegetables.
4. Indian-ish – Priya Krishna
A joyful, witty cookbook celebrating Indian-American home cooking — accessible, fast and packed with personality. The kind of book that makes you want to cook immediately.
5. The Complete Robuchon
The definitive guide to French cuisine by the legendary Joël Robuchon. Over 800 recipes, from the simplest everyday dishes to the most refined classics. A reference book every serious cook should have on their shelf.
6. Zaitoun – Yasmin Khan
Palestinian recipes woven with personal travel stories. Vibrant, fragrant dishes from the olive groves, markets and kitchens of Palestine. A book that nourishes both body and mind.
7. The Food of Morocco – Paula Wolfert
The definitive English-language guide to Moroccan cuisine, by the woman who spent decades studying it. Authentic tajines, couscous, pastillas and preserved lemons. A classic that has stood the test of time.
8. My Korean Deli – Ben Reade
An insider’s guide to Korean home cooking — kimchi, bibimbap, japchae and much more. Accessible and enthusiastic, it makes Korean cuisine feel approachable for the home cook.
9. Burma – Naomi Duguid
An extraordinary exploration of Burmese cuisine, a criminally underrated food culture. Complex, layered flavours influenced by China, India and South-East Asia. Stunning photography and deeply personal writing.
10. The Whole Fish Cookbook – Josh Niland
A revolutionary approach to cooking fish — using every part of the animal with skill and creativity. This book changed the way chefs and home cooks think about seafood. Genuinely game-changing.