Our Top Ten Cookbooks!
Top Cookbooks to Inspire Your Kitchen Creativity
There’s nothing like a great cookbook to ignite your passion for cooking and transform your kitchen experience! Jody has more cookbooks than Indigo--we use them to inspire, reference and for just pure joy to flip through.
It was definitely tough to narrow down this list! These selections reflect books we have both been using for years and years, to newer ones that have helped transform the way look at different ingredients.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced home cook, these top cookbooks offer a blend of creativity, tradition, and inspiration, and are sure to be a go-to in your culinary library.
1. Jerusalem: A Cookbook by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi
This book was the gateway to what is now one of our favourite cuisines to cook. This cookbook is a celebration of Jerusalem’s diverse, vibrant cuisine, but made approachable. Written by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi, who both hail from the city, it brings together 120 authentic recipes that span the cultural and religious divides of this unique city. The Jerusalem Hummus Recipe was revolutionary for us, which inevitable led us on a quest to make it, eat it everywhere and refine it. The book is beautifully illustrated with 130 full-color photographs, capturing the vibrant essence of Jerusalem.
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2. The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity by Karen Page & Andrew Dornenburg
Widely hailed as one of the most influential cookbooks, The Flavor Bible is a must-have reference for any creative cook. When designing classes or recipes, this is one of the first books we grab for to get inspiration. Rather than focusing on recipes, it teaches you how to pair ingredients intuitively, making it perfect for anyone looking to innovate in the kitchen. You’ll discover flavour combinations from some of the world’s most innovative chefs, helping you build new dishes based on what goes together, and even on what you think might not have gone together! Whether you’re cooking with herbs, spices, or bold ingredients, The Flavor Bible is a timeless guide for culinary creativity.
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3. Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat
This groundbreaking book transforms how we think about cooking by focusing on four elements that are essential to every dish: salt, fat, acid, and heat. Written by Samin Nosrat, a chef celebrated for her intuitive approach to cooking, this book is both a practical guide and a love letter to the art of home cooking. It features more than 100 recipes and dozens of variations to help you master these four elements, which will allow you to elevate any meal with ease. Her section on Acid is really intriguing, as it is an often overlooked ingredient used to enhance dishes.
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4. Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking by Masaharu Morimoto
After being introduced to cooking Japanese food early on in Kirstie's apprenticeship, the quest continued with a want to make Japanese food easy and accessible to all. In comes Chef Masaharu Morimoto, famous for his role as an Iron Chef, demystifies Japanese cooking in this beautiful cookbook. Mastering the Art of Japanese Home Cooking presents simple, authentic Japanese dishes that can be easily recreated at home. Morimoto shares the magic of Japanese cuisine, highlighting a handful of basic pantry ingredients that can be used in hundreds of recipes. From traditional favourites like miso soup and chicken teriyaki to unique creations like fish simmered with sake and soy sauce, this book empowers home cooks to experiment and create their own delicious versions of Japanese dishes.
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5. Mandy’s Gourmet Salads: Recipes for Lettuce and Life by Mandy Wolfe, Rebecca Wolfe & Meredith Erickson
We love a good salad, and simply flipping through the beautiful pictures in this book will have you chopping and blending in no time! If you’re tired of the same old salads, Mandy’s Gourmet Salads is for you. Created by the Wolfe sisters, this cookbook brings vibrant, delicious, and creative salads to your table. Whether you’re a salad enthusiast or a skeptic, this book will change how you view greens. Each recipe is designed to take your salad game from simple to extraordinary, with plenty of variety in flavor, texture, and color. Featuring recipes from the famous Montreal-based restaurant (which is just as beautiful as the salads!) it’s full of ideas for adding more freshness and excitement to your meals.
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6. Ivan Ramen: Love, Obsession, and Recipes from Tokyo’s Most Unlikely Noodle Joint by Ivan Orkin
This is not just a cookbook—it’s a love letter to ramen. Ivan Orkin, an American chef who made a name for himself in Tokyo, shares his story and recipes for making perfect ramen at home. With a deep understanding of flavours and techniques, Orkin walks you through making everything from noodles to broths. The book is as much about the process and the culture of ramen as it is about the recipes. If you’re a noodle lover, this cookbook will open your eyes to the nuances of Japanese cooking, while offering practical tips for re-creating authentic ramen dishes.
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7. Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
As apprentice chefs this book was passed around every kitchen as a must-read. Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential explores what goes on behind the scenes in a restaurant kitchen. Known for its raw, honest, and sometimes shocking anecdotes, this memoir-style cookbook is a window into the wild world of professional cooking. With stories from his twenty-five years in the industry, Bourdain shares tales of kitchens, travel, and the highs and lows of restaurant life, all laced with humor and insight. A classic novel, that anyone who loves cooking and a thriller should read!
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8. The Wok: Recipes and Techniques by J. Kenji López-Alt
When asked what her latest greatest cookbook was that she couldn't put down, Jody immediately responded with THE WOK. Or anything by 'Kenji Lopez' really. Kenji López-Alt’s The Wok is a definitive guide to cooking with the wok, one of the most versatile and essential cooking tools in any kitchen. Whether you’re stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, or braising, this book covers it all, with expert techniques and over 100 recipes. What sets it apart is Kenji’s science-based approach, which teaches you how to cook with precision to achieve the perfect balance of texture and flavour. With clear instructions and insightful tips, this cookbook is perfect for both beginners and seasoned chefs looking to master the wok.
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9. Food That Really Schmecks by Edna Staebler
There are not many cookbooks that you can pick up and read like a paperback novel, from to back. One of the first cookbooks ever given to Kirstie by her mom, Edna Staebler’s Food That Really Schmecks is a heartfelt celebration of Mennonite cuisine, written after Staebler spent time with an Old Order Mennonite family in the 1960s. Combining practical recipes with personal anecdotes (she really is funny) and stories about Mennonite culture, this book captures the essence of traditional cooking in Waterloo Region, Ontario. Staebler’s stories and simple, comforting recipes make this a beloved classic in Canadian food writing, and a must-have for anyone interested in exploring regional, cultural cooking.
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10. Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless
We love Mexican Food! Ane when it comes to authentic Mexican cuisine, few chefs are as revered as Rick Bayless. Mexican Everyday is a collection of 90 recipes that are full of flavour but require less than 30 minutes of hands-on time. From Green Chile Chicken Tacos to Shrimp Ceviche Salad, these recipes are simple, healthy, and perfect for busy weeknights. Bayless has a deep understanding of Mexican food but presents it in a way that is accessible for home cooks, making this cookbook a great introduction to the vibrant world of Mexican cooking.
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These cookbooks are more than just collections of recipes—they are gateways to learning new skills, exploring new cultures, and expanding your culinary repertoire. From beginner to enthusiast, each book offers valuable insight and inspiration for cooking delicious meals. From mastering the basics of flavour pairing to understanding the secrets behind great ramen or perfecting the art of wok cooking, these cookbooks will help elevate your kitchen game.
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Jody & Kirstie.
