Background: Raised in Kenya by Indian parents, Ravinder Bhogal’s love for vegetables blossomed early, inspired by her grandfather’s lush garden and the vibrant produce from local women growers. In her new vegetarian cookbook, Bhogal showcases her passion, claiming that “vegetables are the soul of the kitchen,” offering endless creative possibilities.
Highlight Recipes:
- Hot and sour sweetcorn risotto with lime leaf butter
- Mango and ‘golden coin’ curry
Notable Mention: Bhogal’s rich heritage and diverse experiences, woven throughout the book, reflect her move to London’s multicultural environment.
Recipe to Try: Sweet and sour dal with chickpea flour pasta rags
Fun Fact: Lime leaf salt can significantly enhance a tomato salad.
Published By: Bloomsbury (£26)
The Flavour Thesaurus: More Flavours by Niki Segnit
Background: Niki Segnit’s third book delves into the intricacies of plant-based flavor pairings, aiming to impart the joy of understanding and experimenting with flavors. Despite its scholarly depth, the book’s lively and humorous tone makes it an essential kitchen resource.
Highlight Recipe: Neri miso, a blend of miso, honey, and sake, celebrated for its balanced extremes of saltiness and sweetness.
Fun Fact: During World War II in Italy, barley coffee (caffe d’orzo) gained popularity due to coffee bean shortages.
Published By: Bloomsbury (£20), available at Blackwells.
Love is a Pink Cake by Claire Ptak
Background: Claire Ptak, owner of East London’s Violet Bakery and former Chez Panisse pastry chef, crafts a beautiful cookbook reflecting her dual heritage. Ptak celebrates seasonal baking with recipes like black tea poppy seed muffins from California and apricot, chamomile, and honey scones from her English home.
Highlight Recipe: Pistachio green plum cake with candied violets
Fun Fact: Early in his career, Andy Warhol illustrated a cookbook by etiquette expert Amy Vanderbilt.
Published By: Square Peg (£22), available at Blackwells.
Notable Releases
Vietnamese Vegetarian by Uyen Luu
Background: Food writer, photographer, and supper club cook Uyen Luu presents a stunning book celebrating the harmonious blend of sweet, sour, hot, umami, and bitter flavors in Vietnamese cuisine.
Highlight Recipe: Green papaya salad with pomelo, apple, and artichoke
Fun Fact: In Vietnam, the equivalent of asking ‘how are you’ is ‘have you eaten rice yet?’
Published By: Hardie Grant (£25), available at Waterstones.
50 Pies, 50 States by Stacey Mei Yan Fong
Background: This book is a heartfelt homage to America through pie, reflecting Stacey Mei Yan Fong’s 17 years in the USA, with recipes exploring American culture through its pies.
Highlight Recipe: Honey peach pie with pecan crumble topping
Fun Fact: Washington State produces nearly half of the USA’s apples.
Published By: Voracious (£30), available at Blackwells from June 29.
Simply Scandinavian by Trine Hahnemann
Background: Copenhagen-based chef Trine Hahnemann offers a collection of straightforward, seasonal recipes perfect for weeknight dinners, with a pleasing and simple book design.
Highlight Recipe: Chicken breasts in curry sauce with grapes
Fun Fact: Potato pancakes are a traditional dish at Norwegian weddings.
Published By: Quadrille (£27), available at WHSmith from June 8.
For The Love of the Sea II by Jenny Jefferies
Background: Celebrating the British seafood community, Jenny Jefferies’ book emphasizes sustainability and features diverse dishes like oat fried herring and champagne oysters.
Highlight Recipe: Pale smoked haddock scotch egg
Fun Fact: Cornish sea salt contains over 60 naturally occurring minerals.
Published By: Meze Publishing (£22), available at Blackwells.
Tandoori Home Cooking by Maunika Gowardhan
Background: Maunika Gowardhan’s second book brings the vibrant flavors of Indian tandoori cooking to home kitchens, with well-balanced recipes and tips like the ‘double marinade technique.’
Highlight Recipe: Aubergine tikkas in creamy yogurt, mustard, chili, and ginger
Fun Fact: Traditional tandoor walls are reinforced with straw.
