The Best Cookbooks Of 2024 So Far

With all the fantastic cocktail and cookbooks being released, 2024 is shaping up to be an incredibly appetizing year. To help you sort out the best of the best, we browsed the upcoming releases from both major and indie publishers, scoured our local bookstores, and watched for social media hype to create this highly curated list. Every book named here offers readers a glimpse into a unique aspect of the culinary experience.

From broad guides on topics like Asian cuisine, simple cocktails, and basic bread baking to deep dives on more niche interests (think vegan delights, Afro-Cali fusion food, and a book dedicated to sauces) you're going to fall in love with these marvelous culinary page-turners. And if you're anything like us, you'll also appreciate the personal stories some of these authors share between meals. The recommendations come from high ratings and excellent reviews — both online and from Food Republic staff — including my own experience reading and recipe testing some of the more intriguing dishes and cocktails.

Tie your aprons — because we're digging in and cooking with some very notable food authors! 

Whoever said healthy, nurtirious food doesn't taste good? Someone, somewhere, we're sure of it. And while that ideology is a total myth, you're still in luck — because "Health Nut: A Feel-Good Cookbook" by Jess Damuck might just be your next venture into cooking irresistibly delicious (and nutritious) food.

You want peach and burrata capers with hot honey, this book has it; date-sweetened carrot-cake, oat bars with rhubarb ginger jam, and charred cabbage with mushroom butter? Look no more. Seriously, this super spirited cookbook will set your desire for eating well ablaze. Taking inspiration from her 1970s upbringing, Damuck's book will keep you turning page after page and experimenting with her nourishing yumminess. Go get 'em, health nut!

Purchase "Health Nut: A Feel-Good Cookbook" on Amazon for $22.17.

Family is the centerpiece of Kat Lieu's "Modern Asian Kitchen" menu. You'll dive into the fundamentals of rice, dashi, and miso soup; plus dim sum, tasty street food, and many unforgettable noodle dishes. Lieu delivers more than 80 mouthwatering recipes with a forward that serves up a delightful heartwarming story about her family history, inspirations, and love for food. From easy dinners to small plates and dishes to share, there's a wide range of sweet and savory foods in this cookbook. 

"Modern Asian Kitchen" defines cooking with heart and soul — Lieu writes that the book comes from a place of "creating delicious yet uncomplicated dishes to share with loved ones and friends, time and again." She emphasizes being free to get creative and experiment with flavors, and that's generally a great philosophy when it comes to cooking. 

Purchase "Modern Asian Kitchen" on Amazon for $22.26.

Hello sauce lovers! We know kicking up your meals via dips, sauces, and glazing can be a little overwhelming, but Ashley Boyd's "Saucy: 50 Recipes for Drizzly, Dunk-able, Go-To Sauces to Elevate Everyday Meals" makes it exciting, easy, and (best of all) super tasty.

This accessible book (which makes a great gift, by the way) is for both seasoned and amateur cooks, parents on-the-move, and those who are health conscious. From Basil Pistachio Pesto and Romesco Sauce, to Lemon Curd and Garlic Mushroom Sauce, there really is something for everyone. (We are so excited to whip up the phenomonal looking Thai Peanut Sauce!) Go get your sauce fix 50 different ways with this book filled with tangy, herby, and creamy recipes and sure to elevate your daily meals with minimal effort.

Purchase "Saucy: 50 Recipes for Drizzly, Dunk-able, Go-To Sauces to Elevate Everyday Meals" on Amazon for $17.93.

It's all in the title! For those seeking plant-based Jewish recipes, you'll fall head over heels for "Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine." This amazing cookbook has more than 80 outstanding dishes; a delectable feast of traditional Jewish foods and flavors from breakfast to dessert ... without meat.

