What’s not to love about Spain? The stunning weather, the vibrant cities, sipping a glass of sangria on a sun-baked beach... We could go on! It’s not surprising that Spain is one of the most visited destinations by UK holidaymakers, and that its delicious cuisine is one of the main attractions.
To help you recreate that authentic fiesta atmosphere at home in these strange times of restricted travel, we’ve pulled together a list of the best Spanish cookbooks. We’ve included titles from chefs such as Omar Allibhoy and Jose Pizzaro to teach you your jamón from your padrón and your manchego from your gazpacho, and to discover there’s so much more to Spanish food than tapas!
From the region of Spain covered to the complexity of the recipes included, there’s a huge variety in the types of cookbook that you can buy. So let's have a look at things to consider when choosing the right cookbook for your kitchen shelf.
If you’re new to the world of Spanish cooking, it’s important that you don’t overstretch yourself so that your first cooking experience is both fun and successful. There are two main areas to consider here, which we have combined to note the levels for each of our recommendations.
Whether you struggle to boil an egg or your food is borderline Cordon Bleu, it will benefit you in the long run if you’re aware of your own capabilities and ensure that the cookbook you buy is suitable.
If you take on too much too soon it could be stressful and leave you feeling like you’ve not achieved what you wanted, and this can put you off cooking new things in the future. Looking through a few sample recipes will help you get a feel for the level, just keep it fun and relaxed – after all, cooking is meant to be a pleasure not a chore!
As well as your general skill level, you should also consider how familiar you are with the flavours and cuisine of Spain. Some cookbooks will include more complex recipes and others low-fuss dishes to pull together in a jiffy, but either of these could still be a challenge for intermediate cooks with little Spanish cooking knowledge.
If you’re in doubt as to what you want or if you're completely new to Spanish cooking, it may be advantageous to buy a book with a variety of different recipes of varying skill levels to give you an introduction to the cuisine, which you can then build on as you learn.
Spain is a big country! It covers nearly 200,000 square miles, and it’s nearly 600 miles from the cooler, more verdant regions in the north to the hotter holiday regions in the south. As you’d expect, the food varies with the climate, so it’s worth knowing what dishes you want to cook before you buy. Let’s have a look at each region's specialties.
North of Spain, including Galicia and Asturias – this cooler mountainous area produces cave-aged cheeses, rich meat stews, shellfish, and both fresh and saltwater fish.
Pyrenees, including Basque Country and Aragon – paprika is the dominant flavour of this region, as it’s known for growing piquillo peppers. It's also well known for salt cod, fish, meats and wines.
Catalonia – this region is infamous for dishes with sauces thickened with almonds, pine nuts or hazelnuts, and is influenced by neighbouring France and Italy.
Eastern Spain, including Valencia – the citrus fruits from this region are known the world over, and Spain’s most famous food export, paella, was created here.
Central Spain, including Castilla and Madrid – this landlocked region is famous for its chorizo, manchego cheese, and pork and lamb roasted in wood-burning ovens.
Southern Spain, including Andalucía and Murcia – another famous Spanish cuisine comes from this region, as tapas is believed to have originated in Seville. It's also famous for its jamón (air-dried ham), gazpacho, shellfish, and sherries. The influence of North Africa is also felt as spices are central to a lot of dishes.
While most of the cookbooks on our list have recipes from all the Spanish regions, some books you come across will focus on the cuisine of a particular region, so double check the details of the book beforehand if there's a particular region you're interested in.
If you’re wanting to introduce quick, everyday recipes into your weekly rotation, then recipe books focused more on entertaining or time-heavy dishes won’t be suitable for you. After all, as delicious as recipes that take lots of preparation and lots of ingredients are, you wouldn’t want to cook them every day!
So, it’s absolutely worth reading the blurb on the book to make sure you’re buying a book with the types of recipes you need, whether that's for your next dinner party or an easy midweek meal.
There’s nothing worse than finding a recipe to recreate something delicious you had on holiday only to find you can’t buy some of the ingredients. Some recipes will call for more specialist ingredients that you may not be able to buy in your regular supermarket, and may take a bit of hunting down.
To make sure you have everything on hand to create delicious and authentic dishes, it’s worth checking out a few of the book's recipes and doing your research to find out what you can buy in your local area – some may require a trip to a specialist shop or an online order.
Armed with your new knowledge on how to choose a suitable Spanish cookbook for your needs, all that's left to do is pick one from our list! From artisan titles by revered chefs to books dedicated to the art of tapas, you'll have no problem finding a favourite or two. ¡Provecho!
