Ottolenghi Comfort: A Cookbook

Why it's worth it

This is Yotam Ottolenghi's most approachable book, and it's the one we'd hand to a confident home cook who wants dinner to taste like more than dinner. The recipes lean on spice, acid and texture rather than technique you don't have, and most need nothing beyond a sheet pan and a hot oven.

It's the rare ambitious cookbook you'll actually cook from twice. Ottolenghi built his name on layered, unexpected flavor, and earlier books like Plenty could feel like a project. Comfort keeps the flavor and drops the friction. Spiced lamb and eggplant tray bakes, tahini-roasted carrots — these are one-hour dishes with a short active window. You get the payoff without clearing your whole evening.

The recipes are written to work, not to impress. Ingredient explanations are clear, quantities are specific, and the headnotes tell you what the dish is supposed to taste like. That last part matters more than people expect. When you know you're chasing brightness and a little heat, you can adjust as you go instead of following steps blindly and hoping.

From our review of 8 cookbooks for home chefs, by Genevieve Dubois, Home & Living Expert

What we like

• +It's the rare ambitious cookbook you'll actually cook from twice
• +The recipes are written to work, not to impress
• +It covers both your Tuesday and your Saturday
• +It's the best pick for a mixed household

What to know

• –Some ingredient lists will send you hunting
• –It assumes you can already handle a knife and a hot pan
• –It's a big, heavy hardcover