Best Soul Food Cooking, Food & Wine Books of 2025

Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes is the first cookbook from the Tasting History with Max Miller YouTube channel. With over sixty dishes, this cookbook offers a journey through the centuries and around the world, featuring dishes like Tuh’u, a red beet stew dating back to 1740 BC, and Pumpkin Tourte, a crustless pumpkin cheesecake from 1570. Max Miller skillfully balances history with tantalizing recipes, making even ancient fare accessible with suggested ingredient substitutions and an inviting tone. This cookbook is a must-have for any avid cook or history fan looking to experience delicious recipes from the past.

The "From Crook to Cook" cookbook by Snoop Dogg is a must-have for anyone who loves soul food and wants to add some personality to their cooking. With 50 recipes straight from Snoop's kitchen, the book features classic staples like mac and cheese and fried bologna sandwiches, along with new takes on favorites like tacos and orange chicken. Snoop also adds some high-end dishes like lobster thermidor and filet mignon, as well as snack ideas and cocktail recipes to complete any party. The book is full of epic stories and behind-the-scenes photos that bring Snoop's masterpieces to life. Overall, this cookbook is a fun and unique addition to any kitchen.

The Smitten Kitchen Keepers cookbook is a must-have for any home cook. With 100 rigorously tested recipes, Deb Perelman provides a collection of essential recipes for meals that you'll want to prepare over and over again. From cozy chicken and dumplings to fettuccine with white ragú, this cookbook has something for everyone. Perelman's recipes are practical, enjoyable, and always worth the effort. Her ultimate pound cake recipe is a standout, and her fail-safe spaghetti and meatballs are better than ever. Overall, this cookbook is a reliable resource for delicious, satisfying meals that you'll rely on for years to come.

The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family with over 100 Recipes is an amazing cookbook that celebrates the Gullah/Geechee culinary traditions of Kardea Brown’s family. The book features over 125 original mouthwatering recipes, accompanied by gorgeous four-color photos. Kardea shares her multi-generational “passed down” recipes and innovative takes on Gullah classics with home cooks everywhere. Filled with more than 100 mouth-watering recipes for starters, main courses, sides, desserts, and more, The Way Home brings a taste of the Lowcountry South home, offering flavors that are unique and delicious. This book is a must-have for anyone who loves soul food cooking or just wants to try something new.

Eat Plants, B*tch is a fantastic cookbook by Pinky Cole, the founder of the plant-based burger restaurant chain, Slutty Vegan. The book features ninety-one guilt-free, plant-based recipes that are easy to follow and delicious. From Avocado Egg Rolls to Black Pea Cauliflower Po’Boy, the book celebrates vegan comfort food in all its glory. The mouth-watering photographs make it even more tempting. The best part is that the recipes are accessible and fun to cook, making it a perfect cookbook for anyone looking to explore veganism. Overall, Eat Plants, B*tch is an excellent addition to any cookbook collection and a must-read for anyone who loves soul food cooking.

The "Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume I: 50th Anniversary Edition: A Cookbook" is a classic cookbook that has been the definitive guide on French cuisine for American readers for over sixty years. The book features 524 delicious recipes and over 100 instructive illustrations to guide readers every step of the way. Julia Child, Simone Beck, and Louisette Bertholle break down the classic foods of France into a logical sequence of themes and variations, making it accessible to seasoned experts and beginners alike. This book is a must-have in every kitchen and is packed with sumptuous recipes, detailed instructions, and precise line drawings.

The Complete Cook’s Country TV Show Cookbook 15th Anniversary Edition is a must-have for anyone looking to explore the best American recipes and the cooks and locales that inspired them. This edition features over 550 recipes, including new content from new TV episodes and exciting twists on down-home favorites such as Stuffed Turkey Wings and Torn and Fried Potatoes. The book also includes updates on winning products featured on the TV show, making it a comprehensive guide to American cooking. Overall, this book is an excellent addition to any cookbook collection and offers a unique look at the diverse culinary landscape of America.

The Noma Guide to Fermentation is a must-have book for any home cook or professional chef looking to expand their culinary skills. René Redzepi and David Zilber, the masterminds behind Noma's extraordinary flavor profiles, reveal their never-before-revealed techniques to creating an extensive pantry of ferments. With over 500 step-by-step photographs and illustrations, this book goes beyond the typical kimchi and sauerkraut to include koji, kombuchas, shoyus, misos, lacto-ferments, vinegars, garums, and black fruits and vegetables. Moreover, the book features more than 100 original recipes that showcase the game-changing pantry ingredients. The Noma Guide to Fermentation is a fresh set of transformative cooking fundamentals that will make ferments something cooks reach for as readily as salt.

The Bludso's BBQ Cookbook is a mouthwatering collection of 75 recipes and stories from Kevin Bludso, the founder of the famous Los Angeles-based Bludso's BBQ. This book is more than just a cookbook; it's a story of family, community, and following your passion. Kevin shares his personal journey of growing up in Compton, California, and learning the art of BBQ in Texas. The book includes everything you need to know about BBQ, from choosing your pit to selecting your meats, rubs, and sauces. The recipes are accompanied by stunning photographs that will make your mouth water. This book is a must-have for any BBQ lover.

Dishoom: The first ever cookbook from the much-loved Indian restaurant is a love letter to Bombay told through food and stories. The book shares the secrets to their much sought-after Bombay comfort food, including their legendary black daal, bacon naan roll, okra fries, and more. The book also takes readers on a day-long tour of south Bombay, peppered with much eating and drinking. The book's beautiful photography and storytelling will transport readers to Dishoom's most treasured corners of Bombay. Overall, this cookbook is a total delight that immerses readers in the subject thoroughly and lovingly, making it a must-have for Indian cooking and food enthusiasts.