10 Cookbooks That Inspire Slow, Simple, and Seasonal Cooking
In a world that often rushes from one season to the next, I find great joy in returning to the kitchen with intention; cooking in rhythm with the cycle of the year and finding inspiration in recipes that champion simplicity and seasonality. These are the 10 cookbooks I return to time and again; books that encourage slow cooking, thoughtful living, and celebrating nature’s seasonal rhythms through food.
Those who know me well will know I own a lot of cookbooks…several hundred at the last count. Our tastes in food have changed over the years, and in the past 10 years in particular, I’ve found myself returning to simple home cooking: a small number of quality ingredients, cooked lovingly and simply. We’ve also made a special effort to eat in a way which remains in tune with the British seasons. We might eat asparagus for just a couple of weeks each year, but my goodness, doesn’t it taste good. I believe that we appreciate these things even more when we’ve waited in grateful anticipation of their return.
Among my many cookbooks, there are some I return to time and time again, often on a weekly basis. Here are 10 cookbooks which allow me to cook slowly with intention, and in a way which embraces the bounty of each season.
Good Things to Eat by Lucas Hollweg
One of the things I enjoy about this book is the unhurried way in which the author approaches cooking. He takes the simplest ingredients, and without fussing unnecessarily, he creates something magical with them. Like all good cooks, books and food, the ingredients themselves shine through. I’ve waited for years for another book from Lucas Hollweg, but sadly, it never appeared…yet.
Favourite recipe: Fennel Risotto (p.151) - the only reason why we have Pernod in the cupboard!
River Cafe Cook book Easy by Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers
If there’s one book which comes out of the shelves every week, maybe even multiple times, this is it. I think the Italians are masters of simple cooking, that somehow, they capture the landscape of each region on a plate. I own all of the River Cafe cookbooks, but this one - the easiest of them all - is frequently found on the stand in the kitchen.
Favourite recipe: Penne, Courgette, Butter (p.82) - sunshine on a plate.
Kitchen Table by Emily Cuddeford and Rachel Morgan
One of the newest additions to my cookbook collection, but it’s already found a way to my heart. One of the things I love about this book is that it’s not just about the ingredients, but about championing the producers and makers from where they come. It’s a book not just about cooking well, but about eating well, simply and seasonally.
Favourite recipe: Middle Eastern Lamb Shanks with Almonds and Dates (p.150) - a taste of the east, requiring time and patience, but little effort.
Tender I by Nigel Slater
Who doesn’t own a Nigel Slater cookbook? I own a fair few, some getting more use than others, but the first volume of the two in the Tender series is a favourite. Whether you grow your own vegetables or not, this book is a celebration of everything which comes from the garden. Inspiringly seasonal, it makes us appreciate the beauty of the simplest of vegetables in the season in which they thrive.
Favourite recipe: A Classic Fluffy Mash (p.440) - make it once and you’ll never look back.
The Farm Table by Julius Roberts
One of the things about having a bookshop in Lichfield, is that I come across books which I might not otherwise have seen. Julius Roberts’ The Farm Table is one of them. Divided into the four seasons of winter, spring, summer and autumn, this book is a beautiful journey through the year. Somehow, he captures just what’s needed to nourish the soul in each month of the year, whether it’s hearty stews in winter or fresh salads in summer. It’s a book to be read as much as to be cooked from. Julius recently joined Substack, and you can find him here.
Favourite recipe: Pasta Diavola with Burrata & Basil (p.126) - this is the food I want to eat, simple, deeply rooted in the seasons, and overflowing with flavour.
Time by Gill Meller
As with so many of the wonderful authors featured here, I own all of Gill Meller’s books. For me, his writing, his philosophy and his whole approach to cooking, encapsulates what it truly means to live slowly, simply and in tune with the changing seasons. There are three sections, morning, day and night, each divided into the four seasons. Keep it simple, and you’ll never be disappointed. I could also watch Gill’s Instagram reels all day (warning: they will make you hungry!)
Favourite recipe: Potato & Wild Garlic Flat Breads with Fried Eggs & Olive Oil (p.22) - a celebration of this punchy spring green which grows abundantly in the parish churchyard here.
Time & Tide by Emily Scott
Given we live about as far away from the coast as you can get, and for someone who doesn’t really eat fish, you might think this an unusual choice. The thing is, Emily writes so beautifully, from the heart, who could resist? She has a wonderful philosophy on food, cooking and eating, and this always shines through in her writing. Plus, there are plenty of non-fishy recipes. She also writes a beautiful Substack which you find here.
Favourite recipe: Evie’s Macaroni Cheese (p.88) - this is by far the best recipe for macaroni cheese I’ve come across.
Verdura by Theo Randall
Another relatively new addition to my cookbooks, but I love the way Theo Randall captures the beauty of the simplest of ingredients. This is a no-fuss, simple, and seasonal cookbook, and the flavours just leap from the page. Jamie Oliver describes it as a ‘love letter celebrating seasonal veg’, and I think he’s right.
Favourite recipe: Pappardelle with Mushroom and Root Vegetable Ragu (p.128) - I consider this almost superior to a meat-based bolognese sauce!
Mary Berry at Home
This lovely, homely book comes from the era before Mary Berry found fame on the Great British Bake-Off! We could justifiably argue that our tastes in cooking have changed since this book was published in 1996, but I still think it captures the magic of hearty, home-cooked food. These are meals to be shared around the table with family and friends, with all the warmth we’ve come to know and love in Mary Berry.
Favourite recipe: Scrumpy Beef Casserole with Parsley and Horseradish Dumplings (p.94) - my go-to beef stew recipe for nearly 30 years (and no, you don’t have to brown the meat!)
Today’s Special by Anthony Demetre
I can’t remember where I came across this book, and I’ve never seen it since. Some might say the recipes here are ‘fussy’. There’s probably some justification in that, and I suspect I concoct simpler, pared-down versions. That said, this book really does capture the simplicity of each season, and I think, a great reminder that quality will always outweigh quantity: a small amount, cooked well, with the best possible ingredients.
Favourite recipe: Rump of Lamb and Broad Beans with Crushed Jersey Royals (p.108) - some may say that crushing potatoes is sacrilege, but wait until you try this.
What These Cookbooks Taught Me About Cooking with the Seasons
In many respects, there are common threads which run through all of these 10 cookbooks. They are all ingredient-led, the philosophy being that when those are allowed to shine, the magic of simplicity is found. They are also deeply rooted in the rhythms of the changing seasons, celebrating that which is bountiful in each month of the year. Cooking, perhaps more than anything else, has helped me to slow down, to be creative, and to appreciate the value to be found in the simplest of things.
What Are Your Favourite Seasonal Cookbooks?
I’d love to hear which cookbooks shape your approach to cooking and eating seasonally. Are there any books you always return to in spring, summer, autumn, or winter? Let me know in the comments below.
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