BOOKS for COOKS you care about

Perfect for gifting, we’ve compiled some of our favourite reads from this year

1 STUDENT ONE POUND MEALS

by Miguel Barclay (£12.99, Headline) Cash-strapped friends and students will be grateful for this stocking filler. Frugal food writer Miguel Barclay’s latest book in the One Pound Meals series has, as you’d expect, brilliantly easy meals with minimal ingredients and washing-up: think one-pot pulled pork chilli and an ultimate £1 roast. Don’t waste a thing with his leftover bread panzanella and potato peel chips recipes.

2 CHETNA’S EASY BAKING

by Chetna Makan (£20, Octopus) Perfect for loved ones with overflowing spice cupboards, this collection of sweet and savoury bakes from Chetna Makan includes her pear, chocolate, star anise & hazelnut tarte tatin; rainbow chard masala pasties; and chilli naan pizzas (that’s one the kids will love). There’s inspiration for Christmas desserts, too – banoffee chocolate pavlova, coffee cream profiteroles, and vegan saron cheesecakes.

3 A GOOD DAY TO BAKE

by Benjamina Ebuehi (£22, Quadrille) For anyone who loves escaping to the kitchen for an hour or two of baking, this beautiful collection of sweet and savoury recipes from Bake O star Benjamina Ebuehi has outstanding flavour combinations and a dedicated chapter for herb-infused bakes, including rosemary & honey scones and tarragon blondies. If you’re not gifting, the cinnamon & clove coffee biscuits and nutmeg caramels will make lovely presents.

4 SALAMATI: HAMED’S PERSIAN KITCHEN

by Hamed Allahyari and Dani Valent (£25, Murdoch Books) This vibrant celebration of Persian recipes is written by Hamed Allahyari, who fled from Tehran to Australia by boat as a refugee in 2012, and now offers work to asylum seekers at his Melbourne café Salamatea. Ideal for anyone who loves dipping into small plates, Hamed’s childhood recipes are made for sharing, including dadami dip (mint, yogurt, sumac and rose), scooped up with Persian flatbreads, crisp falafels and golden baklava to finish. Best served as spreads, there are suggestions of what to put together to create the perfect balance.

5 OTTOLENGHI TEST KITCHEN: EXTRA GOOD THINGS

by Noor Murad and Yotam Ottolenghi (£25, Ebury) The second book in the OTK series, this is all about taking recipes to the next level with punchy pickles, dressings and extras – great for keen cooks looking to improve their skills. Make marinated feta to add to a chickpea, carrot & date one-pot, or give chicken wings a boost with banana ketchup. This is about taking time to prep transformative extras (which will last in the fridge for a few days) to create something restaurant-worthy in your own home.

6 BLISS ON TOAST

by Prue Leith (£14.99, Bloomsbury)

The Bake O judge explores the versatility of toasted loaves, naans and pastries with sophisticated toppings, perfect for decadent lunches when you’re working from home. Try the peppered steak & salsa verde on sourdough, or bayonne ham & burrata croissant. The desserts chapter has ideas for quick solo puddings over the festive season, like baked apples with mincemeat on teacakes, and banana, brandy syrup & ice cream on panettone. Ideal for bread fiends.

7 MEZCLA

by Ixta Belfrage

(£26, Ebury) A wonderful mix of Italian, Brazilian and Mexican flavours, ex-ottolenghi contributor Ixta’s recipes are a must-try for dinner party hosts who want to impress. It includes prawn lasagne with habarnero oil, giant mushroom & sesame roll with salsa verde, and lamb fillets with avjar & miso butter. The strawberry, cinnamon & chipotle chocolate layer cake will be an extraordinary finish to any meal.