Celebrate Black History Month Through Cookbooks
Penguin Random House has a wonderful list of Cookbooks to celebrate Black History Month. “Food is an important part of the fabric of our lives, and it’s one way we can connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds from our own. In celebration of Black History Month, they’ve curated a list of cookbooks from luminaries both here in Canada and across the globe that are a celebration of the interweaving of food, experience, and community.” Check out these titles that are all worthy of a spot on your bookshelf.
My Ackee Tree by Suzanne Barr with Suzanne Hancock
For fans of The Measure of My Powers and Notes from a Young Black Chef, a memoir about food, family, and the recipes that brought one woman home when she needed it the most.
Black Food by Edited by Bryant Terry
A beautiful, rich, and groundbreaking book exploring Black foodways within America and around the world, curated by food activist and author of Vegetable Kingdom Bryant Terry.
My America by Kwame Onwuachi with Joshua David Stein
Featuring more than 125 recipes, My America is a celebration of the food of the African Diaspora, as handed down through Onwuachi’s own family history, spanning Nigeria to the Caribbean, the South to the Bronx, and beyond. From Nigerian Jollof, Puerto Rican Red Bean Sofrito, and Trinidadian Channa (Chickpea) Curry to Jambalaya, Baby Back Ribs, and Red Velvet Cake, these are global home recipes that represent the best of the patchwork that is American cuisine.
Yawd by Adrian Forte
Yawd = comfort food that sticks to your ribs! In his first cookbook, star chef Adrian Forte shares more than 100 of his inspiring recipes to get you fired up in the kitchen.
Jubilee by Toni Tipton-Martin
In Jubilee, Tipton-Martin brings these masters into our kitchens. Through recipes and stories, we cook along with these pioneering figures, from enslaved chefs to middle- and upper-class writers and entrepreneurs. Jubilee presents techniques, ingredients, and dishes that show the roots of African American cooking—deeply beautiful, culturally diverse, fit for celebration.
Rodney Scott’s World of BBQ by Rodney Scott and Lolis Eric Elie
In the first cookbook by a Black pitmaster, James Beard Award–winning chef Rodney Scott celebrates an incredible culinary legacy through his life story, family traditions, and unmatched dedication to his craft.
In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen
Grandmothers from eight eastern African countries welcome you into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of family, love, and tradition in this transporting cookbook-meets-travelogue.
Black-Eyed Peas and Hoghead Cheese by Glenda Armand; illustrated by Steffi Walthall
A little girl helping her grandmother prepare a holiday meal learns about the origins of soul food in this powerful picture book that celebrates African American cuisine and identity from an award-winning author.
Shaq’s Family Style by Shaquille O’Neal with Rachel Holtzman, Matthew Silverman, and Matthew Piekarski
A celebration of cultural icon Shaquille O’Neal’s love of food, family, and fun, with 80 low-stress comfort food recipes for busy families.
Bludso’s BBQ Cookbook by Kevin Bludso with Noah Galuten, photography by Eric Wolfinger and Demetrius Smith
This is low and slow Texas BBQ done right: a family affair in smoke and soul, told through 75 recipes and stories from the founder of famous Los Angeles–based Bludso’s BBQ.
Sunday Best by Adrienne Cheatham with Sarah Zorn
Make everyday meals something to celebrate with more than 100 recipes inspired by the Southern roots and Sunday suppers of Top Chef finalist Adrienne Cheatham’s upbringing.
Tanya Holland’s California Soul by Tanya Holland with Maria C. Hunt and Dr. Kelley Fanto Deetz, foreword by Alice Walker
80+ comfort-filled recipes that trace the roots of modern California soul food to the Great Migration—from the acclaimed chef and author of Brown Sugar Kitchen.
Eating from Our Roots by Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN
From “one of the most brilliant, registered dietitians ever” (Gwyneth Paltrow) comes a culinary trip around the globe with 80+ delicious, healthy recipes for heritage dishes embraced by diverse groups of people living in the United States.
Badass Vegan by John Lewis
A “wake you up” manifesto and plant-based lifestyle plan to buck the system that keeps us fat, sick, and tired—from the Badass Vegan.
Everyday Grand by Jocelyn Delk Adams with Olga Massov
A joyous cookbook full of gratitude, positivity, and 80+ Southern-inspired comfort food recipes from the culinary sweetheart and blogger behind Grandbaby Cakes.
Diala’s Kitchen by Diala Canelo
Diala’s Kitchen is a collection of bold and flavourful recipes inspired by home and travel, with stunning food and photography from afar, that food lovers will want to cook and enjoy with family and friends.
