Nigella Lawson is perhaps one of the UK’s most famous chefs. She has appeared on numerous TV shows and penned several cookbooks. Contributing to 1000 Cookbooks, Nigella shared her top ten cookbooks, including one classic that’s sadly out of print and may be rather hard to track down.
This list saw the famous chef recommend everything from books detailing how to make bread to essential guides to Italian cooking and traditional Jewish recipes. Sharing her choice of books, Nigella said: “There are many more recent books I value, but these are the ones I have been cooking from over decades.”
Nigella’s 10 favourite cookbooks
Entertaining all’Italiana by Anna Del Conte
One book Nigella recommended, both when contributing 1000 Cookbooks and when discussing cookbooks with the Standard, is Anna Del Conte’s Entertaining all’Italiana, which she said she read before even considering becoming a food writer herself.
Speaking to the Standard, Nigella said: “There are so many books I really treasure, but that one goes way back and I adore her.” However, you may be hard-pressed to find a copy of this for under £100, since it has been out of print for a number of years.
The Cook’s Companion by Stephanie Alexander
Despite being published two decades ago, Nigella says that The Cook’s Companion still “bulges with ideas, inspiration and recipes that still seem fresh and original.”
A Taste of Australia: The Bather’s Pavilion Cookbook by Victoria Alexander and Genevieve Harris
Along with The Cook’s Companion, Nigella notes that A Taste of Australia is a key text for her, especially when it comes to cooking Australian cuisine, adding that she’s always loved the vibrancy of food from this country.
First published in 1988, Laurie Colwin’s Home Cooking is described as “equal parts cookbook and memoir” is one that Nigella has placed on her top 10, labelling the text “warm” and “engaged.”
Jane Grigson’s Fruit Book by Jane Grigson
When it comes to placing this on the list, Nigella shared that she was torn between Grigson’s Fruit Book and her Vegetable Book. Recommending both of these, although only the one appearing in her ranking, she said that Jane is an “unparalleled” writer in food writing.
Brother Juniper’s Bread Book by Peter Reinhart
This classic book of bread recipes is what Nigella credits with starting her “enduring love affair” with bread, meaning it should be a must-buy for anyone hoping to perfect the art of breadmaking.
Roast Chicken & Other Stories by Simon Hopkinson and Lindsey Bareham
Recommending Roast Chicken & Other Stories, Nigella says that it isn’t just a simple book of formulaic recipes but also tells a story about “who we are”.
Nose to Tail Eating by Fergus Henderson
Published in 2004, Fergus Henderson’s Nose to Tail Eating details how to use every part of an animal in your cooking. Nigella shares her love both for the recipes in this book and Fergus’s writing itself.
The Book of Jewish Food by Claudia Roden
Next on Nigella’s list is Claudia Roden’s Book of Jewish Food, which is part recipe book and part social history. It follows the history of Jewish food while also sharing over 800 recipes within its pages.
Nigella even offered a blurb for a later edition of the book, writing: “One can’t imagine a better food book than this, ever: for the reader and the cook.”
Classic Home Desserts by Richard Sax
Nigella’s final recommendation is Classic Home Desserts by Richard Sax. This cookbook is packed full of recipes for traditional dessert, updated for more modern tastes.
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