£48.94
Difficulty Level | Easy - intermediate |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, entertaining |
Specialist Ingredients | Some |
Formats | Hardcover, paperback |
Pages | 380 |
£4.54
Difficulty Level | Beginner |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, tapas |
Specialist Ingredients | Some |
Formats | Paperback, Kindle |
Pages | 240 |
£11.19
Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Regions Covered | Catalonia |
Recipe Focus | Everyday |
Specialist Ingredients | Yes |
Formats | Paperback, Kindle |
Pages | 352 |
£17.99
Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday |
Specialist Ingredients | Some |
Formats | Hardcover |
Pages | 320 |
£18.05
Difficulty Level | Intermediate - advanced |
---|---|
Regions Covered | Andalusia |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, fine dining |
Specialist Ingredients | Yes |
Formats | Hardcover, paperback |
Pages | 288 |
£22.99
Difficulty Level | Beginner - intermediate |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, special menus |
Specialist Ingredients | Some |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
Pages | 640 |
£15.99
Difficulty Level | Beginner - intermediate |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, tapas |
Specialist Ingredients | Very few |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
Pages | 224 |
£11.99
Difficulty Level | Intermediate - advanced |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, artisan |
Specialist Ingredients | Yes |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
Pages | 544 |
£20.99
Difficulty Level | All abilities |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, entertaining |
Specialist Ingredients | Some |
Formats | Hardcover, Kindle |
Pages | 512 |
£16.99
Difficulty Level | Intermediate |
---|---|
Regions Covered | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, entertaining |
Specialist Ingredients | Very few |
Formats | Hardcover, paperback |
Pages | 240 |
Image | 1 ![]() José Pizarro | 2 ![]() Claudia Roden | 3 ![]() Monika Linton | 4 ![]() Omar Allibhoy | 5 ![]() Penelope Casas | 6 ![]() Sam & Sam Clark | 8 ![]() Rick Stein | 8 ![]() Colman Andrews | 9 ![]() Hamlyn All Colour Cookery | 10 ![]() Marion Trutter |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Spanish Flavours | The Food of Spain | Brindisa: The True Food of Spain | Tapas Revolution | 1000 Spanish Recipes | Moro: The Cookbook | Spain: 140 New Recipes Inspired by My Journey Off the Beaten Track | Catalan Cuisine: Europe's Last Great Culinary Secret | 200 Tapas & Spanish Dishes | Culinaria Spain: A Celebration of Food and Tradition |
Features | A Detailed and Visually-Appealing Look at Regional Spanish Fare | A Beautiful Book of Recipes and Travelogue Covering the Whole of Spain | An Education on Authentic Spanish Cookery From a Restaurant Institution | Simple, Delicious Tapas Without Too Many Specialist Ingredients | A Fantastic Collection of Recipes With Simplicity in Mind | Learn About Spain's History Through Its Foodie Influences | A Comprehensive Collection of Recipes From a Well Known Name | An Exploration of the Cuisine and Culture of One of Spain's Northern Regions | A Versatile Collection of Recipes to Get You Started | A Beautiful Spanish Food Compendium |
Price | £16.99 | £20.99 | £11.99 | £15.99 | £22.99 | £18.05 | £17.99 | £11.19 | £4.54 | £48.94 |
Difficulty Level | Intermediate | All abilities | Intermediate - advanced | Beginner - intermediate | Beginner - intermediate | Intermediate - advanced | Intermediate | Intermediate | Beginner | Easy - intermediate |
Regions Covered | All | All | All | All | All | Andalusia | All | Catalonia | All | All |
Recipe Focus | Everyday, entertaining | Everyday, entertaining | Everyday, artisan | Everyday, tapas | Everyday, special menus | Everyday, fine dining | Everyday | Everyday | Everyday, tapas | Everyday, entertaining |
Specialist Ingredients | Very few | Some | Yes | Very few | Some | Yes | Some | Yes | Some | Some |
Formats | Hardcover, paperback | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover, Kindle | Hardcover, paperback | Hardcover | Paperback, Kindle | Paperback, Kindle | Hardcover, paperback |
Pages | 240 | 512 | 544 | 224 | 640 | 288 | 320 | 352 | 240 | 380 |
Link |
So you've chosen the cookbook, and you're all set to turn out some amazing Spanish flavours for your family and friends. But do you have the kitchen equipment you need? Have a look at the articles below to help you prep like a pro!
So that was our round up of the top 10 Spanish cookbooks! We hope our tips and advice were helpful, and that you've found the recipe book of the right level, theme, and focus to get you cooking up a storm at your next fiesta.
Author: Catherine Torrance
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