The best cookbooks to gift this Christmas

The festive period is a time for hearty feasting and an opportunity to sharpen our culinary skills. With shelves brimming with cookbooks, it can be tricky to choose titles that genuinely offer something fresh – those that help us plate up deliciousness without turning the kitchen into a battlefield. Yet even the more intricate tomes can spark inventive ideas, encouraging us to adapt and simplify wherever we choose. We’ve scoured the latest releases to find books that stand out not just for their practicality, but also for their inspirational qualities. Whether you’re a seasoned pro looking for a new challenge or a novice keen to learn, these selections deliver fresh perspectives and and soul-warming dishes. From comfort classics with a twist to distinctive international flavours and foolproof pastry techniques, here’s our pick of cookbooks perfect for the holiday season – guaranteed to stir up your creativity in the kitchen.

Opso: A Modern Greek Cookbook

Opso: A Modern Greek Cookbook by chef Nikos Roussos and Andreas Labridis offers a glimpse into contemporary Greek cuisine, inspired by the celebrated London restaurants Opso, Kima, Ino and PittaBun. Featuring over 80 recipes, the book blends traditional flavours with a modern sensibility, guiding you from simple meze dishes like feta kataifi and souvlaki to more ambitious plates like octopus stifado and smoked tomato lobster. Seasonal specials and inventive brunch ideas, such as “village eggs” and indulgent Greek yogurt delicacies, ensure there’s something to entice every palate. Personal stories and insights are woven throughout, lending warmth to this culinary exploration of Greece’s bountiful table. It’s a tribute to a decade of gastronomic innovation from the duo who’ve elevated modern Greek cuisine in London – and now they’re sharing their secrets for your home kitchen.

Opso: A Modern Greek Cookbook by chef Nikos Roussos and Andreas Labridis is released via Ebury Press and available in bookshops and online retailers. For further information visit the Opso website.

Comfort by Ottolenghi

Comfort by Ottolenghi offers a fresh take on the foods we crave most: cosy, familiar classics reimagined through Yotam Ottolenghi’s signature lens. Co-authored with Helen Goh, Verena Lochmuller and Tara Wigley, this volume weaves personal stories and global influences into each recipe, turning pasta, mash and soup into culinary events. Think caramelised onion orecchiette with hazelnuts, cheesy bread soup studded with winter greens, and pillowy aligot potatoes kissed with garlic and thyme. Guided by the “four hungries,” these dishes embrace heartfelt nostalgia without sacrificing the adventurous spirit Ottolenghi is known for. It strives to be more than just a cookbook, it’s conceived as  a collection of memories and traditions that encourage us to find comfort in cooking – and in sharing the results with those we love.

Comfort by Ottolenghi is released via Ebury Press and available in bookshops and online retailers. For further information visit Ottolenghi’s website.

Sift by Nicola Lamb

In Sift, pastry chef and popular food blogger Nicola Lamb demystifies baking, making it accessible and endlessly enjoyable. Divided into two halves, the first section dives deep into the “why” of baking, shedding light on techniques, textures, ingredients, and the subtle chemical dance that leads to perfect pastries. Her approachable tone and charming illustrations transform scientific concepts into friendly kitchen wisdom. The second half serves up more than 100 recipes arranged by the time they take – from an afternoon’s project (gooey cookies, airy cakes) to weekend showstoppers (opera cakes, croissants, and laminated galettes). Expect inventive takes on comforting treats, including salted vanilla and pistachio layer cake, and miso walnut chocolate-chip cookies. With Sift at hand, baking becomes a thoughtful process where knowledge and creativity combine, ensuring each batch is better than the last.

Sift by Nicola Lamb is released via Ebury Press and available in bookshops and online retailers. For further information visit Nicola Lamb’s website.

Greekish by Georgina Hayde

 

Greekish by Georgina Hayden puts a modern spin on Greek-inspired cuisine, embracing its bold flavours while loosening the rules of tradition. Bright salads, hearty bakes, savoury snacks, and sweet treats all find their place here: think crispy fried sesame cheese bites, sticky aubergine and pomegranate tarts, and baklava cheesecake. It’s a casual, flexible approach that encourages experimentation and personalisation. The recipes marry familiar Mediterranean classics with inventive twists, using fewer ingredients to deliver maximum flavour. Hayden’s warm and approachable style invites readers to come as they are, tweak recipes to taste, and find their own groove in the kitchen. Greekish proves that great cooking doesn’t rely on strict authenticity, but on a sense of place, joy and the freedom to make each dish your own.

Greekish by Georgina Hayden is released via ‎ Bloomsbury Publishing and available in bookshops and online retailers.

Tucking In by Sophie Wyburd

Tucking In by Sophie Wyburd is a love letter to the kind of cooking that soothes the soul and brings people together. Formerly of Mob and known for her sell-out supper clubs, Wyburd champions fuss-free comfort food with over 100 recipes that range from quick midweek saviours (Chipotle Vodka Gnocchi Bake), to weekend feasts (Curried Chicken Legs with Cheesy Polenta), and irresistible nibbles and desserts. Her chatty, warm style makes you feel like you’re swapping kitchen secrets with a friend over coffee, while her creative twists – like hazelnut tiramisu or cheeseboard arancini – ensure even classics feel new. With a balance of meat, fish, vegetarian, and vegan dishes, Tucking In suits all palates and occasions. This is joyous home cooking at its best, encouraging readers to embrace the kitchen as a place of nourishment, ease, and personal expression.

Tucking In by Sophie Wyburd is released via Ebury Press and available in bookshops and online retailers.

Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain

Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain sees the renowned celebrity chef of Michelin fame hitting the road in a trusty food truck, searching for standout local produce and turning it into irresistible seasonal dishes. Accompanying a TV series, this cookbook is a vibrant map of Britain’s culinary landscape, where hero ingredients – like local cheeses, orchard fruits, or the catch of the day – take the spotlight. Expect smart yet straightforward recipes: succulent steak sandwiches, fennel and chilli pork belly, Dover sole with brown butter and capers, and luscious Pimm’s-infused strawberries. The focus is on simplicity and quality, proving that sustainable sourcing and respect for the land can yield extraordinary flavours. Celebrating farmers, growers, and artisans, this is British cooking at its honest best, ideal for anyone keen to support homegrown goodness.

Tom Kerridge Cooks Britain is released via Bloomsbury Absolute and available in bookshops and online retailers.

River Cottage Great Pies by Gelf Alderson

River Cottage Great Pies from Gelf Alderson delivers the ultimate guide to pastry-wrapped comfort. Featuring an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, this book eases you through everything pie-related, from fuss-free shortcrust to flaky puff, hot water crusts, suet pastries, and even the art of choux. If you’re short on time, store-bought pastry is always an option – but with these approachable instructions, mastering your own is a pleasure. The 80 recipes cover all tastes: veggie delights, hearty meat pies, delicate tarts, hand-held pasties, and show-stopping sweet treats. Whether you’re crafting a golden chicken balti pie, savouring a River Cottage pork pie, or indulging in a plum and raspberry meringue dessert, these dishes celebrate tradition and embrace innovation. It’s a heartfelt invitation to bake something warming, shareable, and downright delicious this holiday season.

River Cottage Great Pies by Gelf Alderson is released via Bloomsbury Publishing and available in bookshops and online retailers.

Food Desk