5 Best Italian Cookbooks (Reviews Updated 2022)

Italian cuisines are quite popular globally. So much so that it is highly unlikely to walk into an international restaurant and not find at least one or two dishes of Italian origin on the menu. If you are one of the millions of people outside Italy who love to eat Italian dishes often, you don’t have to visit an International restaurant in your city all the time. You can prepare tasty Italian menus in your home by relying on the best Italian cookbooks for guidance.

Cookbooks serve as guides and instruction materials. They also have so many recipes you can master over time as you apply yourself to the books’ instructions. With so many authors offering their own version of Italian cookbooks these days, it can be a little tricky to differentiate between authentic recipes and rehashed recipes that are outdated. To increase your chances of getting the best volumes, we have searched for you.  Please have a look at our reviewed list of the best Italian cookbooks.

Best Italian Cookbooks

Image	Best Italian Cookbooks	Rating
	1. Old World Italian Recipes by Mimi Thorisson	99%
	2. The Complete Italian Cookbook by Manuela Anelli Mazzocco	96%
	3. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan	92%
	4. La Cucina by The Italian Academy of Cuisine	89%
	5. Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook by Vicky Bennison	85%

Want to learn more?

Here are our Best Italian Cookbook Reviews.

1. Old World Italian Recipes by Mimi Thorisson

In this edition, Mimi Thorisson brings to life some of the secret recipes of Italian origin many cookbooks do not have. This work is a product of her trips to Italy over the years, and the recipes contained herein are authentic undiluted Italian recipes. This book features more than just the recipes, though. Here, Mimi showcases beautiful Italian landscapes with brilliant pictures to give you a clear vision of the Mediterranean nation. Then as you read through, she gradually opens you up to the reality o0f Italian cooking with unique recipes.

Rated as one of the best cookbooks of the year by Food Network, what you have in this volume and classic and modern recipes that you can prepare at home using easy-to-find ingredients. The recipes are specially handpicked for home cooking that homemakers will appreciate. Mimi teaches reads how to prepare plump agnolotti, tomato ragus, different Pasta, and Sicilian seafood. There is so much to learn because Old World Italian covers 100 recipes in all.

Never run out of options when next you wish to prepare an Italian recipe. Old World Italian by Mimi Thorisson contains more than enough recipes for your cooking pleasure.

Why do we like it?

• It is as rich in history as it is as rich in recipes
• Contains recipes from different regions of Italy, including the islands of Naples and Sicily
• Detailed pictographs

2. The Complete Italian Cookbook by Manuela Anelli Mazzocco

The Complete Italian Cookbook by Manuela Anelli Mazzocco is one cookbook we could not ignore while we were preparing this list. This cookbook is a compilation of some of the best Italian recipes ever. In this edition, the author reveals step-by-step processes on preparing 110 regional recipes that will enrich your life and those of your family members. Manuela Anelli offers readers a balance of regional diversity and flavor abundance.

Here, you will find steps on how to prepare Italian Pizzas and bread that have gained worldwide acceptance. There are Pasta and sauces of all kinds, desserts, seafoods, and seasoned meat. If you have been searching for the best Italian cookbooks to learn how to prepare tasty Italian menus in the comfort of your kitchen, this is one cookbook you want to add to your cookbook collection.

Manuela Anelli Mazzocco’s book is a passport into the world of Italian cooking. This work is a standout edition of real value.

Why do we like it?

• Classic Italian cuisines
• The recipes are easy to prepare
• Ideal for Vegetarians and Non-Vegetarians

3. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

For those who do not know, Marcella Hazan is no ordinary name when it comes to Italian food. This author and chef was the figure who introduced American society to Italian cuisine in ways that no one had done before her. Her books are the most consulted by those looking to spice up their cooking with new recipes when it comes to Italian cooking. In this new edition titled, The Essentials of Italian Cooking, Marcella introduces 50 new recipes not found in previous releases.

Contrary to what skeptics might think, the recipes in this edition are not rehashed topics in older volumes but fresh and authentic recipes. If you have read any of her previous books and go for this one, expect a fresh perspective on Italian cooking.  She curated this book to satisfy the need of every reader regardless of their culinary expertise. From expert cooks to beginners, there is a recipe for everyone.

Buy this book today and learn how to prepare Marcella Hazan’s signature Risotto, Polenta and Squid Braise. After more than two decades, when she burst into the scene, here is another classic for Italian food lovers.

Why do we like it?

• A tutorial and a guide
• Contains instructions and measurements on how to use ingredients adequately
• This book contains classic and modern recipes

4. La Cucina by The Italian Academy of Cuisine

We have academies of science and academies of art; then there is the Italian academy of cuisine. When such a reputable institution publishes a recipe book, you better believe that such a book will be one of the best Italian cookbooks ever. La Cucina is a direct result of work undertaken about half a century ago when a group of scholars in Italy came together to seek out a way to preserve Italian recipes from every Italian region. La Cucina was born, and ever since, the cookbook has continued to inspire generations.

This cookbook contains 2000 recipes which formed the foundation for many other cookbooks written by Italian chefs and authors ever since. The information in this cookbook was sourced by a group effort of more than 7,000 associates who toured the length and breadth of Italy, interviewing farmers, chefs, homemakers, and grannies. This classic work is a compendium of Italian recipes that will transform your level of expertise as far as Italian food is concerned.

The required ingredients for each recipe are highlighted under each section, and the cooking steps are espoused clearly for the reader’s benefit.

Why do we like it?

• A treasure trove of Italian recipes
• The recipes in this book originate from Italy’s mainland and numerous islands
• You will find long-forgotten recipes not found in 99% of Italian cookbooks

5. Pasta Grannies: The Official Cookbook by Vicky Bennison

If you are looking for easy to prepare home food recipes, then Pasta Grannies by Vicky Bennison is the edition to buy. This cookbook is so good; it won the James Beard Award for a Single Subject. The recipes in this book are granny recipes passed from mother to child across several generations. If you love Pasta, then you need to read this book. Vicky explains in detail how to prepare different types of Pasta using various sauces.

Furthermore, the ingredients for preparing the recipes are not hard to find. Even if you cant find some of them at your location, you can always use close substitutes that offer the same value. In Pasta Grannies, there are different recipes, some of which include Lumachelle, hand-rolled spaghetti, ridged cinnamon, and Pici, to mention a few. Vicky goes further to reveal the extraordinary stories behind the women behind these authentic dishes that have enriched Italian culture for generations.

Practice makes perfect, but your skills will improve in less time if you have a guide. Let Pasta Grannies by Vicky Bennison be your guide.

Why do we like it?

• A rich ensemble of Pasta recipes
• Ideal for homemakers
• Beginners will find the recipes simple