Cooking for your loved ones [1] and yourself is such a pleasure, but most of us could do with a little expert guidance in the kitchen. We've rounded up 21 reliable cookbooks that make up a cookery "database" for the home. Written by celebrity TV chefs and renowned cooks, these are perfect for those who love cooking and those who are petrified of it. From modern classics from the likes of Nigella Lawson [2], Mary Berry, and Delia Smith, to contemporary vegan and healthy eating titles from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Jamie Oliver, we've got all your snacks, bakes, starters, mains, and puddings covered. Whatever cuisine you're interested in — Indian, Chinese, Mexican, or pub grub and pies — you'll find it here, along with tomes covering all the basics [3].
Everyday Super Food
Jamie Oliver's Everyday Super Food [4] is a really accessible way to make healthy dishes packed with goodness.
Mary Berry's Baking Bible
If you've got a sweet tooth, who better to get cake tips from than the former Great British Bake Off judge? Learn all in Mary Berry's Baking Bible [5].
The Curry Guy
Dan Toombs is The Curry Guy [6], and he'll show you how to recreate British Indian Restaurant recipes. You'll soon be throwing away the takeaway menus.
Home Cooking Made Easy
Lorraine Pascale's Home Cooking Made Easy [7] is perfect for learning how to make classic comfort dishes like shepherd's pie.
River Cottage Much More Veg
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage Much More Veg [8] will give you the inspiration to make dozens of plant-based vegan recipes.
How to be a Domestic Goddess
Nigella Lawson [9] has released lots of excellent cookbooks, but you can't beat How To Be A Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking [10] for a modern classic.
Rick Stein's Seafood
Rick Stein has branched out into different areas of food now, but he's still the don when it comes to fish. Learn from the master with Rick Stein's Seafood [11].
Davina's Sugar-Free in a Hurry
Davina McCall is leading the charge in sugar-free eating with a trio of books. Her second installment, Davina's Sugar-Free in a Hurry [12] is perfect for those of us who need fast recipes.
Paul Hollywood's Bread
The silver fox from GBBO is the man to learn about loaves from, in his tome Paul Hollywood's Bread [13].
Complete Cookery Course
Having a Delia Smith cookbook by your side is essentially the next best thing to having your mum permanently installed in your kitchen, telling you what to do. Get the Gordon Ramsay's Ultimate Cookery Course [14].
Deliciously Ella
Whether you're a fan of her blog or new to her work, Deliciously Ella [15] is a cookbook worth having if you want to cook sugar-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free recipes.
Sweet
Sweet [16] by Yotam Ottolenghi and Helen Goh will take your baking to the next level, with exotic ingredients and spices thrown into the mix.
Feed Me Vegan
Those of us who watch Made in Chelsea will have heard Tiff Watson mention (about 50-bajillion times) that her family were opening a vegan restaurant. Well big sis Lucy Watson is doing very well in that arena, with her cookbook, Feed Me Vegan [17], a number one bestseller in Amazon's vegetarian and vegan cooking department. It's even a best vegan cookbook winner in the PETA Vegan Food Awards 2017.
In Search of Perfection
Most of us first heard about molecular gastronomy thanks to Heston Blumenthal, and if you fancy a go at scientific cooking, get a copy of In Search of Perfection [18], where he reinvents kitchen classics.
The Wagamama Cookbook
Learn how to cook your favourite dishes from the Japanese restaurant chain with The Wagamama Cookbook [19].
Simple
Simple: Effortless Food, Big Flavours [20] by Diana Henry is a great starting point for anyone who wants easy recipes for everyday deliciousness.
Chinese Food Made Easy
Do away with your takeaway menus and learn how to make your favourite dishes with Chinese Food Made Easy [21] by Ching-He Huang.
The Hairy Bikers' Perfect Pies
They've been all over the world and written cookbooks about their adventures, but when you think of Dave Myers and Si King, you can't help but picture British classics, which is what you'll get in The Hairy Bikers' Perfect Pies [22].
Mexican Food Made Simple
MasterChef winner and Wahaca cofounder Thomasina Miers shows you how to do it at home with Mexican Food Made Simple [23].
Tom Kerridge's Proper Pub Food
Before he lost lots of weight and started writing inspiring diet books, Tom was teaching us how to make those classic comfort dishes in Tom Kerridge's Proper Pub Food [24].