Best Italian Cooking, Food & Wine Books of 2026

Lidia's a Pot, a Pan, and a Bowl: Simple Recipes for Perfect Meals: A Cookbook is the companion cookbook to the upcoming public-television series Lidia’s Kitchen: Home Cooking. Lidia Bastianich makes Italian cooking easy for everyone with this new, beautifully designed, easy-to-use cookbook. With more than 100 homey, simple-to-prepare recipes that require fewer steps and fewer ingredients, Lidia's new creations represent Italian food at its most essential—guaranteed to transport home cooks to Italy with a minimum of fuss and muss. This book is a must-have for those who love Italian food and want to experiment with simple, flavorful recipes.

The Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking: 30th Anniversary Edition: A Cookbook is a timeless collection of classic Italian recipes that will delight both beginners and accomplished chefs. Written by Marcella Hazan, the book includes nearly five hundred of the most delicious recipes from the Italian repertoire in one indispensable volume. The book is beautifully illustrated with line drawings throughout and features new forewords by Lidia Bastianich and Victor Hazan. If you are looking for a go-to Italian cookbook, this is it. This book is a must-have for anyone who loves Italian cuisine.

The Tucci Cookbook is a delightful collection of nearly 200 Italian recipes, paired with delicious wines, and featuring gorgeous photography. Written by actor Stanley Tucci and his family, this cookbook offers a glimpse into the Tucci family's kitchen and their beloved Italian traditions. From classic dishes like Lasagna Made with Polenta and Gorgonzola Cheese to unique recipes like Roast Duck with Fresh Figs and Baked Whole Fish in an Aromatic Salt Crust, this cookbook has something for everyone. Overall, The Tucci Cookbook is a must-read for Italian food lovers, and its engaging stories and beautiful photos make it a unique addition to any cookbook collection.

The Elements of Pizza by Ken Forkish is a must-have cookbook for any pizza lover. The book offers expert guidance on every aspect of pizza-making, from selecting the right dough to creating unique toppings. With more than a dozen different dough recipes, even gluten-free options, Forkish's instructions will have home cooks shaping pies like professionals. The book's innovative, seasonal topping ideas will inspire readers to create their own signature pizzas. Forkish's formidable knowledge and can-do spirit make this book an essential addition to the pizza canon.

Mastering Pizza: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pizza, Focaccia, and Calzone is a revolutionary cookbook that offers a variety of base doughs to make perfect pizza at home regardless of the oven or equipment. Marc Vetri, an award-winning chef, shares his expertise and passion for pizza with his readers, providing step-by-step instructions and stunning imagery from Italy. The book includes popular standards like Margherita and Carbonara, as well as unexpected toppings like mussels and truffles, and even a dessert pizza made with Nutella. With its outstanding research, easy-to-follow instructions and beautiful imagery, Mastering Pizza is a must-have for any pizza lover.

The Pizza Bible by Tony Gemignani is the ultimate guide for pizza lovers who want to learn the art of making perfect pizza at home. The book covers nine different regional styles, including Neapolitan, Roman, Chicago, and Californian, providing more than 75 recipes that cater to every mood and occasion. Tony Gemignani, a 12-time world pizza champion, shares his insider secrets on making dough, assembling toppings, and baking pizza like a pro. The Pizza Bible is a must-have for anyone who wants to elevate their home pizza-making skills into a craft.

Mastering Pasta: The Art and Practice of Handmade Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto [A Cookbook] is an excellent primer for anyone interested in Italian cuisine. Chef Marc Vetri shares his vast knowledge of pasta, gnocchi, and risotto, offering expert tips, techniques, and over 100 recipes. Whether you're a professional or a home cook, you'll learn how to make more than thirty different types of pasta dough and form them into shapes both familiar and unique. Vetri's personal stories of culinary discovery in Italy appear alongside his easy-to-follow, detailed explanations. This definitive work on the subject is the only book you'll ever need to serve outstanding pasta dishes in your own kitchen.

The official cookbook of the popular YouTube channel, Pasta Grannies, is a treasure trove of authentic Italian pasta recipes. From simple hand-rolled spaghetti to cinnamon-scented tubes, the book features recipes from Italian grandmothers who have spent a lifetime cooking for love. The book not only shares their time-perfected recipes but also celebrates their expertise and life stories. Written by Vicky Bennison, who has worked in international development, the book is a wonderful collection of easy-to-follow and accessible recipes that transport readers to the heart of the Italian home. Overall, Pasta Grannies is a must-have for anyone who loves Italian food or is interested in learning how to make it.

"Bread and How to Eat It: A Cookbook" is a delightful book that explores the world of bread in a unique way. Written by Rick Easton, the owner of Bread & Salt, this book is a timely revival of cucina povera, a bread-centric approach to meal prep that has fallen out of favor in American kitchens. The book is filled with everything a home cook needs to know about baking their own bread, making things with bread, and eating things with bread. It's an eminently accessible, riotously opinionated, and utterly indispensable cookbook for making the most of every loaf."