10 Best Italian Cookbooks UK 2024 | Gino D'Acampo, Domenica Marchetti and More

The Silver Spoon is one of the most successful and influential cookbooks ever written. First published in 1950, it is an essential for every home as it utilises not just one chef's ideas but many, as a selection of cooking experts were commissioned to collect hundreds of authentic recipes from the various Italian regions. 

From there, they were curated and made available for the first time to a wider audience. Although it's still a classic, the information has been updated throughout the years to suit contemporary tastes. With over 2000 recipes, there's plenty here for any level of cook. 

Marc Vetri is a world-renowned, award-winning chef known for his precision and meticulous approach. While we can imagine this makes him somewhat a perfectionist, this method transpires well here because it allows home cooks to achieve the same results with a regular kitchen oven as they would with a restaurant one. 

The book covers all the classics like Margherita and Carbonara, but there are a few surprises too, such as a mouthwatering dessert pizza made with Nutella. Plus, there are step-by-step photos throughout, which helps pull back the curtain and demystify the process for any dough newbies. 

As well as 100 recipes that range from classic to contemporary, the author Domenica Marchetti provides a handy guide on stocking your kitchen too. You'll also find a source list for unusual ingredients and essential equipment included in the guide.

The recipes have drawn inspiration from both growing up and her family as well as prominent Italian chefs who are constantly pushing the boundaries of fine Italian cuisine. From crespelle baked with pork and spinach to four cheese stuffed ravioli, no matter what page you turn to, you're bound to be greeted by pure pasta joy. 

This cookbook has 75 authentic deserts specifically from the southern region of Italy. What you might not know is that many of these desserts have a rich history and are often tied to holidays and festivals, which make this a great option if you like to whip up a dessert for special occasions. 

Plus, you get a nice side of cultural learning while you're cooking. Many dishes are virtually unknown on our shores, so this will be a learning curve in more than one way. However, the recipes are practically fail-proof, so you don't need to be intimidated because you don't know them!

Chloe Coscarelli rose to fame as the first vegan to win a TV culinary competition, when she came out on top in The Food Network's Cupcake Wars. From there, she's gone on to establish herself as a popular TV chef as well as releasing a few cookbooks. 

Here, she dives into her heritage to pull out some of the classic flavours and incorporates them into completely plant-based meals. The book has the lot, from creamy pasta sauces to the delectable tiramisu, and there are some contemporary twists thrown in for good measure, too. 

While many of us may have never heard of Tony Gemignani, he's actually been crowned world pizza champion on 13 different occasions. If that doesn't make him qualified to give you advice on how to cook up the perfect slice, then frankly, we don't know what will.

This is a comprehensive guide to everything pizza, from the many different regional styles such as classic Neopolitan Margherita to the infamous Chicago deep dish, so there's no stone unturned. It might be a bit of a one-trick pony, but when the trick is this good, you're not going to mind. 

There are few things more comforting than a big bowl of homemade pasta. However, many people are often put off making the pasta itself due to the equipment, which isn't usually in the average UK kitchen. This is where Jenn Louis steps in. In her book, all the recipes focus on traditional styles that are hand-shaped. 

You'll traverse through the many different regions of Italy, learning about their typical pasta shapes, as well as receiving recommendations on the best sauces to can mix and match as you please. There are fewer recipes than other books, though, so you might find yourself working through this one a little more quickly.

The author of this cookbook enlisted help from the absolute best to create it. Who is the best? We hear you say. Easy, a certified Italian Nonna and Nonno, who at the ages of 91 and 95 respectively, have been whipping up these treats for decades.

Whilst taking heavy influence from their family, and the region they're from, there is also a bit of an expanse that looks at some other popular dishes from other areas in Italy. It might not be the most sophisticated of cookbooks, and with that, we mean the descriptions and layout could be better, but you're bound to find a treat or two in those pages you haven't had before. 

This is Giada De Laurentiis' first cookbook after becoming a popular host on The Food Network. Here, she channels the same energy and ethos from her show of the same name with 125 great recipes which focus on being minimum fuss yet maximum flavour. 

Furthermore, the book only demands ingredients you should already have in your fridge or cupboard, so there are no specialist items you'll struggle to find. However, although aimed at beginners, some have found that there aren't enough pictures that show you how the dishes should look. 

Without a doubt, Gino D'Acampo is the nation's favourite Italian chef. He rose to prominence as a regular on This Morning and has since gone on to be the star of many cooking shows, including the brilliant Gino's Italian Escape. While he has also produced many cookbooks, this is, interestingly, his first meat-free one.

Gino has put together an amazing selection of 100 recipes from simple pasta and gnocchi to pizzas, antipasti, salads and bakes, so there is plenty to keep you satisfied. A lot of the focus is on high-quality, fresh ingredients, so you might have to spend a bit more and source what you need from a shop other than your local Tesco.