10 Crave-Worthy Cookbooks 2018

People are always asking me where I get my cooking inspo. Besides stalking the web for the latest and greatest food blog or Instagram account, I dive deep into cookbooks.

My go-to cookbooks range from oldie but goodies to the new kids on the block. They venture from Isreali-influenced cooking to Thai-American classics. Some health focused, some not so much.  What all of these cookbooks have in common, besides residing in my kitchen, is that they are bursting with flavorful recipes and culinary tips that every home chef needs to know. Simply click the titles or the images for more details about each book.

 1. Zahav: A World of Israeli Cooking by Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook: (2015)

I need to start this post with a hometown favorite. Solomonov opened his Philadelphia-based, Zahav, in 2008 and it has remained one of the most compelling restaurants since. It is still difficult to procure a table at this Philly hot spot, even 10 years later. His book, of the same name, is a beautiful ode to food and tradition. Its worth the price just for the hummus recipes alone! Solomonov is extremely generous with his culinary knowledge; you will learn a great deal with the fun and accessible writing style of Solomonov and Cook. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in big, bold flavors!

2. Made Whole by Cristina Curp (2018)

I literally have dog-eared almost every single recipe in this book and every single recipe I have cooked has been soooo good! If you are interested in anti-inflammatory recipes, this is the book for you. Cristina is the creator of the popular food blog, The Castaway Kitchen, which is an amazing resource for those of us in search of food freedom. Her book has more than 145 Anti-inflammatory Keto-Paleo recipes that are amazing- she even shows how to make each recipe AIP! Cristina shares her health and wellness story with such candor, you cannot help but feel like she is a close friend (who just happens to teach you how to cook and eat foods that make you feel better). For those of us looking to cook food that is nourishing and delicious, this is a must-have. Check out her amazing yellow cheesy sauce here.

3. Night + Market by Kris Yenbamroong (2017)

If you are ever in the Los Angeles area, run to Night+Market Song on Sunset Blvd in Silver Lake. It’s some of the best food I’ve EVER had, hands down. My sister and I were literally pulling a Sally (from Harry Met Sally) while we sampled our way through the menu. Kris Yenbamroong, the genius behind Night+Market, begins this book by teaching you the down and dirty tricks of his trade so you’ll feel like a Thai-American cooking pro. This party in a book basically re-creates the drool-worthy dishes from his restaurants so that you can make them at home. That is huge for those of us on the east coast who still crave his Startled Pig years later. If you like flavor bombs, this is the book for you!

4. Cravings by Chrissy Tiegan (2016)

Oh my goodness, who doesn’t love Chrissy Tiegan?! This hysterically sharp and gorgeous personality is an equally good cook. Her cookbook is a collection of the foods that she craves. You would expect a supermodel to eat super healthy but not our Chrissy. With dishes like John’s Chili served in a Frito bag and cacao di pepe this is a pretense-dropping deep dive into unabashed flavor. She briefly introduces each dish to readers with her signature humor. If you are looking to laugh while you cook up something delicious, this is the book for you. **BONUS: Chrissy just came out with another Cravings: Hungry for More because we ARE hungry for more of what she is cooking up!

5. Cooks Illustrated Baking Book by America’s Test Kitchen (2013/2018)

I have the previous edition but this updated version is chockfull of the same baking essentials that every aspiring baker needs to know. The wonderful thing about America’s Test Kitchen is their in-depth explanation of what makes their recipes the absolute best. The bakers in the Test Kitchen painstakingly test and modify recipes based on their culinary and scientific knowledge, until they come up with the best version of that recipe. When the holidays roll around, these are the cookie recipes that use to bake presents for friends, teachers, and colleagues. My cookies get rave reviews and I cannot tell you how many times people have requested another batch or told me that these cookies were the best they have ever had.  So if you are looking for the best most full-proof baked goodies (and getting lots of compliments), then this is a must have resource.

6. Whole30 Cookbook by Melissa Hartwig (2016)

My girl Melissa Hartwig, the creator of the Whole30, is a woman on a mission to free us from our food addictions. I did my first Whole30 round about 2 years ago and have been a believer ever since I had my first experience with “tiger blood” (the feeling you get from doing a Whole30 round that makes you feel 10 years younger- no joke). I’ve learned a tremendous amount about my relationship to food and how food affects my mind, body, and soul. I know, it sounds like a lot. And it really is. For many people, this lifestyle is a lifesaver. Whole30 is basically a way to detox your body from foods that are known to cause inflammation and leaky gut (both extremely harmful to our health and wellness) so that you can focus on how each food affects your health. This cookbook is a must-have for anyone looking to start a Whole30 round or anyone just looking for a diet that eliminates inflammation.

7. Whole30 Fast & Easy by Melissa Hartwig (2017)

For those of us short on time but still looking to eat according to a Whole30 regimen, the Fast & Easy cookbook by Melissa Hartwig is an excellent resource for delicious Whole30 meals.

8. Cooking Light: The Complete Cookbook (2008)

This was a Costco find back in the day. I basically have used this cookbook as a guide for scrumptious healthy meals for years. I used to be an avid Cooking Light fan so when I saw this book at my local Costco, I snapped it up and basically cooked my way through it. I still go back and cook up some of my favorites like this Lentil Stew (I omit the ham). You cannot go wrong with a compendium like this.

9. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat (2017)

Mastering the elements of good cooking, indeed. If you are ever wondering how people put flavors together, then you need this book in your collection. Nosrat breaks the elements of cooking down so that you can understand how to build flavors. You will often hear me write about flavor in this blog; some of that understanding was derived from this book. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is an essential for any serious home chef.

10. Holiday and Celebration Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoë François (2018)

If you are on Instagram, you should be following Zoë François (@zoebakes). She is a genius baker and her images are inspiring. This collaboration between Hertzberg (a doctor) and François (a baker) has given us a treasure trove of baking books, including their Gluten-Free Artisan Breads in Five Minutes a Day, another staple in my collection. This masterful collection gives you the in-depth look at creating beautiful baked goodies for the holidays. I’ve only just gotten this book but I can already tell that it will be an instant classic (at least in my kitchen!).

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