The Best Supper Club Cookbooks To Inspire Your Menu Planning

The Food Lab breaks down the science behind everyday cooking, explaining why recipes work and how small technique changes improve flavor and texture. It focuses on mastering classic dishes with clear, well-tested guidance.

This award-winning cookbook is such a strong starting point for any home cook wanting to sharpen their kitchen skills, and it is easily one of the most beginner-friendly books out there. The step-by-step instructions are clear and approachable, helping newer cooks understand why they are doing something instead of just crossing their fingers and hoping for the best. It is a great choice if you want everyone in your group to build confidence before moving on to more complex recipes.

The Essentials of Italian Cooking is a definitive classic guide to traditional Italian cuisine. From risottos and pasta sauces to simple vegetable dishes, the recipes are clear, precise, and deeply rooted in regional traditions, giving readers a true sense of Italian culinary culture.

What makes this cookbook stand out is how it teaches the why behind the food. You learn how flavors develop, textures form, and simple ingredients can transform into unforgettable dishes. It’s a chance to explore Italy’s culinary heritage while gaining confidence with recipes that feel both authentic and approachable.

In Bibi’s Kitchen shares recipes and stories from grandmothers across eight African countries along the Indian Ocean, from Somalia to Madagascar. The book includes everything from stews and spice blends to breads and snacks, with each dish rooted in local tradition and family heritage.

Flipping through the pages of this cookbook, the stories behind each recipe are just as compelling as the food itself. Hassan lets the grandmothers’ voices shine, sharing memories, cultural traditions, and the way each dish connects to family life. For a supper club, these stories can spark conversation, inspire deeper appreciation for the cuisine, and give your group a way to explore culture and history through the food on their plate.

Mi Cocina brings the vibrant flavors of Mexico into the home kitchen, highlighting classic dishes alongside Martínez’s modern interpretations. Recipes cover everything from tacos and salsas to hearty mains, blending traditional techniques with approachable guidance.

Opening this book feels like stepping into a bustling Mexican kitchen. Martínez shares personal anecdotes, tips, and insights that reveal why each dish matters in Mexican culture.

The Taste of Country Cooking celebrates Southern cuisine through seasonal, farm-to-table recipes. Lewis emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients and simple preparations, covering everything from cornbread and pies to soups and vegetable dishes rooted in her Virginia upbringing.

What makes this book truly special is how Lewis weaves her personal history and memories into the recipes, showing the connection between food, family, and community. It reads like a storybook of a life lived through the seasons, giving readers both inspiration and a deeper appreciation for the cultural roots of each dish.

Jubilee explores African American cuisine across two centuries, blending historical recipes with modern interpretations. It includes everything from savory classics to celebratory dishes, highlighting the depth and diversity of Black culinary traditions.

This book stands out for its combination of history and storytelling. Tipton-Martin shares the origins, evolution, and cultural significance of each dish, giving readers a deeper understanding of African American food heritage. It’s not just about cooking; it’s about connecting with the people, communities, and traditions behind the flavors.

Greece: The Cookbook presents over 500 authentic Greek recipes, from meze and seafood to breads and desserts. Alexiadou emphasizes traditional techniques and regional ingredients, providing a comprehensive guide to the country’s culinary heritage.

Often referred to as the Julia Child of Greek cuisine, this book is the culmination of a lifetime spent sharing a passion for traditional Greek cooking. Rather than over simplifying Greek cuisine, she celebrates the full breadth of regional dishes and the traditions behind them, offering recipes passed down for generations and creating a true cultural tour de force.

The Saffron Tales explores traditional Persian cooking with recipes ranging from stews and rice dishes to breads and desserts. Khan emphasizes authentic flavors while offering clear guidance for home cooks.

Khan’s storytelling is what truly sets this book apart. Each recipe is paired with personal anecdotes, cultural history, and reflections from the people who inspired it, giving readers insight into the richness of Persian culinary traditions. It captures both the flavor and the culture, making it feel like a journey through the Persian kitchen rather than just a collection of recipes.

Every Grain of Rice centers on simple, vegetable forward Chinese home cooking inspired by southern regional traditions. Fuchsia Dunlop shares streamlined stir fries, braises, and tofu dishes that rely on pantry staples and foundational techniques.

If your supper club wants to truly understand Chinese cooking, this is the one. Dunlop clearly explains things like how to balance soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, chilies, and aromatics, and how a wok works to cook food quickly and evenly. I also love that the focus here is on everyday home cooked dishes and not just the stereotypical takeout meals most people are familiar with.

