I rarely use cookbooks – I find the ingredients lists too long and the methods too complicated. Instead, I prefer to see what I have in the fridge, chuck it all in a pan, and see what happens.
That was until I came home one evening and saw my flatmate making a delicious dish in a roasting tin for the second night in a row. She was following a recipe from her new cookbook The Roasting Tin. It looked easy (there weren’t 500 ingredients involved) and it smelled amazing.
Just like that I became hungry to find more delicious recipe books that are easy-to-follow and budget friendly. So, I asked readers, colleagues and friends for recommendations on cookbooks to buy this spring.
[Read More: 7 best vegan cookbooks to get you inspired]
The Green Roasting Tin, Amazon, £10.80
Recommended by: my housemate.
As we move into spring, we want less winter warmer dinners (think mash potato and hearty chilli), and more light and healthy dinners. That’s why I’m a fan of the green version of The Roasting Tin cookbook series – 75, one-tin recipes, half vegan and half vegetarian. All delicious.
Buy it here.
LEON Happy Salads, Amazon, £12
Recommended by: HuffPost reader
Sometimes the oldies really are the goodies. Happy Salads is a popular choice in my flat. I’m not saying all you want to eat in spring is salads, but it’s great to have the option when the weather gets warmer. The instructions are easy to follow, too – which is great.
Buy it here.
My Asian Kitchen, Amazon, £12
Recommended by: HuffPost reader
If you love Asian food, you’re onto a winner with this book. Jennifer Joyce shows how easy it is to create healthy Asian dishes at home – perfect for the spring months when you don’t want to get bogged down with potato-laden meals. There’s bao buns, pho, sushi, poke bowls and ramen. Need we say more? (Oh, and the photos look amazing).
Buy it here.
Halloumi Cookbook, Amazon, £6.75
Recommended by: HuffPost reader
Who doesn’t want to add halloumi to anything and everything when they’re eating? Just us? Oh. This small cookbook makes it manageable to flick through without being overwhelmed – and it makes for some perfect light lunches.
Buy it here.
Ottolenghi Simple, Amazon, £15.32
Recommended by: Tasha Hinde, Lifestyle reporter
Ottolenghi has several best-selling cookbooks, but this is on the list for one reason: it’s simple. It’s one for those who are short on time, don’t want to use loads of ingredients, and want to make fancy meals without the hassle. When the weather turns warmer, we don’t want to be slaving away in a kitchen all evening.
Buy it here.
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking, Amazon, £18
Recommended by: Jasmin Gray, Politics reporter
This might intrigue those of you who are fascinated by food. It’s not just a recipe book, it also explains some of the science behind why food tastes so good. You don’t only get to try out Samin Nosrat’s recipes (which are great, I’m told), but you can apply what you’ve learned to other stuff you cook.
Buy it here.
Eat Happy, 30-Minute Feel-Good Food, Amazon, £13
Recommended by: HuffPost reader
If you’re trying to limit the amount of takeaways you get (for health and money reasons), try out Hemsley’s feel-good food cookbook, where she has recipes for healthier versions of takeaway favourites – plus snacks, party food, and a bit of baking, too. Check out our interview with her here.
Buy it here.