There are few British cooks more iconic than our very own Nigella, who ironically won’t even give herself such a title – she says her qualification is not as a chef, but "as an eater". It’s here, we think, that we can all find common ground.
What makes Nigella and her recipe books so alluring is her glorious greediness for comforting, crowd-pleasing dishes that you want to make time and time again. She puts the same amount of heartiness into party spreads and platters for crowds as she does her solo recipes that she quietly indulges on late at night alone in her kitchen (if the dialogue of her shows is to be believed). Her popularity is undeniable.
We’ve lost count of the number of pictures of that chocolate Guinness cake we’ve seen splashed across Instagram, and then there’s the sticky, sweet coca-cola glazed ham that has become a centrepiece for thousands of Christmases across the country.
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Holding recipes that really work, introduced with simple steps and delicious results, Nigella Lawson’s best cookbooks are stuffed with inspiration for every occasion. Whether you’re looking to impress a special someone using an indulgent dessert, or are just trying to get through the week without reaching for a ready meal, we think it’s time to update your kitchen shelves to include some of these cookery bibles.
Now, as the famous saying goes, not all Nigella Lawson books are created equal. In a bid to create a master list of the essential tomes from this legendary food writer, we’ve put together a quick-fire guide on the best Nigella Lawson cookbooks.
We cooked from the following books, read them from cover to cover and weighed up all their various merits to give you the best of Nigella’s cookbook collection.
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