Jerusalem brings together recipes rooted in the rich culinary traditions of the city’s Jewish and Palestinian communities, from fresh salads and spiced vegetables to slow-cooked meats and baked breads. Ottolenghi and Tamimi highlight seasonal ingredients while showing how flavors are built in ways that reflect generations of home cooking.

What I love about this book is how it teaches you to cook with a real sense of place. You’ll gain a deep understanding of how Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors interact, and how simple techniques like roasting, marinating, and layering spices can transform humble ingredients into something extraordinary. The dishes feel authentic, vibrant, and full of the history and culture that inspired them.

Please to the Table is a hidden gem that explores Russian and neighboring regional cuisines, covering dishes from the Baltic Republics, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Ukraine. Recipes range from hearty soups and braises to baked goods and desserts, each rooted in traditional recipes and family stories that give context to every dish.

I love this book because it shows just how diverse the cuisine of this region is. You’ll move from sour cherry soup and borscht to spiced lamb kebabs and Armenian lentil soup, from black bread puddings to delicate saffron desserts. Cooking from it feels like taking a culinary journey through an entire region, discovering flavor combinations and traditions you didn’t know existed previously.

Six Seasons celebrates vegetables through a unique approach that emphasizes seasonal cooking, teaching readers how to get the most flavor and variety out of produce throughout the year. McFadden focuses on six distinct parts of the growing season, highlighting subtle changes in flavor, texture, and technique.

This book is highly regarded for McFadden’s expertise and passion for vegetables, which shines through in every recipe. The book doesn’t just give instructions, it teaches you to understand produce on a deeper level, helping cooks of any skill level create thoughtful, elevated vegetable dishes.

The Forest Feast Gatherings focuses on vegetarian menus built for sharing, emphasizing simple, seasonal dishes that shine when served to a crowd. Erin Gleeson pairs approachable recipes with beautiful presentations, from fresh salads and roasted vegetables to comforting mains and playful desserts.

I love that this book is designed around the experience of gathering itself. Gleeson offers complete menus and serving ideas, making it a perfect introduction for anyone learning how to plan, cook, and present an entire vegetarian meal for the first time.

The Gluten-Free Cookbook offers a wide range of recipes from Italian classics to modern dishes, all adapted for a gluten-free diet. Broglia emphasizes authentic flavors and textures so that meals feel satisfying and complete without gluten.

This cookbook is an amazing resource for any supper club that wants to create an inclusive environment for the gluten-free members in their group offering easy alternatives to many classic dishes.

The Korean Vegan: Homemade brings plant-based Korean cooking into approachable, family-style recipes. Joanne Lee Molinaro shares dishes ranging from stews and bibimbap bowls to dumplings and sauces, all made entirely vegan while honoring the flavors and techniques of traditional Korean cuisine.

In this book, Molinaro blends recipes with stories about her family and Korean heritage, so you’re learning the cuisine alongside the culture and history behind it. You also pick up practical tips for making vegan versions of classic dishes that still feel rich, satisfying, and deeply authentic.

Mississippi Vegan reimagines the rich, hearty flavors of Southern, Cajun, and Creole cooking in a plant‑based way. Timothy Pakron offers 125 recipes that draw from his Mississippi Gulf Coast roots, blending bold spices, soulful traditions, and beautiful photography.

I love that this book is as beautiful as it is delicious. The photos and personal stories make it a joy to flip through, and the recipes are full of flavor and soul. You get gumbo that tastes authentic, biscuits that feel nostalgic, and dishes that will completely change how you think about plant-based Southern cooking.

My Last Supper explores the personal and culinary lives of 50 celebrated chefs through the meals they would choose as their last. Melanie Dunea combines interviews, stories, and recipes to reveal the dishes, flavors, and memories that shaped each chef’s life and philosophy in the kitchen.

What I find so captivating about this book is how intimate it feels. You get to see the foods that truly matter to these chefs, from nostalgic comfort dishes to extravagant creations, and the stories behind each meal give a window into their personalities and passions. It’s part cookbook, part storytelling, and honestly just a beautiful book to keep out on your coffee table.

The Woks of Life shares approachable recipes from a Chinese-American family, covering everything from classic stir-fries and dumplings to comforting noodle bowls and snacks. Each recipe reflects both traditional Chinese techniques and the family’s adaptations for a modern kitchen.

This book emphasizes the practical side of cooking Chinese food at home while keeping flavors authentic. The Leungs include tips, personal stories, and cultural context that show how each dish evolved, making it feel like you’re learning from a family kitchen rather than a standard cookbook. It stands out for blending approachable instructions with real cultural insight in a way few other Chinese cookbooks do.