10 Best French Cookbooks UK 2024 | Larousse Gastronomique, Julia Child and More

This cookbook includes plenty of recipes, 375 of them in fact, but it is its unique additions that really make it stand out. This book provides an education on every aspect of French cuisine, explaining speciality ingredients, topics and personalities that have helped make eating French what it is. 

It could be said that this book is more of an encyclopaedia than a cookbook, which is one of the reasons it has received such rave reviews. With this book, you'll not just learn about French cuisine, but French culture too. Making it an excellent pick for any francophile!

This cookbook may be a number of years old now, but it's still well worth a read. Published in 1961, Julia Child brought French cooking to the masses with her revolutionary approach. In this book, she breaks down the components that are required to put a good French meal together, but never in a way that is inaccessible. 

Julia Child charmed not just with her food, but with her attitude and view of the world. Her unique character traits come through the pages of this book and are a big reason that it continues to inspire today. Get ready to make some seriously tasty food! 

Regarded as one of the main chefs to have brought the world of French cuisine to British shores, Michel Roux Jr. has changed the game when it comes to British people's attitudes toward French cooking. If you can't afford his restaurant's 2-Michelin-star prices, or perhaps just prefer simpler fare, this book will guide you through some basic recipes. 

These French recipes aren't quite as decadent, but are still utterly delicious. This means they can be enjoyed everyday without piling on the pounds and allowing you to explore subtler, lighter flavour sensations too. 

Only have a tiny kitchen to work with? That didn't stop Rachel Khoo, and it doesn't need to stop you either! From her little kitchen in Paris, she shows you how a little space can go a long way, and in this book you'll be taught how to whip up all the classics, from starters to desserts.

Like Rick Stein, Rachel Khoo garnered attention for her BBC series which uses the same principles as in this book. Each recipe takes its root from a traditional french recipe, with a twist to appeal to the modern-day home chef. 

This mountain of a book is over 1000 pages long, packed full of everything you could ever need to know about French cooking. Recipes certainly feature heavily, but selling this as just a recipe book would be to do it a disservice. Containing over 900 photographs and pages of illustrations, this might be one of the most beautiful books on this list. 

Its lengthy size is used to maximum effect, filled with must-know tips and cooking techniques. Both Gordon Ramsey and Heston Blumenthal have expressed how fundamental this book was to their knowledge, and you'd struggle to find higher praise than that. 

When you think of French food, you may think of rich stews and smelly cheese, but what probably first comes to mind are baked goods and pastries. Patisserie is a fine art in France, as you can see from the beautiful creations adorned bakery windows. 

The book is a guide on how to make picture-perfect cakes, croissants and tarts at home, going through the multitude of skills and techniques required. French patisserie looks complicated and, for the most part it is, so this is another book that will better suit the more advanced home cook. 

Provence as a region is a fertile ground for discovering yummy, summery recipes. Known as the garden of France, its warm climate and Mediterranean location make it the perfect place for growing the best produce. 

While you might not be able to source your ingredients directly from the fields of Provence, you can come close to recreating some of its most special dishes by using this book. While it's lovely to take a deep-dive into a certain area, if you're looking for a more complete guide to French cookery, this isn't the book for you. 

A staple on our screen for decades now, Rick Stein has brought so many cuisines to mainstream audiences with his popular BBC shows. Now, you can experience some of his adventures in France by using this book to cook up your own lesser-known delights. 

In this book, you'll discover how to make food that comes from the rural areas of France, dishes that are sometimes overlooked thanks to the overwhelming might of the Parisian kitchen. It's just a shame that it doesn't come in a digital edition. 

From a much-loved French restaurant in California comes this book, which lets you in on all their secrets on how to create delicious food. With recipes taken directly from the restaurant, this book shares tips and tricks so that you can bring the magic into your own kitchen.

As is to be expected with restaurant-quality food, this book is not for beginners. Some of the techniques are very advanced and probably a bit too complicated for the average home cook, but if you're looking for a challenge, this could be it!

Want to try cooking French food, but feel intimidated by its reputation for being complicated and precise? This book is here to help ease you in gently, introducing 75 excellent recipe ideas for beginners. From bouillabaisse to coq au vin, you'll be able to find all of your favourites made simple. 

75 recipes is a good amount to begin with, but after a while, you'll be looking to expand your repertoire even further. Unfortunately, this book doesn't give you the chance to fully explore what France has to offer.