8 books like Tasty

By Roy Finamore,

Here are 8 books that Tasty fans have personally recommended if you like Tasty. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking

Christine Buckley Author Of Plant Magic: Herbalism in Real Life

From my list on that prove eating locally is also delicious.

Why am I passionate about this?

I'm an herbalist dedicated to teaching people practical approaches to herbalism and creativity. I do this on my Substack, in clinical intakes with my herbal clients (I work mostly with artists), and in workshops and classes. My life and herbal practice revolve around food. I’ve cooked professionally for over 15 years, worked on organic farms, and grow food at home for myself and pollinators in my region. The best bet we have at caring for ourselves and our communities is through the food we grow, buy, prepare, and eat. I like to say most people are already doing herbalism, they just don’t know it's happening in their kitchens at breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.

Christine's book list on that prove eating locally is also delicious

Christine Buckley Why did Christine love this book?

I believe 2 things without a shred of doubt: all humans are creative and anyone can cook. Samin Nosrat adds the critical finale: “…and make it delicious.”

Everyone can benefit from this book, especially those who appreciate good, well-executed dishes but dont quite understand what makes them so irresistible. As someone who didnt do much better than fail at high school and college science, Nosrat makes incredibly complex concepts simple and doable! Not to mention, its delightfully illustrated.

The infographics, tables, and flowcharts make the content engaging and accessible. It is a cookbook, indispensable kitchen reference, and testament to the power of creative collaboration. Here is evidence that cooking is an art and a science. 

By Samin Nosrat, Wendy Macnaughton (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Now a major Netflix documentary
A Sunday Times Food Book of the Year and a New York Times bestseller
Winner of the Fortnum & Mason Best Debut Food Book 2018

While cooking at Chez Panisse at the start of her career, Samin Nosrat noticed that amid the chaos of the kitchen there were four key principles that her fellow chefs would always fall back on to make their food better: Salt, Fat, Acid and Heat.

By mastering these four variables, Samin found the confidence to trust her instincts in the kitchen and cook delicious meals with any ingredients. And with…


Book cover of Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food

Molly Stevens Author Of All about Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice

From my list on cookbooks for everyday meals.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent my entire working life teaching others how to cook – in the kitchen, in the classroom, and through my cookbooks and countless magazine articles – and I can sum up all my cooking lessons into one word: Cook! The more you cook, the more confidence you gain – and the more joy and success you will experience. But where to start? My best advice is to find a few cookbooks that you trust - ideally ones that offer plenty of explanation. From these, select several dishes that sound appealing and commit to learning to make them by heart. With repetition, you will learn to cook without relying on the recipes, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more confident — and intuitive — cook.


Molly's book list on cookbooks for everyday meals

Molly Stevens Why did Molly love this book?

In the opening pages of this wonderful book, Slater writes: "Cooking should, surely, be a lighthearted, spirited affair, alive with invention, experimentation, appetite, and adventure." – and the pages that follow go a long way to make this possible. Jam-packed with over 600 recipes and ideas for simple, comforting everyday dishes, "Eat" is as much fun to cook from as it is to read. The recipes themselves are written in the style of extended tweets, and most are accompanied by ideas for creative variations, helpful notes, and charming narratives. There are few strict rules here, just tons of tempting recipes and even more inspiration to spark your own cooking adventures.

By Nigel Slater,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Eat as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From the star of BBC One's 'Nigel and Adam's Farm Kitchen' this beautiful and easy-to-use follow-up to 'The Kitchen Diaries II' contains over 600 recipe ideas and is your essential go-to for what to cook every day.

Returning to the territory of Nigel's bestselling 'Real Fast Food', 'Eat' is bursting with beautifully simple and quick-to-cook recipes, in a stylish and practical flexible format that's easy to read and use anywhere.

Enjoy sizzling chorizo with potatoes and shallots; a sharp and fresh green soup; a Vietnamese-inspired prawn baguette; a one-pan Sunday lunch.

Chosen by Amazon as the Best Food & Drink…


Book cover of Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors [A Cookbook]

Molly Stevens Author Of All about Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice

From my list on cookbooks for everyday meals.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent my entire working life teaching others how to cook – in the kitchen, in the classroom, and through my cookbooks and countless magazine articles – and I can sum up all my cooking lessons into one word: Cook! The more you cook, the more confidence you gain – and the more joy and success you will experience. But where to start? My best advice is to find a few cookbooks that you trust - ideally ones that offer plenty of explanation. From these, select several dishes that sound appealing and commit to learning to make them by heart. With repetition, you will learn to cook without relying on the recipes, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more confident — and intuitive — cook.


Molly's book list on cookbooks for everyday meals

Molly Stevens Why did Molly love this book?

Brimming with smart, flavor-packed recipes and expert advice, Vietnamese Food Any Day opens up a world of flavor to cooks at every level and from every background. Drawing on decades of experience writing and teaching about her native cuisine, Nguyen demystifies Vietnamese cooking and shows us how use easy-to-find ingredients (no specialty markets required!) to successfully – and quickly – create sensational, authentic favorites. Whether you're an experienced cook or a novice, the lessons and tips in this book will have a delicious influence the rest of your cooking.