Author Micah Siva intends to bring community together in this contemporary take on Jewish cuisine with photos that will have you salivating at every option. Savory Pulled Mushroom and Tofu Brisket or Poppy Seed, Potato, and Caramelized Onion Kreplach anyone? Yes please! And not only does "Nosh" contain recipes for mains, sides, and desserts, it also features a cocktails and beverages section: hello, Olive and Sumac Martini and Pomegranate Red Wine Spritzer!

Purchase "Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine" on Amazon for $26.65.

Speaking of sauces, Michelin-starred chef Mingoo Kang's "Jang: The Soul of Korean Cooking" explores Korean cuisine and the sauces that accompany a variety of spectacular dishes. All of these umami-forward sauces are featured in soups, sandwiches, stews, marinades, salads, and even desserts — steeped in a pot of depth and tradition.

Let the flavors of gochujang, doenjang, and ganjang excite your taste buds as you delight in the marvels of Gangdoenjang Bibimbap, La Galbi Gui, Ganjang Granola Yogurt, and Gochujang Chocolate Mousse to name a few. "Jang" is truly a one-of-a-kind experience — it's the first book on Korean sauces published in English, and it explorers everything from Kimchi Fried Rice and BBQ-Glazed Chicken, to Doenjang Risotto and Ganjang-Marinated Shrimp.

Purchase "Jang: The Soul of Korean Cooking" on Amazon for $26.99.

This one's no joke ... or maybe it is, you be the judge. "Let's Bake Bread" is a quirky, fun, cookbook presented in comic form, which offers a creative way of teaching first-time bread makers all about topics like the equipment needed, how to keep a sourdough starter alive, and how to bake classic loaves. Of course, what's a comic baking book if it also doesn't teach you how to maintain a good sense of humor while kneading, twisting, or squeezing your way to an amazing loaf? (Inside word is, if you don't find this book funny, your dough may not rise.)

The comic book format is adorbale and five stars for how simple it all is to follow. Extra bonus stars because authors Ken Forkish and Sarah Becan even share a recipe for bacon bread in there.

Purchase "Let's Bake Bread" on Amazon for $18.69.

Here's a guide to upping your kitchen game with cured foods like pickles, preserves, jams, and sauces. "Cured: Cooking with Ferments, Pickles, Preserves & More" comes from six-time James Beard Award nominee Steve McHugh, and focuses on preserving ingredients at their peak so you can enjoy them at a later time. You'll also learn about how certain spices mingle and how to pair them with one another — just be cautious you don't get too much paprika, turmeric, annatto, and chili powder up your nose.

Israeli Couscous with Preserved Lemon, Bacon, and Greens; Kimchi Meatloaf; Chipotle Marmalade Chicken Wings; and Smoked Nuts Chocolate Tart are just a few of the sumptuous offerings in McHugh's lusciously photographed book. This is a superb journey into the world of curing and preserving — no matter how much or how little experience you have — with more than 150 pages of recipes to enjoy.

Purchase "Cured: Cooking with Ferments, Pickles, Preserves & More" on Amazon for $34.60.

The perfect cookbook for potlucks (or for those who are simply incapable of showing up to a party empty-handed), Sophie Hansen's "What Can I Bring?: Easy, delicious food for sharing" is all about "community and kindness that binds us" — who couldn't use more of that in their life?

Hansen takes you through the seasons, sharing recipes for everything from savory springtime tarts and things to eat with one hand to summer focaccia and salads that won't wilt in hot temps. The fall lineup includes things like celebration cakes, salads, and biscuits for tin; while winter serves up comforting soups for the thermos and "dippy and nibbly things." We couldn't be more ready to test out Hansen's Apricot and Almond Granola Jars, which look scrumdiddlyumptious and take just under two hours to make. 

Purchase "What Can I Bring?: Easy, delicious food for sharing" on Amazon for $25.51.

