Whether you’re an aspiring chef or a home cook looking to mix things up, these recipe books provide a gateway to the heart of Australian gastronomy.
The Australian kitchen is a unique oddity. It’s a place where Vegemite is a pantry essential and, to no surprise, it’s where the barbecue isn’t just a cooking method, but a way of life. Whether you’re a seasoned home chef or a kitchen novice who’s just mastered boiling water, the world of Australian cookbooks is your best way to expand your cooking repertoire.
In this roundup, we’re serving up a buffet-like selection of the best Australian cookbooks that’ll have you whipping up dishes that would make any Aussie proud. From bush tucker to beach barbies, these books are packed with recipes that’ll transform your kitchen into a Down Under diner. So, put on your apron and cook your way through some of the finest flavours Australia has to offer!
As the name suggests, restaurateur Bill Granger has put together one of the best Australian cookbooks with a unique perspective and insight. Australian Food is a celebration of Australian kitchens and the joyfully casual (and Australian) way of eating that the world has fallen in love with. From Tokyo to London, queues form for Aussie treats like ricotta hotcakes, fluffy scrambled eggs, and lively salads that have been packaged in this sensational cookbook. This book of recipes is sure to excite and delight your next dinner with friends and family!
Image via Angus and Robertson website.Australian Food by Bill Granger
While plenty of cookbooks feel like a scientific experiment of complex ingredients and high intensity cooking, sometimes the best things in life are simple. That’s where Julia Nishimura’s cookbook, A Year of Simple Family Food, provides a much-needed remedy. With a focus on family food with seasonality in mind, A Year of Simple Family Food features plenty of quick recipes, as well as those that require more time to bubble away on the stove. Overall, this recipe book is packed with Australian food that the whole family will love, all year round!
Image via Angus and Robertson website.A Year of Simple Family Food by Julia Nishimura
From vanilla slices to lamingtons, Australia has a rich history of sweets and desserts that has come to life in one of the best Australia baking cookbooks. Beatrix Bakes by Natalie Paull will inspire you to get out the mittens and indulge in the sweetest moments. Inspired by classic desserts from Australia and around the world, Paull includes recipes for pies, tarts, pastries and plenty of mouthwatering cakes. And with stunning illustrations and photos of each sweet, you’re in for a delicious time flicking through Beatrix Bakes!
Image via Angus and Robertson website.Beatrix Bakes by Natalie Paull
One of the most popular Australian baking books ever published, an entire generation of kids have grown up featuring birthday cakes from the iconic pages of The Australian Women’s Weekly’s Children’s Birthday Cake Book. From the classic duck cake to iconic cover-worthy train cake, there are decades of treasured memories between the pages of the Children’s Birthday Cake Book. Relive your childhood with this excellent Australian baking book!
Image via Angus and Robertson website.Children's Birthday Cake Book by The Australian Women's Weekly
Modern Australia is more than just the classic shrimp on the barbie, as our kitchens increasingly represent the many folks that call Australia home. The cookbook Chinese-ish celebrates the confident blending of culture and identity through food. Inside you’ll find a bounty of Chinese-influenced inauthentic recipes, whether classic Chinese mains to delectable wonton and dumplings, with an Australian twist. Embark on an utterly delicious yet unique take on Chinese cooking with Chinese-ish!
Image via Booktopia website.Chinese-ish by Rosheen Kaul and Joanna Hu
Enjoy an adventure with one of the best Australian cooking books. Named after author Mat Linsday’s iconic Sydney restaurant, Ester invites you to enjoy their mouthwatering cooking right from your own home. Featuring recipes that show off the distinct flavours of Australian food, you’ll be treated to generous seafood, darkly caramelised wood-fired bread and meat dishes, vegetables cooked to perfection, as well as the odd burnt pavlova.
Image via Angus and Robertson website.Ester: Australian Cooking by Mat Lindsay and Pat Nourse
Even before meat pies and sausage rolls, there was a very different type of Australian cooking that is documented with immense care in the First Nations Food Companion. This groundbreaking Australian cookbook is a celebration of Indigenous Australian cooking, bringing ancient ingredients and techniques into the modern kitchen. This informative guide includes more than 60 indigenous ingredients, as well as 100 delicious recipes such as the Bush-Tomato Cheese on Toast, Anise Myrtle and Macadamia Poached Chicken, and Myrtle Tea Cake.
Image via Angus and Robertson website.First Nations Food Companion by Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan
Vegetarians and vegans alike, have we found the cooking book for you. In Praise of Veg, food writer Alice Zaslavsky offers a comprehensive illustrated kitchen companion that features over 150 vegetarian and vegan recipes that show off the flavours and textures of plant-based meals. Whether you’re an avid cook or a newcomer to the kitchen, In Praise of Veg has plenty of helpful tricks that you will need to make the most of your greens including buying, storying, and cooking. One of the best Australian cooking books for vegetarians and vegans, In Praise of Veg is a must-have for any home kitchen!
Image via Angus and Robertson website.In Praise of Veg by Alice Zaslavsky
If you prefer to read your cookbook on your phone or tablet, then swipe through this selection of 11 Divine Digital Cooking Books to Download Now. And make the most of your Australian cookbook with this guide to the Top 5 Barbecue Accessories You Need.