By Andrea Nguyen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vietnamese Food Any Day as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Delicious, fresh Vietnamese food is achievable any night of the week with this cookbook's 80 accessible, easy recipes.

IACP AWARD FINALIST • NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • The Washington Post • Eater • Food52 • Epicurious • Christian Science Monitor • Library Journal

Drawing on decades of experience, as well as the cooking hacks her mom adopted after fleeing from Vietnam to America, award-winning author Andrea Nguyen shows you how to use easy-to-find ingredients to create true Vietnamese flavors at home—fast. With Nguyen as your guide, there’s no need to take a trip…


Book cover of Small Victories: Recipes, Advice + Hundreds of Ideas for Home Cooking Triumphs

Molly Stevens Author Of All about Dinner: Simple Meals, Expert Advice

From my list on cookbooks for everyday meals.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have spent my entire working life teaching others how to cook – in the kitchen, in the classroom, and through my cookbooks and countless magazine articles – and I can sum up all my cooking lessons into one word: Cook! The more you cook, the more confidence you gain – and the more joy and success you will experience. But where to start? My best advice is to find a few cookbooks that you trust - ideally ones that offer plenty of explanation. From these, select several dishes that sound appealing and commit to learning to make them by heart. With repetition, you will learn to cook without relying on the recipes, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a more confident — and intuitive — cook.


Molly's book list on cookbooks for everyday meals

Molly Stevens Why did Molly love this book?

The premise behind this jubilant and personal collection is that cooking is "simply a huge and often very fun puzzle of piecing together techniques with different ingredients." Throughout the 98 recipes (everything from breakfast to mains, from drinks to dessert), Turshen highlights essential techniques (labeled as "small victories") and then offers inventive ideas and inspirations for creating other dishes (called "spin-offs"). It's a cookbook designed for anyone looking to become a more relaxed, confident, and creative cook. Turshen's love for cooking and feeding others is infectious, and her down-to-earth approach makes it easy to be swept along. 

By Julia Turshen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Small Victories as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"I can't wait to cook my way through this amazing new book!" - Ina Garten (Host of Barefoot Contessa)

"Simple, achievable recipes..." - Chef April Bloomfield (Owner of The Spotted Pig)

This cookbook of more than 400 simple cooking recipes and variations from Julia Turshen, writer, go-to recipe developer, co-author for best-selling cookbooks such as Gwyneth Paltrow's It's All Good, and Dana Cowin's Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen, and author of her cookbooks Now & Again and Feed the Resistance. The process of truly great home cooking ideas is demystified via more than a hundred lessons called out as…


Book cover of Barefoot Contessa at Home: Everyday Recipes You'll Make Over and Over Again

Maria Zizka Author Of The Hostess Handbook: A Modern Guide to Entertaining

From my list on cookbooks that celebrate the art of hosting.

Why am I passionate about this?

I started hosting pretend tea parties for my stuffed animals when I was just a little girl. I made mud pies in the backyard and created huge messes in the kitchen as I taught myself to cook. I’ve always been enthralled by the warm feeling of being cared for, the love you feel deep in your heart when someone puts a plate of hot scrambled eggs in front of you after a long day. Now, as a cookbook author, I get to share that feeling with others through my own recipes and via my newsletter, Recipe of the Month. I hope you love these cookbooks as much as I do!

Maria's book list on cookbooks that celebrate the art of hosting

Maria Zizka Why did Maria love this book?

I first came across this book when I was a college student, falling in love with a cute boy on the volleyball team. I adored how the book was dedicated to her husband: “My home is wherever Jeffrey is.” I loved all the recipes so much that I cooked every single one, some multiple times.

By Ina Garten,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Barefoot Contessa at Home as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Throughout the years that she has lived and worked in East Hampton, Ina Garten has catered and attended countless parties and dinners. She will be the first to tell you, though, that nothing beats a cozy dinner, surrounded by the people you love most, in the comfort that only your own home can provide. In Barefoot Contessa at Home, Ina shares her life in East Hampton, the recipes she loves, and her secrets to making guests feel welcome and comfortable.

For Ina, it’s friends and family–gathered around the dinner table or cooking with her in…


Book cover of Edible Wild Plants: Wild Foods from Dirt to Plate

Thomas J. Elpel Author Of Foraging the Mountain West: Gourmet Edible Plants, Mushrooms, and Meat

From my list on gourmet wild food foraging.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up, I spent summers and weekends with my grandmother, who introduced me to wild food foraging. Grandma Josie and I harvested purslane and lambs quarters weeds from her garden, dandelions and meadow mushrooms from the pasture, and watercress from a nearby spring. On daily walks we gathered peppermint, yarrow, and other wild herbs for tea. She cooked on a wood stove and kept a pot of tea warm at all times. Grandma nurtured my interest in wild plants, wilderness survival, and self-sufficiency. Inspired by her, I built my own stone and log house, teach survival skills and botany, and I still cook on a wood stove just like she did. 

Thomas' book list on gourmet wild food foraging

Thomas J. Elpel Why did Thomas love this book?

