10 Cookbooks We Actually Cook from at Home

I'm a cookbook-fanatic. It started as a child, when my grandmother and parents would buy me cookbooks for kids (which, truthfully, were mostly about how to turn every food into a fun shape). There was nothing more I loved than to flick through them and experiment with the recipes.

Some things never change, so, today, my stack of cookbooks moves wherever I go. Some are dog-eared and sauce-stained—but, I have to admit that there are still those that only stand pretty on the shelf.

Which led me to ask the Kitchen Stories team: What are the cookbooks you actually cook from at home?

In the end, it was quite difficult to get 10 recommendations, since so many home cooks turn to the internet for inspiration these days. But that means that you can rest assured the following 10 cookbooks are top-notch recommendations. You might even want to add one or two to your own shelf—and cook from them, of course!

What’s your favorite cookbook currently? Or do you have an all-time favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

“My New Roots” by Sarah Britton

“My New Roots is broken by season, and the recipes are always tasty with a surprising flavor twist. Plus, they’re healthy. It’s one of the few cookbooks in which I find new recipes to try out every so often—and not just the same recipe over and over again. That’s why I can’t name just one favorite recipe, but recommend the whole book—from spring to winter!“
- Clarissa, Team Content

“Jerusalem” by Yotam Ottolenghi

“I received Jerusalem from my parents-in-law. The whole family loves to cook from it—it’s kind of a must-have for all family members. For me, Israeli cuisine is the best, and I love Ottolenghi’s Baba Ghanoush recipe!”
- Norman, Team Tech

“A Modern Way to Eat” by Anna Jones

“I’ve been trying to eat mostly vegetarian for quite some time now. A good friend of mine gave me A Modern Way to Eat as a birthday present, under the condition that we’d always cook something from it when we see each other. So far, I haven’t been disappointed by any dish. I especially love the recipe for quesadillas with sweet potato and bean filling. SO good!”
- Anti, Team HR

“Krautkopf” by Yannic Schon and Susann Probst

“I was a long-time follower of their blog before the cookbook was released, so I pretty much knew that their book Krautkopf would be a keeper. I could read through the whole book cover-to-cover for just for inspiration or cook the recipes step-by-step. Their yellow curry with tofu and fresh herbs even impressed my friends that usually hate tofu.”
- Julia, Team Content

“What Katie Ate” by Katie Quinn Davies

”I have to say, the best thing about What Katie Ate is the graphical layout. But I also love the recipes because Katie turns everyday-dishes into something special, like the recipe for orecchiette with roasted tomatoes. You’ll find interesting combinations and variations in it that are altogether easy and not too time-consuming.“
- Mengting, Founder

“Cooking for Geeks” by Jeff Potter

“Cooking for Geeks may not have any recipes, but for me it’s still a cookbook—even my favorite one. It teaches you know-how in the kitchen. I especially enjoyed the chapter about the perfect steak from a scientific point of view.”
- Stefan, Team Tech

“Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking” by Yotam Ottolenghi

“Vegetarian cookbooks can sometimes get boring because you’ll find kind of the same recipes over and over again. But Plenty More by Yotam Ottolenghi is one-of-a-kind, and I always find plenty of recipes to try out! I think I cook the recipe for tagliatelle with walnuts and lemon the most often.”
- Lenja, Team Content

“Nigella Christmas” by Nigella Lawson

“Nigella Christmas takes me back to my time in the UK and instills a nostalgia about mince pies, mulled cider, stuffed turkey, and bread sauce. It's my favorite book for the colder seasons and is an essential book for a seasonal dinner party. It's a big and glossy book, full of gorgeous color photographs that can put you in the mood for Christmas, even in summer!”
- Marie, Team Community

“Fast, Fresh, Simple.” by Donna Hay

“My favorite recipe from Fast, Fresh, Simple. is the lime-lemongrass chicken. The combination of spinach, lime, and lemongrass turns this chicken into a fresh dish and brings back summer feelings even in cold seasons. Donna Hay also always features lots of basic recipes, like spice pastes, that can be done at home easily instead of buying them.”
- Verena, Founder

“Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat” by Samin Nosrat

“It’s so hard to choose an all-time favorite cookbook, but Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is currently high on my list. With playful illustrations and thoughtful explanations on the science of cooking and flavor, it provides the why behind the how, allowing for a more intuitive experience in the kitchen—for the novice and expert home cook alike.”
- Julie, Team Content