Ready to take your Italian cooking to the next level?
Then these cookbooks should be in your kitchen! Not only do they include easy instructions, but also delicious photos so you can get a visual on the dish. Inside you’ll find traditional recipes, modern takes and plenty of handy tips for honing your Italian chef skills.
Make restaurant-style Italian food from home with simple ingredients that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Turn every meal into an adventure without leaving your kitchen – become more creative with flavors and spices as each recipe unleashes its fragrant aroma across the house.
How We Choose The 5 Best Italian Cookbooks for Your Kitchen for You
It can be hard to know which Italian cookbook is the best for your kitchen.
With so many different Italian cookbooks on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you.
We've done the hard work for you and chosen the 5 best Italian cookbooks for your kitchen. From classic recipes to modern twists, we've got you covered.
Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking: 30th Anniversary Edition
by Marcella Hazan
Why We Love It
Did someone say Italian food? Your taste buds won’t just be tingling—they’ll be doing a little victory dance. Whether you’re a master chef or an aspiring cook, the Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking cookbook is your ticket to flavor town. Forget those take-out menus; satisfy your Italian-cravings from the comfort (and safety) of your own kitchen.
Spice up mealtime with fresh Basil Bruschetta and mouthwatering Marinara Sauce. These classic recipes are so straightforward even inexperienced cooks will have no trouble crafting a delicious Italian feast. Best of all, every recipe can be trusted for exceptional flavor—it comes endorsed with two forewords from Lidia Bastianich and Victor Hazan, two esteemed experts in all things Italian cooking. Plus, its beautiful illustrations bring the vibrant flavors to life like never before.
Skip the pizza delivery and explore the joys of creating classic Italian recipes in your very own home with Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking!
Encouraging Review
"An essential cookbook for anyone who enjoys cooking and Italian food. All kinds of wonderful recipes. Marcella Hazan's recipe for roast chicken with two lemons is fail safe and is the juiciest, most delicious roast chicken you will ever make. Guaranteed!" Amazon Review by barbara-by-the-bay
Mastering Pizza: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pizza, Focaccia, and Calzone
by David Joachim and Marc Vetri
Why We Love It
You want to make a delicious pizza at home but no matter what you do, it just doesn't taste like the ones you get from your favorite pizzeria. Well, say hello to Mastering Pizza! This revolutionary guide gives you everything you need for success – a variety of base doughs so you can make mouthwatering pizzas regardless of the oven and equipment you have access to.
Forget about ordering takeout or frozen pizzas. Not only are they expensive, but those don't even come close to the pizza perfection that Mastering Pizza will help you achieve. With this amazing guide, your thin-crust pies will be crunchy and flavorful, your stuffed crust-style pizzas will just ooze out cheese and toppings in all the right places, and your deep dish pies will become legend among family and friends.
Yes: it's possible to master pizza with more ease than anyone ever thought was possible! With Mastering Pizza, you'll be cooking authentic Italian pizzas like a true master chef in no time at all. What are you waiting for? Get this delicious piece of cooking brilliance today!
Encouraging Review
"I have pizza cookbooks, good ones. but when I saw Marc Vetri was coming out with a cookbooks I had to have it. I love Mastering Pasta and Rustic Italian food so much. Mastering Pizza is wonderful. So many crusts, the same crust with different hydration for a different bake and chew, so many options for grill, oven, fire, so many innovative topping ideas, and old favorites that stand the test of time.
However, this book is more than recipes, it's explanations and lots of how to pictures that are really helpful. for example, on page 36 there is a chart of flours, with their protein percent by weight, gluten strength, and elasticity. There is an equipment section, explanation of hydration.