John Kallas has rebranded foraging from 'alternative roughage' to 'five-star dining.' No other wild foods book has this kind of in-depth text, mouth-watering recipes, or eye-popping pictures of culinary delights, such as wild spinach pizza, pickled purslane, and homemade marshmallows.


Edible Wild Plants is rich with photographs, giving the reader the tools to be successful early and often at identifying, gathering, and dining on these plants. Based on the experiences of John Kallas, a lifelong, full-time wild food researcher, teacher, and author, it catapults a novice into many early triumphs, provides plenty of new useful and practical information for the seasoned professional, and offers naturalists a resource from which to teach wild food concepts. In no time, readers go beyond just tasting to incorporating these foods into regular meals.

By John Kallas,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Edible Wild Plants as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

"Wild spinach about 7 feet tall and fully mature. Well-fed wild spinach is well-branched and produces a huge quantity of seeds when mature. The leaves are still edible at this stage but are reduced in quality, taking on a somewhat off-flavor. According to research on other mature plants, the leaves on these older plants retain most of their nutrients and phytochemicals as long as they are still green."

Imagine what you could do with eighteen delicious new greens in your dining arsenal including purslane, chickweed, curly dock, wild spinach, sorrel, and wild mustard. John Kallas makes it fun and easy…


Book cover of Yoga Kitchen: The New Shoshoni Cookbook: More Recipes from the Shoshoni Yoga Retreat

Veronika Sophia Robinson Author Of The Mystic Cookfire: The Sacred Art of Creating Food to Nurture Friends and Family

From my list on conscious plant-based cookery.

Why am I passionate about this?

Veronika Sophia Robinson has eaten a plant-based diet for forty-eight years and knows what healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian food should taste like. She has had extensive experience in cooking for others whether around her kitchen table or in a yurt with no electricity feeding up to fifty families for five days (for many years). The Mystic Cookfire is a tome of over 400 pages. It is an expression of her deep love and respect for food, conscious cookery, and intentional eating. Her second recipe book Love From My Kitchen is a collection of vegan, gluten-free recipes based on the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. She’s delighted that her granddaughter is a fourth-generation vegetarian.

Veronika's book list on conscious plant-based cookery

Veronika Sophia Robinson Why did Veronika love this book?

The recipes in this book are so good because they were created by cooks who always go about their work with a smile. Cooking with Shakti changes everything, and is the divine ingredient in each meal. The authors treat foods as divine substances because they contain the essence of life. Your cooking will never be the same again after reading this book and approaching each meal with consciousness. The recipes are easy to follow, well laid out, and taste fabulous! No matter how often I declutter my massive recipe-book collection, this one always remains as a faithful culinary companion and inspiration.

By Rachael Guidry, Faith Stone,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Yoga Kitchen as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This cookbook serves up a delicious combination of pleasurable dining, consicous energy, and cultural diversity. At the Shoshoni Yoga Retreat a bevy of good cooks, motivated by their yoga practice, create the heavenly food enjoyed by retreat guests. In Yoga Kitchen master chefs Faith Stone and Rachel Guidry present favorite meals of both the guests and staff. These recipes feature American comfort foods blended with the invigorating and unique flavors of Indian, southwestern, and continental traditions.

They also show how to apply the practice of mindfulness in the kitchen, cook with "shakti", and eat in harmony with the seasons. You'll…


Book cover of Eclairs: Easy, Elegant and Modern Recipes

Sylvie Gruber Author Of Bite-Sized French Pastries for the Beginner Baker

From my list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking.

Why am I passionate about this?

I have loved French Pastry for as long as I can remember, all the way from my Mum’s kitchen as a kid in Belgium to my own kitchen here in Melbourne. I love it so much I quit my job as an architect 6 years ago to start a blog that focuses on baking and French pastry especially! This crazy experience took me all the way back to Paris to attend a French pastry program at Ecole Ducasse in 2019 and to publish my first cookbook on French pastry at the end of 2023.

Sylvie's book list on cookbooks to learn French pastry baking

Sylvie Gruber Why did Sylvie love this book?

I’m a sucker for a good éclair, and choux pastry is probably one of my favourite things to bake, so this book is a real goldmine!

I love that it breaks down the basic techniques of choux pastry and cream fillings but is also packed with creative recipes, original flavour associations, and gorgeous desserts.

It may not be the best book for beginners, but if you are looking for inspiration, it is an amazing book to browse through!

By Christophe Adam,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Eclairs as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The newest darling in the world of baking - the classic French pastry has been embraced by a whole new generation of bakers. Making this classic at home is much easier than you think. And it is made easy by the fact that this book is written by one of Europe's top pastry chefs, Christophe Adam. With its straightforward approach, full colour pages and hundreds of step-by-step photographs, it is as though Christophe were by your side giving you a lesson in your home kitchen. Over the last dozen years, Christophe has perfected the eclair and has turned it into…


Book cover of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Book cover of Eat: The Little Book of Fast Food
Book cover of Vietnamese Food Any Day: Simple Recipes for True, Fresh Flavors [A Cookbook]

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