Favorite cookbooks of 2024, recommended by NPR critics and staff

NPR has an appetite for great recipes. Every year, when NPR staffers and critics offer their recommendations for — NPR's annual, year-end books guide — plenty of cookbooks get thrown into the mix. Here are 11 cookbooks with a broad array of recipes from (dare I say it?) Cooks We Love. If you're hungry for more, head over to Books We Love for

Amrikan: 125 Recipes from the Indian American Diaspora by Khushbu Shah
Amrikan is Khushbu Shah's answer to "What is Indian food in America?" It's a thoughtful celebration of adaptation: American influences on Indian foods, Indian influences on "American" foods and some untouched Indian classics. This book was my introduction to Rajma – who knew that the humble kidney bean could be so swoon-worthy? I served it alongside the beautifully simple Cabbage Nu Shaak with some rice and yogurt, and the meal was a hit. I am also a convert of Shah's Masala Deviled Eggs and Jaggery and Fennel Rice Krispie Treats. The photos are gorgeous and the recipes are concise and easy to follow, making this an inviting collection for a range of occasions. — Nicolette Khan, researcher and archivist, Research, Archives and Data Strategy

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Đặc Biệt: An Extra-Special Vietnamese Cookbook by Nini Nguyen with Sarah Zorn
According to New Orleans-based chef and teacher Nini Nguyen, "Đặc Biệt" translates loosely to "extra special," a term that could also be applied to her first cookbook. In addition to the classics (pho, bánh cuón) Nguyen freely riffs on French and Vietnamese techniques and ingredients, as in the succulent and acidic Shaking Beef with Watercress Salad, or mouth-puckering, juicy Shrimp Caramelized with Tamarind. When you feel unadventurous, simple dishes like ginger-braised chicken and cabbage charred with garlic will do nicely. But chances are Nguyen will convince you, like me, to finally venture into shrimp paste territory. Don't fear the fermented! — T. Susan Chang, food writer

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