Published By: Hardie Grant (£25), available at Waterstones from May 4.
The Pepperpot Diaries by Andi Oliver
Background: Andi Oliver’s book celebrates the rich diversity of Caribbean cuisine, featuring recipes like tea-brined spiced chicken and sticky star fruit pork chops.
Highlight Recipe: Aromatic shrimp curry
Fun Fact: Short ribs taste exceptionally good when cooked in cola.
Published By: DK (£27), available at WHSmith from April 27.
Honey by Amy Newsome
Background: Amy Newsome’s debut book is a tribute to bees and honey, showcasing honey’s versatility in the kitchen with recipes like smoked lime and honey chicken and lemon pollen pie.
Highlight Recipe: Gochujang apricot sticky wings
Fun Fact: Honeybees’ body hair has the perfect electrical charge to attract pollen grains.
Published By: Quadrille (£27), available at Waterstones from May 11.
Pomegranates & Artichokes by Saghar Setareh
Background: This visually stunning book captures the migration of ingredients and recipes between Iran and Italy, featuring dishes like saffron roast chicken stuffed with dried fruit.
Highlight Recipe: Saffron roast chicken stuffed with dried fruit
Fun Fact: Iran is the world’s largest producer of pistachios.
Published By: Murdoch Books (£26), available at Amazon from May 4.
Mom Tongue: Flavours of a Second Generation by Gurdeep Loyal
Background: Gurdeep Loyal’s debut book joyfully explores British-Indian cuisine, featuring inventive recipes like sticky treacle and kokum chicken lollipops.
Highlight Recipe: Pear and panjiri trifle
Fun Fact: Red Leicester cheese pairs surprisingly well with spices and sweet potatoes.
Published By: 4th Estate (£26), available at Amazon from March 2.
Andaza by Sumayya Usmani
Background: This memoir and cookbook delves into Sumayya Usmani’s Pakistani heritage and the role of cooking in her life, with enticing recipes like sour lemon, mustard seed, and garlic pulao.
Highlight Recipe: Sour lemon, mustard seed, and garlic pulao
Fun Fact: Andaza means ‘estimation’ in the context of cooking by intuition.
Published By: Murdoch Books (£25), available from April 13.
Of Cabbages and Kimchi by James Read
Background: James Read’s book on fermentation is a comprehensive guide filled with techniques and recipes suitable for both newcomers and seasoned fermenters, including unique recipes like soy caramel dark chocolate tart.
Highlight Recipe: Kefir panna cotta with mandarin and thyme
Fun Fact: In Germany, tinsel is colloquially known as ‘silver-plated sauerkraut.’
Published By: Express Books (£22), available at Waterstones.
Pasta Masterclass by Mateo Zielonka
Background: Mateo Zielonka’s book is a colorful guide to pasta making, featuring techniques for various doughs and shapes, with delightful recipes like agnolini mantovani with pumpkin and amaretti.
Highlight Recipe: Agnolini mantovani with pumpkin and amaretti
Fun Fact: Scraps from pasta cutting are called maltagliati, meaning ‘poorly cut.’
Published By: Quadrille (£26), available at Amazon from April 20.
Cucina Povera by Giulia Scarpaleggia
Background: Giulia Scarpaleggia’s book celebrates rustic Italian cooking, transforming simple, seasonal ingredients into delicious meals, with recipes like chestnut flour maltagliati with porcini sauce.
Highlight Recipe: Chestnut flour maltagliati with porcini sauce
Fun Fact: Chestnut flour has a short shelf life and is best stored in the freezer.
Published By: Artisan (£30), available at Blackwells.
Rice Table by Su Scott
Background: Su Scott’s intimate book explores the Korean-British food experience, featuring recipes ranging from innovative ferments to bold mains, delving into the importance of food in identity and relationships.
Highlight Recipe: Spicy squid salad
Fun Fact: Many Koreans believe the touch of fingertips can influence the overall harmony of a dish’s flavor.
Published By: Quadrille (£27), available at Waterstones from March 30.
Salt of the Earth by Carolina Doriti
Background: This book celebrates Greek cuisine with authentic and historical insights.
Highlight Recipe: [To be completed]
Fun Fact: [To be completed]
Published By: [To be completed]