Toriano Gordon began eating vegan because he wanted to improve his health, but found he was nostalgic for his favorite soul food flavors from childhood. That was the genesis of his Vegan Mob restaurant in Oakland, California, as well as the inspiration for his first cookbook, aptly named "Vegan Mob." In the book, the vegan chef shares 80 plant-based, easy-to-follow fusion recipes. Depticed with tantalizing photography are dishes like La La Lumpia, Mafia Mobster Noodles aka Garlic Noodles, Mob Lasagna, and Mob Taco Bowls. And if you love backstory, Gordon also takes you into his love of the Bay Area's rap music scene.

Gordon shares on the company website, "Our mission here at Vegan Mob is to provide nutritious and healthy food with plant-based ingredients. Our passion is to help surrounding communities by empowering them with food they love and enjoy, while also supporting a healthy life-style." Who can't get behind good, nurtitious food that gives back?

Purchase "Vegan Mob" on Amazon for $26.69.

With a forward by none other than Ina Garten, author (and former Garten assistant) Lidey Heuck nails "deliciously doable" recipes in her debut cookbook, "Cooking in Real Life." Expect flavorfully elevated — yet simple-to-make — recipes for dishes such as Salmon with Honey and Chili Crunch, Saucy Shrimp alla Vodka, and Maple-Roasted Squash with Grapes and Shallots.

Heuck focuses on "flexible, seasonally-inspired recipes with easy-to-find ingredients" as well as dishes the whole family will enjoy, meaning you can skip the trips to the specialty store or adjust for picky palates with little fuss. Natrually, this book also contains recipes for cocktails, mocktails, and desserts (like the fabulous sounding Rainbow Sprinkle Ice Cream Cake), allowing you to easily turn any night into a celebration.

Purchase "Cooking in Real Life" on Amazon for $21.49.

Chef and author José Andrés shares his take on classic foods from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon in his latest cookbook, "Zaytinya." (The name translates to "olive oil" in Turkish.) Spiced seafood, grilled kebabs, warm pita, and fried veggies are mainstays, but don't think this cookbook will be too familiar. Andrés urges readers to have fun with the recipes, expanding their minds and their spice racks.

The chef explains, "By adding these regional flavors to your pantry, you are joining in an age-old tradition: the mixing of cultures and ingredients to create new dishes with delicious stories to tell." And of course, the stories in "Zaytinya" are as compelling as the wonderful dishes Andrés share. As we all know, storytelling and food both have the power to bring people together, and you can't help but to feel that notion while diving into this cookbook. 

Purchase "Zaytinya" on Amazon for $29.99.

Author (and, you know, cake baker) Natalie Paull artfully assembles what she considers "adored bakehouse favorites" in her new book, "Beatrix Bakes: Another Slice." Filled with some of Paull's favorite desserts,from Lemon Cream Tart and Banana Cream Pie with Sesame Toffee Crunch, to Cannoli with Buffalo Ricotta Filling, Hazelnut Layer Cake with Roasted Cherries, and Spiced Grilled Blood Plums, you simply can't go wrong.

Think of it like this: "Beatrix Bakes: Another Slice" is your new bff when it comes to making sweet, super tasty desserts. Everything in here is irresistible, from the gorgeous images down to the way the dishes are described. Writing on her Milk Chocolate and Earl Grey cookies, Paull says, "Getting into my downtime comfort zone means three things: stretchy pants, a pot of tea and a packet of milk chocolate-covered digestives." It's hard to imagine a more relaxing sentence.

"Beatrix Bakes: Another Slice" on Amazon for $31.82.

From Dan Pashman (of "Sporkful" podcast fame as well as the inventor of cascatelli, a short pasta in a unique shape that maximizes the amount of sauce you can get with every bite) comes "Anything's Pastable." After spending time eating his way across Italy, working closely with pasta experts in the process, this cookbook obliterates our preconceptions of what pasta dishes can — and should — be. Let's just say: This ain't your standard pasta book. Here you'll find exciting fusion dishes like Kimchi Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe e Chili Crisp, and Linguine with Miso Clam Sauce, as well as exciting twists on more familiar recipes like Green Fettuccine with Chorizo Verde, Shrimp and Andouille Mac and Cheese, and Spinach Artichoke Dip Lasagna Pinwheels.

