The best cookbooks for spring 2024

an illustration of a pot simmers on the stove

(Illustration by Yiting Nan / For the Times)
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New cookbooks crop up like superblooms in spring, when the vitality of the season propels us to get into the kitchen. In the same way that each spring feels like life anew, every book is yet another way of looking at how we cook. (It’s why we keep adding books to all of our overflowing collections, right?)

This season we’re diving into the first Salvadoran cookbook released by a major publisher; the first book from the vegetable-loving chefs of Kismet; humanitarian chef José Andrés’ Greek, Lebanese and Turkish recipes; Joan Nathan’s latest food memoir; the unhinged culinary feats of the Mythical Kitchen; market-inspired Niçoise cooking; and more.

You’ll want recipes for Nathan’s sticky buns, the creamy marinated feta with grapefruit and roasted tomatoes from Kismet, chilled yogurt soup garnished with cucumber and pistachio and barberries, Salvadoran chicken sandwiches dipped in recaudo … and we have them!

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The SalviSoul Cookbook

THE RECIPES

LOS ANGELES , CA - MARCH 15: Salpicon de Res by Karla Vasquez, made in the LA Times test kitchen on Friday, Mar. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles , CA. (Katrina Frederick / For The Times)

Salpicón De Res (Salvadoran Minced Beef Salad)

Time55 minutes
YieldsServes 4 to 6
LOS ANGELES , CA - MARCH 15: Panes con pollo by Karla Vasquez, made in the LA Times test kitchen on Friday, Mar. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles , CA. (Katrina Frederick / For The Times)

Panes Con Pollo

Time2 hours (including marinating and roasting times)
YieldsMakes 6 sandwiches
LOS ANGELES , CA - MARCH 15: Sopa de Res by Karla Vasquez, made in the LA Times test kitchen on Friday, Mar. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles , CA. (Katrina Frederick / For The Times)

Salvadoran Sopa De Res

Time1 hour 45 minutes
YieldsServes 4 to 6
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Kismet: Bright, Fresh, Vegetable-Loving Recipes

THE RECIPES

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 25: A bowl of marinated feta cheese on Monday, March 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times)

Kismet’s Marinated Feta

Time1 hour (including marinating time)
YieldsMakes about 1 cup
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 25: A dish of broccoli with pumpkin seed jazz on Monday, March 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times)

Broccoli With Pumpkin Seed Jazz

Time1 hour
YieldsServes 4
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 25: "Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Soup" on Monday, March 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, CA. (Catherine Dzilenski / For The Times)

Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner Soup

Time30 minutes
YieldsServes 4

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My Life in Recipes

THE RECIPES

Joan Nathan's Ann Arbor schnecken (hot pecan rolls)

Joan Nathan’s Ann Arbor Schnecken (Sticky Pecan Rolls)

Time9 to 36 hours (30 minutes active time)
YieldsMakes 12 sticky buns
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Zaytinya

THE RECIPES

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 1: Buttery shrimp with dill, featured in Jose Andres' cookbook Zaytinya, prepared in the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Buttery Shrimp With Dill (Garides Me Ánitho)

Time15 minutes
YieldsServes 4
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 1: Chilled yogurt soup, featured in Jose Andres' cookbook Zaytinya, prepared in the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Zaytinya’s Chilled Yogurt Soup

Time2 hours, 5 minutes
YieldsServes 6
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 1: Butternut hommus, featured in Jose Andres' cookbook Zaytinya, prepared in the Los Angeles Times Test Kitchen on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Butternut Hommus

Time1 hour, 15 minutes
YieldsMakes about 3½ cups

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