Around the World in 12 New Flavour-Filled Cookbooks
Transporting home cooks from the spice-infused kitchens of India to Puerto Rico’s sun-baked street-food stands, these are the tastiest new cookbooks to set your sights on
17 November, 2022
- Words by
- Georgina Groom
Read more delicious stories in Volume 38: Flavour.
Food is our favourite language. It is one that is both universal
and that allows us to discover the history, culture and rituals of
a destination. It’s through a shared meal that we form friendships
and relationships, where communities connect and boundaries are
forgotten. In 2022, you don’t need to hop on a flight to taste the
many flavours of the world; you can indulge from the comfort of
your own kitchen. With that in mind, we’ve feasted through the
tastiest bookshelves to bring you the hottest new cookbook
releases. Travelling from the sun-baked street-food stands of Puerto Rico to Italy’s family-run pizzerias, these 12 titles
are set to satisfy both your wanderlust and your culinary
curiosity.
12 new cookbooks to feast on
Tava: Eastern European Baking and Desserts from Romania and Beyond
by Irina Georgescu
Trava is a Romanian word that translates as “tray”, a smart
metaphor used by the author to represent the banquet of a book
she’s serving. Taking in the culture-rich heritage of Romania,
these pages transport readers through the small communities
preserving centuries-old recipes through a combination of stunning
landscapes, stories and dishes spanning Saxon plum pies to Jewish
fritters, Hungarian langosi and German strudels. Those with a sweet
tooth will enjoy the lowdown on the legendary eastern European
patisserie shops.
Masala: Recipes from India, the Land of Spices
by Anita Jaisinghani
Award-winning chef Anita Jaisinghani sets out to prove that
Indian cuisine can be healthy, delicious and accessible in her
instantly likeable book Masala. Using the teachings of the ancient
Ayurveda – an Indian medicine system that takes a holistic approach
towards mental and physical health through natural foods – chapters
celebrate season, texture and colour, outline the correct use of
curated spice blends, and educate readers on bringing balance to
fiery plates. Hello, homemade sweet and savoury chutneys, flaky
samosas and crispy pakoras.
Pierogi: Over 50 Recipes to Create Perfect Polish Dumplings
by Zuzu Zak
After two years of researching and writing, Zuzu Zak launched
Pierogi in late-summer – and we’ve been hooked ever since. A love
letter to the Polish dumpling, the book takes readers on a journey
through Poland to discover the stories and memories that have seen
the delicacy both preserved and reimagined, taking in centuries-old
family recipes as well as vegan and gluten-intolerant fillings.
Read our recent feature on Zak’s childhood inspirations and her
favourite spots to feast on top-notch pierogi.
Motherland: A Jamaican Cookbook
by Melissa Thompson
The Jamaican cookbook that champions the people, history and
influences of the Caribbean, Motherland showcases the beautiful
patchwork that is Jamaican cuisine today. Recipes are married with
essays that chart the origins and evolution of iconic dishes, with
contributions by indigenous Jamaicans, the Taino, and sections on
cooking techniques and the influence of indentured Indian and
Chinese workers who came to the island. Classics such as saltfish
fritters and curry goat and patties come with a side serving of
contemporary classics: think oxtail nuggets, ginger beer prawn and
sticky rum wings.
Bowlful: Fresh and Vibrant Dishes from Southeast Asia
by Norman Musa
Chef and author Norman Musa spent much of his life exploring the
cultures and cuisines of Southeast Asia, picking up recipes and
inspiration along the way. Bowlful is the distillation of his
travels, with vibrant and simple bowl food from the many regions he
has visited. From crisp, zingy salads to fresh and comforting rice
bowls and tangles of tasty noodles, all recipes are crafted from
healthy, readily sourced ingredients. It’s never been easier to
bring an authentic taste of Asia to your home.
