8 Best Cookbooks of 2019

1. Veggie Lean in 15 by Joe Wicks

Whether you’re looking to slim down or just enjoy cooking and feasting on hearty yet healthy dishes, Joe Wicks has you covered. Also known as The Body Coach, the former personal trainer has turned his love for nutritious food into an empire of TV shows, books, and social media – and 2019 marked his return with veggified versions of his favourite meals. Veggie Lean in 15 (Bluebird, £16.99) certainly doesn’t look like a ‘diet’ book, and you won’t have FOMO either, as you work your way through delicious recipes like Lentil Bolognese, Green Turkish Eggs, and the Ultimate Veggie Burger. It’s all about balanced meals that are full of flavour.

Image: Bluebird, £16.99

2. Pinch of Nom by Kate Allinson and Kay Featherstone

As one of the best-selling books of 2019, Pinch of Nom (Bluebird, £20) by Kate Allinson and Kay Featherstone surpassed sales records previously held by Jamie Oliver, and sold 500,000 books in just five weeks. While it’s not strictly a vegetarian or vegan cookbook, there are plenty of veggie-friendly dishes in there. Overall, the book focuses on slimming, homely recipes that appeal to the masses; whether you’re a pro in the kitchen, or just starting out. Keep your eye out for the duo’s new book Pinch of Nom: Everyday Light, released on 12th December

Image: Bluebird, £20

3. Baking with Kim Joy

For avid bakers, The Great British Bake Off 2018 finalist KimJoy is the ultimate source of inspiration for show-stopping, too-cute-to-eat treats. Every page of Baking with Kim-Joy (Quadrille, £18.99) conjures up images of fairies, rainbows, unicorns, and anime in an assortment of the most colourful, quirky bakes we’ve seen in a long time. Whether you want to host a fantastical tea party with your girlfriends, or give children a memorable birthday treat, Kim-Joy will help you channel your inner creative culinary prowess.

Image: Quadrille, £18.99

4. Green by Elly Pear

When food writer and former owner of Pear Café, Elly Curshen (aka Elly Pear), launched her cookbook Green (Ebury Press, £22) in the summer, we couldn’t wait to get our hands on a copy – and we certainly weren’t disappointed. Split into ‘Weekday’ and ‘Weekend’ recipes, it’s perfectly suited for selecting dishes depending on how much time we have to hand. But the book isn’t just aimed at veggies; it strives to help meat-eaters reduce their consumption of animal products, too. Elly is also keen to make sure that the recipes aren’t just about replacing meat, but are centred around local, seasonal veg, with nutritious plates that won’t cost the earth... quite literally: she’s also an advocate for reducing food waste!

Image: Ebury Press, £22

5. Veg by Jamie Oliver

Jamie Oliver has become a household name over the years, and for good reason. The celebrity chef and restaurateur reignited people’s love for home-cooked, family-friendly meals that were flavourful and accessible. His latest endeavour gets a huge tick in our books, as Veg (Penguin Random House, £26) is packed with meat-free meals; from one-pan dishes, pies, and parcels, to weekend plates designed to be shared with friends. Recipes include the Allotment Cottage Pie, Super Spinach Pancakes, and My Veggie Moussaka.

Image: Penguin Random House, £26

6. Vegan Eats by Rachel Ama

Caribbean food is definitely enjoying its turn in the spotlight at the moment, and we’re loving it. But while many people will be familiar with dishes like jerk chicken, it can be difficult for veggies to find inspiration. That’s where Rachel Ama’s first ever cookbook comes in. Vegan Eats (Ebury Press, £20) – which won PETA’s Best Vegan Cookbook award in October – is packed with plant-based plates. The book is the result of Rachel’s passion for delicious, nutritious food that blends various textures and flavours in every dish.

Image: Ebury Press, £20

7. Little Green Kitchen by David Frenkiel and Luise Vindahl

If you’re trying to balance a veggie lifestyle with raising healthy children, then you’ll know the challenges that this poses – not least because children are notoriously fussy! Parents-of-three David and Luise know this all too well. Luckily, the pair are well-versed in the vegetarian cookbook realm as well as parenthood, and Little Green Kitchen (Hardie Grant, £20) is the outcome of their experiences. Here, the duo share fun and wholesome meals that the entire family can enjoy, with recipes that are packed with vegetables whilst still being kid-friendly. Most importantly, it won’t result in you spending hours slaving away in the kitchen!

Image: Hardie Grant, £20

8. Bazaar by Sabrina Ghayour

We’re huge fans of Middle Eastern cuisine, and Bazaar by Sabrina Ghayour (Mitchell Beazley, £26) sums up everything that we love about it. Inspired by the traditional markets in the region, where colourful produce is sold up and down bustling alleyways, the book focuses on fresh and simple ingredients that merge to create strong, bold plates. If you want to achieve depth of flavour but don’t know where to start, this book will have you confidently cooking with a range of spices, herbs, and perfumed aromatics to create beautiful Middle Eastern dishes. Recipes include Chickpea & Vegetable Koftas, Aubergines in Tomato & Tamarind Sauce, and our favourite, the Ras El Hanout & Buttermilk Sweet Loaf Cake.