My Favourite Cookbooks of 2022

It’s the best time of the year!

I’m sharing my favourite cookbooks of 2022 just in time for you to create a Christmas wish list. I hope you’ll see one or two of these titles waiting for you under the tree.

I love that a simple cookbook can launch a culinary journey experienced from the comforts of your own kitchen. This list is rich with prospects…the only question is, where to you want to go? Greece? India? Romaina? Prince Edward Island?

Read on for the round-up.

Favourite Cookbooks of 2022

Between the war on Ukraine, and my recent trip to Greece, it’s safe to say that my cookbook obsessions have centered mostly around Eastern Europe this year.

In the spring, I added ‘Summer Kitchens‘ to my collection, and immersed myself in the stories and recipes of very same civilians that were being bombed by Putin.

I grieved in the kitchen, dipping into Olia’s photos and essays when I needed a break from the news, but still wanted to stay connected to my Baba’s homeland.

Home Food and Budmo! arrived in the fall, as Ukrainian military uncovered mass graves and the missiles continued to fall. Cooking the recipes of my ancestors become so much more than comfort food.

It became – and continues to be – an act of defiance.

These two cookbooks are a testimony to Ukrainian culture, and its enduring, vibrant traditions. If you are able, please support a Ukrainian author like Olia or Anna this holiday season.

Eastern European Cookbooks

Home Food: 100 Recipes to Comfort and Connect – Olia Hercules (and do look up her whole cookbook roster)

My favourite cookbook of the year. Olia write with her whole heart and soul, an intimacy that is reiterated with each thoughtful recipe and captivating photo. This is a timeless book that celebrates travel, curiosity, family and love. Home Food is a book to be treasured.

Budmo!: Recipes from a Ukrainian Kitchen – Anna Voloshyna

This cookbook wins most beautiful cover of the year, and yes, I love bright colours. Buy this cookbook for the chapter ‘Bread, Crepes and Dumplings’ where the Varenyky, blini and fritters will transport you into a heavenly place.

A Ukrainian Christmas – Nadiyka Gerbish and Yaroslav Hrytsak – The cover alone is worth the price of this unique book!

Tava: Eastern European Baking and Desserts From Romania & Beyond – Irina Georgescu

This gorgeous cookbook will sweep you off your feet and whisk you away to Transylvania. Prepare to be wow by delicate strudels and comforting dumplings, mouthwatering fritters and nostalgic cakes. Being a fan of everything I just mentioned…this cookbook has been impossible to put down.

Nistisima: The secret to delicious Mediterranean vegan food – Georgina Hayden

Georgina’s books are always stunning (as is her Instagram) and her latest just won a major award in the UK! I love to see plant-based cooking coming from this region.

Happy Home Cooking

Make Every Dish Delicious: Modern Classics and Essential Tips for Total Kitchen Confidence – Lesley Chesterman

Lesley’s book has it all: foundational recipes, dinner inspiration and dreamy desserts. I love her no-nonsense approach (she’s very much the same irl) which includes tips on how to set up your kitchen (smart!) and zero waste tips for the home cook.

A Good Day to Bake: Simple Baking Recipes for Every Mood – Benjamina Ebuehi

My favourite baking book of the year! Benjamina and I are on the same wavelength when it comes to kitchen baking projects. So far the kids and I have loved the Banana, Tahini & Rum Cake as well as Honey-Glazed Cumin & Coriander Cornbread (!!).

Southern Inspired: More Than 100 Delicious Dishes from My American Table to Yours – Jernard A. Wells

I met Chef Jernard on my press trip to Greece, where we bonded over feta with a view of the Mediterranean. While he has Southern charm to spare, it is his absolute heart of gold that I will forever remember. That love comes through the pages of his book and is one hundred percent the real deal.

More Home Cooking Favourites:

• Lunchbox: 75+ Easy and Delicious Recipes for Lunches on the Go – Ava Wittenberg
• Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Extra Good Things – OTK with Noor Murad
• Holiday Cookies: Over 100 recipes for the merriest season yet! – Brian Hart Hoffman / Hoffman Media – Fans of The Bake Feed on Instagram will recognize many of the cookies in this stunning ‘best of’ collection.

Asian Cooking

The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a Thousand-Year-Old Tradition – Hannah Che

This beautifully written and presented cookbook is such a welcome addition to my collection! I’ve been devouring it recipe by recipe. My kids love tofu so much, and this book has an entire chapter dedicated to this fascinating ingredient in all its many forms. I know Hannah’s cookbook will have a permanent place in my kitchen.

New Indian Basics: 100 Traditional and Modern Recipes from Arvinda’s Family Kitchen – Preena Chahuan & Arvinda Chauhan

Our winter curry nights just got a whole lot better thanks to this much anticipated cookbook from the mother/daughter duo behind Arvinda’s spices. Now we’re cooking Whole Wheat Garlic Sesame Naan, Vegetable Biryani with Saffron and Nuts and a host of Indian dishes. Spice up your meals with this beautiful and approachable cookbook.

That Noodle Life: Soulful, Savory, Spicy, Slurpy – Mike Le & Stephanie Le

Noodle fun for everyone! We could eat noodles every day of the week – and Steph’s gorgeous book encourages just that. Note that this covers noodles of all kinds, not just Asian.

100% Canadian Cookbooks

Where the River Narrows: Classic French & Nostalgic Québécois Recipes From St. Lawrence Restaurant – Chef J-C Poirier with Joie Alvaro Kent.

I seldom spotlight restaurant cookbooks for many reasons, but this is one exception. St. Lawrence is my favourite restaurant on the West Coast of Canada. Chef J-C is an old friend and former co-worker from my days in the kitchen at Montreal’s famed Toque!.

Where the River Narrows is a sensual culinary journey featuring recipes that are equally aspirational and approachable. I know from experience that French food requires passion and discipline to execute and JC balances both perfectly. His heart and soul comes through in this beautiful cookbook collaboration.

The Lemon Apron: Seasonal Recipes for the Curious Home Cook – Jennifer Emilson

Canada’s beloved food blogger has her debut cookbook and it is full of warmth, just like Jenn. Her personal style is very comforting for the home cook, a wonderful attribute for a cookbook. The photos are absolutely captivating and recipes are clearly written. I’ve bookmarked the Manchego and Black Pepper Gougeres for my next holiday party!

The Miracle of Salt: Recipes and Techniques to Preserve, Ferment, and Transform Your Food – Naomi Duguid

Salt just might be my favourite kitchen ingredient! And I’m learning so much from Naomi’s new cookbook, as it takes me on a journey around the world. This book is essential reading for any curious cook.

Canada’s Food Island: A Collection of Stories and Recipes from Prince Edward Island — by the farmers and fishers of PEI.

I adore a cookbook that takes the reader on a journey, and this one is transporting from cover to cover. You’ll feel like you’ve traveled to PEI as soon as you crack the cover, and the recipes will have you feeling like a local.

You Are Human and You Need Cake – Julie Van Rosendaal

Inspired by a blackout poem she wrote from hate mail, this cake cookbooklet is Julie’s latest work! It does not disappoint with creations like Joe Louis Cake (It’s a Canadian thing) and familiar comforts like Carrot Cake. The book is out veeeery soon…stay tuned!

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Share your favourite cookbooks of 2022 in the comments!