The 10 Spanish Cookbooks for Bringing Authentic Flavors to your home 💃

Hi, I am Chef Zara. In this post, I will guide you through Spanish Cookbooks.

I love discovering new food and cooking with friends and family. One of the most common questions that I often get is for cookbook recommendations. I have created this guide for friends, family, and new friends alike. I hope that you enjoy our site.

Going inside Spanish food

Spanish cuisine is generally made up of uncomplicated ingredients and straightforward cooking methods. A wide variety of dishes fall under the Spanish cooking umbrella, including those spanning from Basque Country to Madrid. Whichever region most speaks to you, the food of Spain is undeniably delicious and easy to make right at home.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Spanish cookbooks to help you bring a slice of Spain’s food culture to your kitchen.

Here are 10 Spanish Cookbooks that will invade your kitchen 🍽

1. Cúrate: Authentic Spanish Food from an American Kitchen

Why We Love It ❤️

Cúrate captures the essence of Spain and allows you to experience it without leaving your home. For this rich and delicious cookbook, Chef Katie Button offers readers a look inside her award-winning restaurant, Cúrate. This book features 125 Spanish cuisine recipes.

Review 📖

If you’re looking for a traditional Spanish cookbook that will teach you how to replicate classic Spanish meals. Not only is the book loaded with authentic Spanish recipes, but there are also reimagined favorites and tips for modifying Spanish meals with American seasonal ingredients.

With traditional recipes from Chicken Paella to unique modernizations like Ham and Cheese Stuffed Fried Pork Chops, this Spanish cookbook is an essential addition to your bookshelves.

2. Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen

Why We Love It ❤️

We recommend this book for those who want to be taken on a flavor adventure across the entire country of Spain. In this amazing cookbook, Chef Jose Andres guides readers throughout the country, allowing them to explore a wide range of delicious dishes. 

Made in Spain is a book meant to complement Chef Andres’s public television show of the same name. We think this book is the perfect way to get a better feel for the flavorful feast that Spanish cuisine has to offer.

Review 📖

This cookbook is a masterful collection of everyday Spanish meals that the American home cook can replicate. The book is divided by food type and region to show off the unique cooking flair found in each part of the country.

With recipes from Lobster and Mushroom Paella to Catalan Pork with Sausage and mushrooms, this book also includes one hundred bright and beautiful full-color photos to make the dishes even more flavorful than we thought possible.

3. 1080 Recipes

Why We Love It ❤️

1080 Recipes is, quite simply, a guide to making 1,080 recipes from Spain. This exhaustive collection, referred to as the “Bible for Spanish Cooks,” has been Spain’s best-selling cookbook for over 30 years. It features simple recipes that even the most basic home cook can recreate to make delicious dishes.

Review 📖

If you’re looking for a straightforward and comprehensive guide to cooking authentic Spanish food, you can’t pass up 1080 Recipes. The delicious Spanish recipes in this cookbook are divided into chapters, including appetizers, stews, vegetables, and Spanish dessert recipes.

With recipes from Potatoes with Chorizo and Bacon to Tuna Canapé and more than 500 illustrations made especially for this collection, it’s fair to say that 1080 Recipes is a go-to Spanish Cookbook with it all.

4. Tapas: and other Spanish plates to share

Why We Love It ❤️

Tapas, or small portions of food, are an important part of Spanish cuisine culture. Often served as appetizers that can share among a group, Tapas are tasty bites that are the center of warm and enjoyable moments.

in their possession to recreate these tasty treats whenever the mood strikes. Tapas is packed with 60 flavor-filled authentic Spanish dishes to please any crowd.

Review 📖

Whether you’re serving up an appetizer or enjoying these bite-sized foods with drinks among friends, you can bring traditional Spanish finesse to your table with the wonderful assortment of dishes in this amazing Spanish cookbook.

The recipes are beautifully photographed and simple to follow, making recreating these mouthwatering dishes a breeze for any level home cook.

With everything from Patatas Bravas (or Spicy Potatoes) and Peppers Stuffed with Salt Cod, there is something delicious for any taste preference in this cookbook.

5. Basque Country

Why We Love It ❤️

Basque Country is an area in the northwest region of Span that has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than any other region in the world.

This beautiful area, full of delicious cuisine at every turn, is breathtakingly brought to life through the pages of this cookbook. The classic Spanish recipes in this collection invite the reader to experience the best Spanish cuisine offered through a solid collection of great recipes and beautiful photography.

Review 📖

Spanish cuisine is an essential part of the culture. You can’t truly appreciate one without the other. This fascinating cookbook will take you on a culinary journey through authentic recipes that make up the foundation of Spanish cooking.

With everything from Cider-Braised Chorizo to a classic Spanish Omelet, along with resources including a translation guide, this cookbook is an authentic collection of classic Spanish dishes you don’t want to miss.

6. La Paella: Recipes for delicious Spanish rice and noodle dishes

Why We Love It ❤️

Rice dishes are central to authentic Spanish cooking; perhaps none is better or more well-known than paella.

This cookbook is focused heavily on that traditional and beloved Spanish rice dish. With recipes from Paella Valenciana (one of the most popular Spanish dishes) to Fideua Negra (squid ink noodles), this book brings together regional classics and unique local favorites to present a wide range of Spanish food dishes suitable for every taste.

