I always have a big stack of cookbooks sitting on the corner of my desk waiting to be reviewed, another stack on my coffee table with recipes tagged to be cooked, and a list of books on my wishlist waiting to be purchased. Some of these books have been out for a year or two, while others are hot off the press and haven’t even hit the shelves. It takes a while to reach each book, test recipes and then test them again.
To help you narrow your cookbook wishlist and find those that will be most beneficial to you, today I am reviewing four cookbooks that are a must for every paleo kitchen! Check out previous reviews here!
The Paleo Kitchen by Juli Bauer and George Bryant
There is no paleo blog I have been following longer than PaleOMG. In fact, it was Juli who inspired me to really make this little blog my own. I love her spicy personality and delicious recipes. She and George have become like the best friends I’ve never met after following their blogs for advice and recipe inspiration over the past two years. These two share a passion for cooking and creating recipes that is sure to inspire even the most unskilled cook. I personally loved reading the story about how they worked together collaborating on this cookbook, and felt like I was part of the journey myself as I followed along on Instagram!
The Paleo Kitchen, includes helpful shopping lists, a guide to essential kitchen equipment, cooking tips and tricks, and best of all, advice on sticking to a Paleo lifestyle! Oh and recipes, we can’t forget the recipes– I mean did you see the pancakes on the cover! With recipes like The Perfect Burger and Sweet Plantain Guacamole, you can’t go wrong!
Beyond Bacon by Stacy Toth and Matthew McCarry
The paleo community loves bacon. Okay, who am I kidding– EVERYONE loves bacon. Well, if you love bacon, or the pig in general, you will love Beyond Bacon by Stacy Toth and Matthew McCarry. Beyond Bacon pays homage to the hog by teaching you how to make more than a hundred recipes featuring cuts from the entire animal. This means you won’t waste one piece of the pig at your next roast.
I have to say, I’ve always been a bit skeptical of the pig. I mean bacon is one thing, but using the entire animal seems like a daunting task. Luckily, Stacy and Matt have broken it down for us. This cookbook has everything from the basics (lard, stock and sausages) to soups and stews, dressings and desserts! Not only does this beautiful book make a great gift, but it is sure to inspire those who think eating paleo means giving up the food they love.
Against All Grain by Danielle Walker
First off, this book is gorgeous. I think the testament to a good cookbook is when it is thoroughly covered in grease and batter, however I plan to try very hard to keep this cookbook looking as pretty as the day I opened it up on Christmas Eve! I hadn’t been an avid follower of Danielle’s blog, but I had hear about her cookbook from a friend and have been a huge fan ever since! In fact, I’ve already purchased her follow-up cookbook Meals Made Simple (review coming soon- hopefully).
Against All Grain is a great all-around cookbook for any paleo eater because there is something for everyone, even the pickiest of eaters! I would recommend this cookbook to everyone, from those just sarting their paleo lifestyle, to a seasoned paleo vet. Best of all, this cook-book is great for the whole family. There is even a “For the Kids in All of Us” section, filled with healthy, delicious, kid-approved recipes.
Along with some of the best paleo recipes I’ve cooked, Danielle includes a list of important ingredients to keep on hand, shopping lists, and meal plans. But perhaps my favorite thing about this cookbook is the ingredient index in the back for those moments when you have a cut of meat, but no idea what to do with it. This book really brings the full package!
Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo
Last but definitely not least, is Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo. This book really surprised me. What I expected to be another paleo cookbook actually turned out to be more of a nutritional textbook with a pile of recipes at the end. I only wish I had discovered this cookbook sooner, I guarantee you it would have been my bible as I started out on my paleo lifestyle.
This book provides clear plans, laid out in an easy-to-understand way. Diane walks you through all of the dietary and lifestyle changes you need to make, step by step, when beginning the Paleo journey. The book is divided into three sections, “The Why”, “30-day Meal Plans” and “Recipes”. There is also shopping lists and tear out pages for your fridge. I would highly recommend this book to all paleo beginners!