Africana: Treasured Recipes and Stories from Across the Continent
by Lerato Umah-Shaylor
Combining recipes passed down through generations with her own
fresh and inventive style, food writer Lerato Umah-Shaylor shares
stories of Africa with a delectable sense of adventure. Through
some 100 recipes, foodies can step into the most treasured dishes
of countries including Nigeria, Madagascar and Morocco. Each page
is brimming with flavour and will have you rustling up coconut fish
curry, harissa lamb with hibiscus, Tunisian tagines and the perfect
jollof rice in no time.
The Italian Pantry
by Theo Randall
Proving that less is more, chef Theo Randall shares his 10
pantry staples that promise to form the basis for a soothingly
comforting Italian meal. Ingredients range from juicy tomatoes and
porcini mushrooms to zesty lemons and fresh-from-the-hive honey.
Whether you’re hosting a fancy five-course dinner party or are
seeking the perfect simple pasta dish, The Italian Pantry is your
answer. Our favourite recipe? The clam-stuffed fettuccine. You’ll
find a handful of delectable desserts and cake recipes on hand,
too.
Turnips’ Edible Almanac: The Week-by-Week Guide to Cooking with Seasonal Ingredients
by Fred Foster
Fresh, seasonal food is shaking up the dining scene, but it can
be somewhat difficult to find a farm-to-fork restaurant within
close proximity to your pad. That’s where Fred Foster’s Turnips’
Edible Almanac enters the picture. Foster, the fruit and veg
supplier of Turnips – better known as Borough Market’s best-loved
outpost – offers a week-by-week guide to cooking with seasonal
produce in a responsible way. From warm winter broths to lighter
spring suppers, the 100 recipes (which include a selection from
leading European chefs such as Gordon Ramsay) will revolutionise
the way you cook and think about food.
The Vegan Baking Bible
by Karolina Tegelaar
An entire decade in the making, Karolina Tegelaar’s vegan baking
bible demonstrates that you don’t have to compromise on flavour,
texture or the finish of your cake because it’s vegan. From carrot
cakes and chocolate cookies to madeleines and fist-sized muffins,
old classics are presented using new techniques and with
plant-based products swapped in for traditional ingredients.
Pumpkin cupcakes and chocolate soufflé, here we come.
Diasporican
by Illyanna Maisonet
Illyanna Maisonet spent years documenting her family’s Puerto
Rican recipes and preserving the island’s disappearing dishes. In
Diasporican, 90 recipes, many of which were passed down from her
grandmother, combine to form a love letter to the flavours of her
childhood. From tostones to gandules and BBQ guava sauce, this
visual record of Puerto Rican food, ingredients and techniques
celebrates the island’s authentic flavours and centuries-old
traditions and reflects the diversity and ingenuity of its
free-spirited people. Read more on Puerto Rico’s food scene with
our feature on the street-food stands worth detouring
for.
The British Cookbook
by Ben Mervis
Food historian and author Ben Mervis journeys across the UK to
discover the landscapes where the country’s most-treasured cuisine
originated. Featuring home-cooked classics alongside lesser-known
regional fare and the legendary dishes with roots beyond the
borders, standouts include shepherd’s pie, haggis, devils on
horseback, sesame prawn toast and tikka masala. Foodies will learn
the fascinating history of each dish’s birthplace, while following
user-friendly instructions and getting inspired by glorious scenic
photographs.
First Generation: Recipes from My Taiwanese-American Home
by Frankie Gaw
Frankie Gaw presents a tribute to Taiwanese home cooking in her
hit release First Generation. Melding the flavours of suburban
America with the ingredients and techniques his parents taught him,
Gaw teaches us how to master bao, dumplings and scallion pancakes,
with step-by step photography and detailed hand-drawn illustrations
providing invaluable visual aids. Meanwhile, the likes of
honey-mustard popcorn chicken, stir-fried rice cakes with bolognese
and hand-pulled noodles reveal a snapshot of what it’s like to grow
up with feet in two different worlds.
Discover more stories from the Flavour issue here.