Then the recipes. they are divided by doughs, First the pizza doughs, Naples, Roman, Al Taglio, Whole grain sourdough. The recipes are well laid out, the ingredients, then the directions. There are beautiful drool inducing pictures of the finished products, but also pictures of steps along the way so you know what it should look like at various stages." Amazon Review by Becky at the beach
Why We Love It
Welcome to the Tucci Cookbook--where nostalgia meets modern gastronomy! In this unique volume, the legendary Tucci family is here to bring you a taste of Italy with their expertise in food, wine and celebration. Let the Tuccis take you back through generations of recipes passed down from grandmas and ancestors, now updated for more today's dining enthusiasts. They'll also provide valuable advice on the perfect Italian wines that bring out the flavors in each dish. And of course, each incredible meal will be accompanied by stunning photography capturing both the traditional Italian cooking style and timeless family memories. Get ready to transform your kitchen with an Italian twist. The Tucci Cookbook is here to show us all how delicious home-style cooking can really be! Let's raise our glasses and toast to la dolce vita--the sweet life!
Encouraging Review
"I love Stanley Tucci’s movies and books, but his recipes are superb." Amazon Review by demann
The Complete Italian Cookbook: 200 Classic and Contemporary Italian Dishes Made for the Modern Kitchen
by The Coastal Kitchen
Why We Love It
Craving a tasty bowl of pasta? Look no further than The Complete Italian Cookbook! Delicious and classic Italian delights await in this collection of 200 recipes. Satisfy your taste buds with every tantalizing footnote, from zesty antipasti to heavenly desserts. Everything you need for an authentic Italian feast is included: traditional dishes such as lasagna and focaccia, as well as some unique takes on the classics. This cookbook is more than just a set of instructions; it’s a culinary journey through Italy itself! You’ll learn all about the local customs and delicacies, discovering the regions’ finest flavors along the way. All your favorite ingredients – from tomatoes to prosciutto to wine – are here too! With insight into fascinating food history and stories of successful chefs, you won’t just get dinner-time inspiration; you’ll gain valuable knowledge that could one day make you the master chef at your next dinner party! So why wait? Get cooking today with The Complete Italian Cookbook! Buon appetito!
Encouraging Review
"Great recipes. My wife and I are picking thru it and cooking recipes together and having a blast." Amazon Review by Daniel
Lidia's a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl: Simple Recipes for Perfect Meals: A Cookbook
by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali
Why We Love It
Lidia's a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl: Simple Recipes for Perfect Meals is the perfect companion cookbook to the upcoming public-television series Lidia’s Kitchen: Home Cooking. From beloved TV chef and best-selling author, Lidia Bastianich, comes her favorite recipes for flavorful and no-fuss Italian food that require just one pot or pan (or two!) It is all here—from appetizers, soups and salads all the way to desserts.
Take the hassle out of mealtime preparation with this fabulous resource! All it takes is just one pot or pan to whip up an impressive Italian feast filled with savory meats, sides, Minestrone soup, risotto dishes and even a delightful dessert. Lidia makes cooking Italian cuisine easy with her easy to follow instructions and step-by-step photographs. Let this master chef show you how delicious home cooked meals can be - minus any fuss.
So if you want your meals to be mouthwatering morsels of perfection, pick up your copy of Lidia's a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl: Simple Recipes for Perfect Meals!
Encouraging Review
"I love how she describes everything she does. Love her cookbooks." Amazon Review by Shelley
Which of the 5 Best Italian Cookbooks for Your Kitchen is Right for You?
All in all, the 5 best Italian cookbooks for your kitchen each offer something unique that you can take advantage of. Whether you want a traditional Italian cookbook that focuses solely on classic family recipes, an up-to-date book with modern twists on traditional cuisine, or a regional exploration of Italy through its flavors and dishes, one of these five books has your name written all over it. Don’t forget to have fun with cooking and let your tastebuds explore the world! Remember that almost any dish can be made new again if cooked with love and imagination. After all, cooking isn’t just about making food—it is about nourishing your soul and spirit through the beauty of taste. With these awesome Italian cookbooks at hand, you’ll be sure to find inspiration and deliciousness in every meal!