Review 📖

If you’re looking to dig deeper into the world of paella, this cookbook is an amazing resource. The classic Spanish dish may be well known worldwide, but traditional knowledge only scratches the surface regarding the combinations and flavor additions that delicious paella can possess.

From classic paella dishes to vegetarian and vegan options and some other regional rice dishes to try, this cookbook will inspire creativity and bring about a new appreciation for Spanish rice.

7. Rustic Spanish: Hearty, Authentic Recipes for Everyday Eating

Why We Love It ❤️

We recommend this cookbook to anyone looking to peruse a collection of authentic Spanish dishes with touches of modern flair.

This thorough recipe book includes suggested wines, ingredient guides, and a delicious range of traditional Spanish food dishes. Even better, every recipe comes with a full-color photo.

Review 📖

If you’re looking to meet a Spanish cookbook at the intersection of authenticity and ease, you’ll love Rustic Spanish. The simple-to-follow recipes in this cookbook are perfectly complemented by the wine pairing suggestions that will help to foster a love and appreciation of Spanish home cooking.

With more than one hundred recipes, from Mallorcan Summer Salad to Manchego Cheese Flans, there is no shortage of authentic Spanish goodness within the pages of this cookbook.

8. 1,000 Spanish Recipes

Why We Love It ❤️

This recipe book is a master class in Spanish cooking. With 1,000 recipes from every region of Spain, the author essentially created a love letter to Spanish cuisine that can be seen and felt in the pages of this cookbook.

This guide through all forms of Spanish cooking is a culmination of author Penelope Casas’ 40-year career as one of the world’s top experts on Spanish food.

Review 📖

1,000 Spanish Recipes is an unbelievably comprehensive guide to authentic recipes inspired by the Spanish table.

With tapas recipes, soup recipes, and so much more, including 50 different paella recipes and 20 types of flan, there are more recipes in this book than you could ever imagine making.

The recipes are so good, simple, and unintimidating that you’ll strive to make as many of these amazing Spanish dishes as possible.

9. La Cocina de Mama: The Great Home Cooking of Spain

Why We Love It ❤️

This book is an essential guide to Spain’s food culture. Author Penelope Casas has collected recipes from chefs and home cooks to compile this collection of 175 authentic Spanish recipes to remind the reader of home.

With a diverse array of recipes with easy-to-obtain ingredients, this is a wonderful resource to allow American home cooks to get an authentic taste of Spain’s culinary history.

Review 📖

If you’re looking to explore the richness of the food of Spain without leaving your home, this book is a must-have. It’s an incredible assortment of everything from delicious rice dishes to elegant soups and everything in between.

This book has been crafted by compiling recipes far outside a traditional Spanish restaurant and right into the homes of people who have been enjoying these classic dishes for their entire lives.

With recipes from Stewed Potatoes with Pork Ribs to Basque Apple Custard Tarts, the food of Spain is well represented in the pages of this cookbook.

10. The New Spanish Table

Why We Love It ❤️

We recommend this cookbook to anyone interested in a fresh spin on the tried and true recipes that laid the foundations for authentic Spanish food. This book dives into the history and culture of Spanish cruising to take you on a culinary journey that pleases your palate.

The refreshing perspective that guides the creative twists helps make the cooking experience more fun. The 300 delicious recipes featured throughout this book are mouthwatering proof that the new can be just as satisfying as the old.

Review 📖

Look no further than this instant classic for fun and flavorful dishes that illustrate the authentic joy and delectable nature of Spanish food.

The dishes are presented vibrantly and thoughtfully while paying homage to the authentic Spanish food that came before it. From Toasted Pasta “Paella” with Shrimp to Crisp Potatoes with Spicy Tomato Sauce, there is no shortage of equally appetizing and inventive dishes in this book.

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our roundup of the 10 best Spanish cookbooks to help you experience authentic Spanish food at home. From simple, authentic rice dishes to indulgent desserts, these must-have cookbooks are packed with satisfying recipes for any meal. They also dive deeply into the rich history and importance of Spanish cooking, helping the reader to understand the foundations and innovations of the food they’re preparing.

FAQ on Spanish Cooking

What is Spanish Cuisine?

Spanish cuisine is made up of dishes originating from all corners of Spain. Spanish cooking varies based on region, but it includes olive oil, garlic, herbs such as parsley and oregano, and meats such as chicken, pork, and fish. Spanish cooking is closely tied to the Mediterranean diet.

What are popular Spanish recipes?

Two main ingredients essential to traditional Spanish cooking are olive oil and garlic. Garlic is “common to all Spanish cooking,” so if you’re a garlic lover, be prepared to indulge in it! Other popular ingredients include cured ham, wine, seafood, rice, and tomatoes. Especially popular Spanish recipes include paella, gazpacho, and the world-famous churros.

What is Spanish cooking like?

Spanish cooking is marked by its simplicity. That is, taking high-quality, nutritious ingredients and crafting intensely flavorful meals without too much work. For that reason, Spanish cuisine is a great place for any level of home cooks to hone their skills and try their hand at delicious food from various regions of Spain. Though the flavors vary, authentic Spanish food is traditionally very healthy and rarely spicy.