12 Cookbooks by African Cooks, Chefs, and Bakers to Kick off the New Year

January 20, 2022

Hey Brittle Paper Fam! If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to cook more, we’ve crafted the perfect list for you. This short list highlights some of our favorite cookbooks written by authors from around all over the continent. From famous social media creators, professional chefs, and even a Great British Baking Show quarterfinalist, this list is sure to add something unique and special to your menus.

Bonus: Here are some upcoming cookbook titles for 2022 to add to your list wishlist!

My America: Recipes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi

Sankofa by Eric Adjepong

A Good Day to Bake: Simple Baking Recipes for Every Mood by Benjamina Ebuehi

Hosting with Lazy Makoti: A Celebration of Food by Mogau Seshoene

My Everyday Lagos Kitchen: Nigerian Cooking at Home and in the Diaspora by Yewande Komolafe

The Lazy Makoti’s Guide to the Kitchen

176 pages

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Mastering the kitchen can seem pretty intimidating, especially when confronted with Instagram and TV chefs who seem to do everything with ease while, at the same time, relating a cute anecdote on camera. This book was written and compiled with YOU in mind, and takes into consideration all the different occasions a South African kitchen might have to cater for.

In Bibi’s Kitchen

288 pages

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In this incredible volume, Somali chef Hawa Hassan and food writer Julia Turshen present 75 recipes and stories gathered from bibis (or grandmothers) from eight African nations: South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, and Eritrea. In Bibi's Kitchen uses food to teach us all about families, war, loss, migration, refuge, and sanctuary.

The New Way to Cake: Simple Recipes with Exceptional Flavor

160 pages

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Unlock a whole new world of flavor with Benjamina Ebuehi’s signature cakes. Inspired by her journey to The Great British Bake Off and beyond, Benjamina’s groundbreaking recipes put flavor at the forefront by letting the star ingredients―toasted nuts, fragrant spices, bold herbs and ripe fruit―do all the work.

Cooking With Zanele: Volume 1

128 pages

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This recipe book is a cooking class in a book. It has easy to follow instructions that will assist a novice cook prepare quick, beautiful and delicious meals for a weeknight or special occasion confidently. The book includes basic cooking tips, what to stock in your pantry, recipes for starters, mains, desserts and the oh so necessary cocktails.

Eat, Habibi, Eat!: Fresh Recipes for Modern Egyptian Cooking

248 pages

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Combining his family's heritage meals with his French and Italian chef training, Shahir teaches you how to build the ultimate Egyptian pantry using some special food items, but mostly ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store. From there, you'll dive in to the over 100 mouthwatering recipes for every meal and time of day.

The Orishirishi Cookbook

176 pages

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The Orishirishi Cookbook is your comprehensive guide to Nigerian cuisine, infusing the quirks and tips required to prepare some of the finest delicacies out of Africa. Not only does it take you on a journey of discovery, it opens you up to the Nigerian culture vastly expressed through food. This is not another cookbook that gathers dust on your book shelf. It is a compelling insight on what it means to eat Nigerian, accessible to everyone both in Nigeria and the diaspora.

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen: An Introduction to New African Cuisine – From Ghana With Love

256 pages

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Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen began as a pop-up restaurant in London featuring dishes such as Cubeb-Spiced Shortbread, and Coconut and Cassava Cake. Soon those dishes evolved into this tempting and celebratory cookbook, newly revised and updated for American cooks.

Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa

224 pages

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In this cookbook, Ethiopia's gourmet guru seeks to spread love for the country’s cuisine. After working as a chef around the world, Yohanis Gebreyesus decided it was time to go home and put his skills to showing off what his home country has to offer. Now, he's dedicating his work to opening the world's eyes to Ethiopian cuisine.

Hibiscus

192 pages

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An energetic and supremely talented cook, Lopè creates fresh, fuss-free meals that are full of flavour. With chapters including Fruits, Vegetables & Tubers; Grains & Pulses; Meat & Poultry and Baking & Desserts, there’s something for every occasion and for everyone. Nigerian-inspired flavours and cooking methods can transform everyday dishes into something spectacular.

Through the Eyes of an African Chef

160 pages

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Through the Eyes of an African Chef retraces Chef Nompumelelo’s journey of rekindling her love for African cooking, returning to the soil and the seasons to provide the freshest of ingredients, coupled with traditional farming and cooking methods.

Casablanca

224 pages

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Casablanca features 100 recipes for simple and satisfying Moroccan meals for family and entertaining. Benkabbou describes the essential elements in Moroccan cuisine and how to make them -- Ras el hanout spice mix, preserved lemons, Harissa paste; scented waters, couscous, preserved lemons, Chermoula, and Moroccan tea. She also introduces the tagine and explains how to use it.

Waffles + Mochi: Get Cooking! — A Children’s Cookbook

112 pages

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Explore the globe with Waffles + Mochi and learn about the stories behind the food we eat in this accessible, child-friendly cookbook, based on the Netflix children’s show from Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company in partnership with Netflix.

Alesia Alexander | administrator

COMMENTS ( 1 ) -

sayuni May 26, 2022 00:58

its good

12 Cookbooks by African Cooks, Chefs, and Bakers to Kick off the New Year

The Lazy Makoti’s Guide to the Kitchen

The Lazy Makoti’s Guide to the Kitchen

In Bibi’s Kitchen

In Bibi’s Kitchen

The New Way to Cake: Simple Recipes with Exceptional Flavor

The New Way to Cake: Simple Recipes with Exceptional Flavor

Cooking With Zanele: Volume 1

Cooking With Zanele: Volume 1

Eat, Habibi, Eat!: Fresh Recipes for Modern Egyptian Cooking

Eat, Habibi, Eat!: Fresh Recipes for Modern Egyptian Cooking

The Orishirishi Cookbook

The Orishirishi Cookbook

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen: An Introduction to New African Cuisine – From Ghana With Love

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen: An Introduction to New African Cuisine – From Ghana With Love

Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa

Ethiopia: Recipes and Traditions from the Horn of Africa

Hibiscus

Hibiscus

Through the Eyes of an African Chef

Through the Eyes of an African Chef

Casablanca

Casablanca

Waffles + Mochi: Get Cooking! — A Children’s Cookbook

Waffles + Mochi: Get Cooking! — A Children’s Cookbook

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