Buen apetito: The best summer cookbooks
Squeeze out the last of summer with delicious recipes too good to resist
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The sun is still shining, the long days still lingering, and al fresco dining is still very much encouraged. Whether making the most of the balmy temperatures in the garden, on your terrace or a la kitchen with the doors swung wide open, it’s time to cook up a feast for yourself, family and friends. And sometimes, there’s just nothing better than picking up a good old-fashioned cookbook and following a fail-safe delicious recipe. Here are some of our favourites below for some rather sensational summer feasting.
Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt by Donna Hay
If the title of Donna Hay’s latest cookbook doesn’t give it away, all I need to tell you is expect fresh, seasonal and vibrant summer dishes, designed for sharing. A celebration of modern Australian home cooking, these recipes are quick and easy but pack a mighty punch. Whether hosting long weekend alfresco lunches with friends or looking to zhuzh up weekday dinners, the likes of spiced miso beef salad and lime and coriander crisp fish tacos followed by passionfruit meringue tart await. You had me at sunshine.
La Trattoria by Dara Klein
Be transported to an authentic trattoria in Puglia with these delicious but perfectly simple recipes in Dara Klein’s debut cookbook. Perfect for homecooks who are hosting throughout the summer months or attempting to keep family meals exciting, the dishes here are most definitely people pleasers. Highlights include sugo di pomodoro, Roman Amatriciana, and braised ox cheeks, and you’ll learn how to build flavour into your cooking along the way. Win win.
The Beefy Boys’ Great British BBQ by The Beefy Boys
‘All the recipes you need to have a proper bangin’ barbecue’. They said it, now it’s time for you to cook it. From award-winning burger champions The Beefy Boys comes their latest cookbook, designed for sizzling, grilling and turning up the heat on the barbecue. From low-and-slow ribs to smoky roasts and even BBQ cauliflower cheese (and of course ‘bangin’ burgers), master the art of barbecuing once and for all. What says British summertime more than a weekend barbecue in the garden?
Eat Like a Sardinian by Francesco Mattana
Fancy eating like a Sardinian? Me too. Italian chef Francesco Mattana serves up 90 wonderful regional recipes in his latest cookbook so you can enjoy a taster of la dolce vita. From standout fish dishes featuring seasonal ingredients and healthy fats to some sweet dolci to finish, every page you turn will uncover fresh, rich and varied recipes to follow – what’s not to like?
The Salad Project by Clem Haxby
Summer is salad season, and no, that does not mean limp, unfulfilling and boring meals. For Clem Haxby, it’s quite the opposite, and her cookbook is quite the lesson in how to create the most delicious, vibrant, interesting and hearty salads that not only taste sensational but are nutritious too. Featuring more than 50 different salads and 30 dressing recipes, it’s time to jazz up your summer dining and hosting. Whether it’s the hot honey halloumi and dill fattoush smothered in a pomegranate and lime vinaigrette or the all-time favourite creamy SP Caesar salad you pick, make this your cookbook of choice for balmy summer days and beyond.
Read more: Chilled red wine is the drink of the summer
