Caroline Hennessy

In my post-university, early twenties and trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted to do, How to Eat taught me about feeding people. I devoured Nigella's prose, dog-eared her book, cooked the recipes and figured out my way, one bite at a time, into a new life. I've loved her prose and recipes ever since. See also: How to Be a Domestic Goddess, Feast and Kitchen.

First published as a promo cookbook in 1976 by Stork margarine, there was a copy of this in every Irish kitchen. It is an exercise in nostalgia with of-the-time dishes like porter cake, frangipane flan, steak Diane and melba toast, but underpinned by good, solid, well-tested recipes that are still much beloved and used. Very important note: essential to use butter everywhere that marge is mentioned.

This has been my go-to basics bible since it was published. Food writer, chef and inspirational teacher Darina Allen is a passionate about ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious, sustainable, wholesome and simply delicious food. It is the book that I give to friends and family when they set up house.

I used this as a guide book on a trip to Morocco years ago, reading it while travelling through dusty desert towns, exploring the souks of Marrakesh and eating all the street food that I could get my hands on. An invaluable introduction to the techniques, ingredients and dishes of the Middle East.

A collection of simple, yet tasty ideas that I cooked my way through while in university, and that introduced me to Nigel Slater’s sensual and mouthwatering prose. Recipe writing as an exercise in stimulating greed and hunger.

Splattered with food and scribbled with notes, there's a get-into-the-kitchen recipe (or two) on every page of this generous collection. Brilliant for any mid-week what-will-we-have-for-dinner panics.

This Australian encyclopedia of food and recipes, infused with Stephanie's warm personality, brings you on a fascinating A-Z journey through ingredients and techniques. It's invaluable to anyone trying to figure out food in the Antipodes and also a brilliant read for anyone interested in food.

I love Jane's erudite writing and this is, hands down, the most useful veg-centric book to have in the kitchen when you're dealing with garden gluts.

A well-tested and entertainingly written blog-to-book recipe collection that is absolutely worth having in your kitchen.

With lots of punchy, low-effort, high-reward recipes, this was the book that propelled me fastest into the kitchen in recent times. Buy it for the choc chip cookies that broke the internet and use it for everything else.