We give "Anything's Pastable" an A+++ for taking risks — though we're guessing this kind of outside-the-box thinking comes naturally to Pashman and doesn't feel much like a risk at all. Here is an excellent example of highlighting new possibilities for old standbys.

Purchase "Anything's Pastable" on Amazon for $24.49.

If you're searching for more of a challenge in the kitchen, you'll want to grab a copy of "Make it Fancy: Cooking at Home With Sad Papi." In the new book, author and TikTok star Brandon Skier sets out to teach you how to cook like a pro. And if dishes like Puffed Beef Tendon, Duck Confit with Mole Poblano, and Pork Chop with Fennel Pollen and Pear Mustard seem above your skill set, don't be discouraged; his approach is totally doable.

In addition to tips and tricks for leveling up in the kitchen, Skier also gives a little peek into how he got started cooking, highlighting his grandfather (who was a baker in the army) and his father, a line cook. The author writes he was about 10 when he knew he wanted to attend culinary school, so he has years of experience cooking in both home and professional kitchens. If you're looking to find out why restaurant food tastes so dang good, and how to make your home cooked meals just as special, this is the book for you. 

Purchase "Make it Fancy: Cooking at Home With Sad Papi" on Amazon for $19.79.

If you're looking for a cookbook that features staple ingredients found in the Indian American pantry, this is it! Author Khushbu Shah gives us a look-see into the origin story behind Indian food in America.

"As generations of immigrants and their children innovated with the ingredients and influences surrounding them, completely new dishes have emerged that are neither fully Indian nor fully American in their origins but delicious culinary innovations entirely unique to this diaspora," Khushbu writes in the introduction. 

Truly, an insightful revealing into the wonderful world of Indian cuisine in America — from Masala Shakshuka to Saffron Chia Seed Pudding, and Carrot Halwa Sticky Buns, you're in for a real treat.

And the pictures in "Amrikan" are as delectable as the recipes — they basically pop off that pages!

Purchase "Amrikan: 125 Recipes from the Indian American Diaspora" on Amazon for $30.51.

Author Crystal Wilkinson has given us a cookbook with deep insight into her family history and the cooking inspirations (and traditions) that have passed through time. The introduction to "Praisesong" is rich with familial bonds and story and sets the tone for a wonderful journey spoken from the heart.

"In these pages you will meet my culinary matriarchs and see their influence in the foods I cook and the way I cook them." Hot Milk Cake, Chicken and Dumplings, Sautéed Fiddleheads, Hearty Sandwich Bread, and Caramel Cake are only a peek into so many easy-on-the-eyes recipes.

"Praisesong" is vibrant storytelling — Wilkinson weaves an engaging (often beautiful) narrative between many of the recipes — it's almost as if the anecdotes could be a novel unto themselves.

Wilkinson writes, "When my mother died in 2016, we buried her in pink (her favorite color). It was August, but pink reminded me of spring, which reminded me of basket-meeting day, which somehow brought me back to blackberries ... I mourned my mother. I ate biscuit after biscuit with bowl after bowl of blackberries and cried."

Purchase "Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts: Stories and Recipes from Five Generations of Black Country Cooks" on Amazon for $18.69.

Here we have a delicious journey into Korean cuisine. There are more than 75 recipes in "Koreaworld: A Cookbook" and each one accompanied by vibrant mouthwatering pictures.

Through a variety of stories and, of course, cuisine, authors Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard team up to bring us a deep understanding into how Korean food has evolved. They take us right into the heart of it all — as they traveled more than two years, exploring, researching, and enjoying food from all over Korea and the United States.

They write in the introduction, "In this book, we capture the modern excitement around Korean food through stories and chefs and home cooks and the exciting recipes that are shaping the modern Korean kitchen, from centuries-old traditions to next-wave dishes that feel like they were invented overnight."

Purchase "Koreaworld: A Cookbook" on Amazon for $24.12.