10 New Australian Cookbooks To Buy, Dog-Ear, Splatter With Oil, etc

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Cookbook queens Hetty McKinnon, Rosheen Kaul and O Tama Carey are all putting out new titles before Christmas. We’re also keen to get our (oven) mitts on debuts by Masterchef winner Nat Thaipun, and Patti Kimchire (aka Mali Bakes).

Words by Alice Jeffery And Dan Cunningham · Updated on 09 Jul 2025 · Published on 04 Jul 2025

Gluten-Free Feasts by Melanie Persson

$44.99

Coeliac cooking for one person is a precision act. Cooking for a group is something else entirely. The second cookbook from Masterchef alum Melanie Persson ( The Very Hungry Coeliac ) is all about the latter. Waffle brunches, taco parties and dim sum soirées are all too easy with this essential guide to gluten-free cooking and baking. As always, Mel’s recipes are delicious regardless of your dietaries.

Who’s it for? Home cooks catering for a gluten-free crowd.

Buy at Readings

Linger by Hetty Lui McKinnon

$44.99

Somewhere between maintaining her cosy Instagram presence and writing clever plant-based recipes for The New York Times , Hetty Mac found time to bang out her sixth cookbook. And yes, you need this one, too. Linger doubles down on what McKinnon does best: building community through standout salads, sweets and soulful stories. Inside are 12 menus, 12 essays and – we love this – 12 playlists to bring the vibe to your next dinner party.

Who’s it for? Hetty Mac completionists and those looking to get adventurous with veg.

Buy at Readings

Salata: Mediterranean Salads for All Occasions by Kristy Frawley and Michael Rantissi

$39.99

Salata delivers a medley of Mediterranean flavours across recipes spanning everyday cooking, special occasion plates and all the bits that make veg-forward salads pop. The fourth book from Kristy Frawley and Michael Rantissi – owners of Redfern’s Kepos Street Kitchen and authors of Falafel for Breakfast , Hummus & Co and Middle Eastern Feasts – looks to Greek, French, Italian, Spanish, North African and Middle Eastern influences, while championing local, seasonal produce across its pages. A section dedicated to dressings will inspire a revolution in your salad repertoire.

Who’s it for? Leaf lovers looking to shake things up – whether you’re cooking for two people or 20.

Buy at Readings

Secret Sauce by Rosheen Kaul

$27.99

Rosheen, Rosheen, the condiment queen is back with her second (well, technically third ) book, and, as you’d expect, it’s a one-way ticket to flavour town. As the name suggests, the sequel to Kaul’s James Beard award-winning debut, Chinese-ish , is all about sambals, salsa verdes and soy-based wonders that’ll take your home cooking to flavour nirvana. Find more than 50 condiment recipes helpfully split into colours (red, green, white, black/brown, yellow), with gorgeous photography throughout.

Who’s it for? Kaul club members and those looking to elevate their home cooking with minimal spend and effort.

Buy at Readings

Lankan Filling by O Tama Carey

$54.99

The trailblazing chef behind Sydney’s Lankan Filling Station returns with 80 recipes inspired by her beloved Darlinghurst restaurant. Picking up where her debut, Lanka Food , left off, this beautiful cookbook flaunts Carey’s talents by way of dhal and hot butter jaffles, black spiced brisket and spiced jaggery tarts. If your home cooking repertoire needs a flavour jolt, this one’s for you. Expect vibrant recipes with a Sri Lankan soul and an Australian accent.

Who’s it for? Lovers of South Asian cuisines who want to bring more of those flavours home.

Buy at Readings

Opa! by Helena and Vikki Moursellas

$59.99

Chefs, authors, content creators and identical twin sisters Helena and Vikki Moursellas capture the spirit of traditional tavernas – where joy, excitement, celebration and surprise often reign supreme – in this soon-to-be published collection of recipes. Where their first book Peinao (which translates to “I’m hungry”) focused on cooking feasts for friends and family, their second cookbook shifts gears into more everyday-minded dishes. Think beloved classics like lamb kleftiko (slow roasted lamb) and Horiatiki salata (Greek salad), as well as new classics, including king prawns with fennel and caper butter or peppers stuffed with Greek cheeses.

Who’s it for? Feta fiends – or anyone wanting to recreate the long, lazy lunch they had on holiday in Athens.

Buy at Readings

The Japanese Art of Pickling & Fermenting by Yoko Nakazawa

$49.99

Miso-lover Yoko Nakazawa (of @cookingwithkoji fame) shares her passion for pickling and fermenting, alongside personal stories from her childhood in rural Japan and life after emigrating to Australia, in this artfully crafted tome. Dissecting age-old techniques that have been passed down through generations, it’s a practical guide covering everything from understanding the difference between pickles and ferments to salt ratios, chopping techniques, fermenting times and proper storage.

Who’s it for? Curious minds keen to play around with preserving vegetables.

Buy at Readings

Mali Bakes by Patti Chimkire

$59.99

Retro-inspired cakes have made a comeback in recent years. Thornbury favourite Mali Bakes has offered its own custom celebration cakes to Melbournians since rising to fame amid lockdown-era birthdays, weddings and more. Here, founder and pastry chef Patti Chimkire shares her love of cakes and colour in a new format, instructing home bakers how to pipe perfect icing and make layer cakes with confidence. From an apple and yuzu upside-down cake to Thai tea chiffon cake and flavour combinations like pistachio cake with cardamom-roasted rhubarb, there’s something for every kind of sweet tooth.

Who’s it for? Bakers that want to go beyond the basics.

Buy at Readings

Thai: Anywhere and Everywhere by Nat Thaipun

$50.00

If only we could eat Thai food anywhere and everywhere. Well, maybe that dream isn’t so far off. That’s because Masterchef 2024 winner Nat Thaipun’s debut cookbook is finally here – and it’s packed with approachable Thai recipes built for all occasions, from intimate dinners to lively barbeques and everything in between. Importantly, these dishes are designed for the home kitchen, with adaptable recipes for seasonal everyday cooking. Whether you’re a budding Masterchef contestant or brand-new to the pans, this one puts big Thai flavours in your near future.

Who’s it for? Natty Wolf fans and Thai-food fiends.

Buy at Readings

Provecho: Real Mexican Food at Home by Daniella Guevara Munoz

$44.99

Daniella Guevara Munoz grew up in Mexico City and now runs Port Adelaide’s La Popular Taqueria. In her first cookbook, Munoz delivers homestyle Mexican recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and more. An essential pantry list and substitutions for hard-to-find ingredients help translate key elements of a cuisine that has long eluded many Aussie home cooks. Personal anecdotes from the chef and vibrant photos by Simon Bajada will have you craving these recipes for years to come.

Who’s it for? Taco enthusiasts who want to master the flavours of Mexico’s taquerias, street carts and home kitchens.

Buy at Readings