A delicious new cookbook always makes for a great gift and 2021 has seen plenty of fantastic new titles come out penned by some of our favourite chefs. Here's a look at our favourite new cookbooks of the year to add to your gift shopping list.

Just Teddy – Petals from Paris

Just Teddy is the Zaki family business – a Parisian-style patisserie based in Joburg's Hyde Park Corner that uniquely blends French patisserie with Middle Eastern flourish. Petals from Paris (launched November 2021) is the first Just Teddy publication, a mouthwatering recipe book and also a unique family history. The book is divided into two parts – “Life before Just Teddy” and “Life as we know it now”. The recipes stretch from childhood to now and vary in degree of difficulty with recipes that even novice bakers can try.  The photos are incredible and the recipe range is exciting – from Lebanese breads to street food favourites spiced with za'atar and the classic Just Teddy Chocolate Ganache Tart.
READ OUR REVIEW AND TRY THESE RECIPES FROM THE BOOK: Persian Love Cake | Apple and Almond Frangipane Tart | Salmon and Sweet Pea Quiche

Our Italian Legacy of Love

Launched in 2007, Cafe de Sol is a family-run contemporary restaurant famed for its warm service and classic Italian cuisine. This book is a tribute to the family legacy of the two Nonnas whose recipes have been at the heart of the family business; Nonna Chiara from Brescia, and Nonna Theresa from Genova. The family's first commercial cookbook, the project was kickstarted by the experience of lockdown and the launch of the restaurant's Deli Via online meal kit delivery service. After living through the challenges and heartbreaks of the pandemic, and seeing the new passion for cooking that was ignited in so many South Africans, the family agreed that life was too short not to share some of their many recipes. The book is presented as an introduction to the Cafe del Sol kitchen, laying out the preparation of everything from antipasti, pasta and risotto to decadent desserts and even a few cocktails too. The recipes are easy to follow and embellished with interesting and useful tips from the family matriarch Nonna Chiara. A great gift for anybody with a passion for Italian cuisine.

Simply Seasonal 

Ilse van der Merwe is The Food Fox, a food blogger, cook and all-round food creative who we have enjoyed following for some time now. Simply Seasonal is Ilse’s compilation of recipes that have been inspired by nature. The book is as wholesome to look at as the dishes you’ll produce from it. The photos have been beautifully shot by Tasha Secombe – a long-time Ilse collaborator. Divided neatly into seasons, Simply Seasonal keeps you virtuously in step with the cycles of nature, and urges a consciousness about what we consume. Simplicity and unfussiness are at the heart of these recipes. The kind of useful and easy to follow recipe book that you will find yourself returning to throughout the year. 
READ OUR REVIEW AND TRY THESE RECIPES FROM THE BOOK: Snoek with Miso Butter and Ginger | Vietnamese-style rice paper spring rolls with savoury peanut sauce

The Ultimate Salad Book

The latest cookbook from author Chantal Lascaris is packed with more than 70 recipes for an incredible variety of salads that can be enjoyed as a main dish at any meal of the day. Lascaris is known for her dedication to healthy eating and this book is no exception. If you are looking to start 2022 with a healthier diet that favours more nutrient-dense ingredients such as whole grains and leafy green vegetables The Ultimate Salad Book has more than enough dinner ideas to keep you going.

Nude Food

Another good buy for anyone embarking on a new diet this year, South African actor and TV presenter Armand Aucamp's Nude Food contains 50 banting and keto-friendly dishes. All the recipes featured are specifically low carbohydrate and in this book (which follows on from his debut book Nude) Armand has also focused on how to get the most out of everyday staples ingredients that you may already have in the cupboard at home. 

Tashas Inspired

Natasha Sideris is a pioneering force on South Africa's food scene, and now globally, with her restaurant chain Tashas also operating in Dubai. Her food philosophy centres on the magic of entertaining, with the food as centrepiece of an elegant landscape and the Tashas brand is synonymous with fresh, beautiful and healthy food, seductively plated and styled. Tashas Inspired: A celebration of food and art is Natasha's second recipe book, a great coffee table tome that's lavishly produced and beautifully photographed. The book takes the reader on a journey of food across the world, combining inspiration from food, art, decor and even music. A sensory feast that also offers up practical recipes and ideas for entertaining. 
READ OUR REVIEW AND TRY THESE RECIPES FROM THE BOOK: Cold Yoghurt Soup | Pea, courgette & goat’s cheese frittata | Sole Meunière

Shelf Love by Ottolenghi Test Kitchen

The latest cookbook by Ottolenghi and his Test Kitchen team is titled Shelf Love and is a “lockdown” publication, that was shaped by the idea that you might not have all the ingredients suggested on hand but there are many ways to work around this. The book is focused on “skills and solutions” for using up ingredients that might otherwise sit on a shelf or in the freezer. At the back of the book are indexes of meal suggestions themed under topics from 'under an hour' to 'kiddie friendly' and vegan mains. The idea of Shelf Love is to make you a more resourceful cook, and each recipe has suggestions for substitution as well as a handy notes section. There’s also a little “get ahead’ box on most recipes showing you how to break up the preparation.
READ OUR REVIEW AND TRY THESE RECIPES FROM THE BOOK: Curried cauliflower cheese filo pie | Sticky miso bananas with lime and toasted rice

Welcome To My Table by Siba Mtongana

Siba Mtongana has been called the "Queen of Convenience" as she finds the short routes to creating meals that look as if you spent hours in the kitchen. Welcome to My Table, launched at the end of 2020 (before Siba launched her new Cape Town restaurant), is a fun and energetic cookbook for busy people, who want a beautiful meal on the table but don't have hours to source rare ingredients and to prepare them. 
READ OUR REVIEW AND TRY THESE RECIPES FROM THE BOOK: Braaied corn salad with basil pesto | Seafood bunny chow | Siba's Red Velvet Delight