10+ Caribbean Cookbooks to Add To Your Kitchen Collection
Originally published January 10th. Updated January 20th 2025, 12:55 am.
The Caribbean is a culinary treasure trove, where every island tells its story through vibrant flavors, unique ingredients, and deeply rooted traditions. From the spicy kick of jerk seasoning to the comforting richness of a coconut-based stew, Caribbean cuisine is as diverse as the cultures that shape it. Whether you’re a seasoned chef, a home cook looking to experiment, or someone simply curious about the rich culinary heritage of the islands, Caribbean cookbooks are a fantastic gateway to this world of bold and beautiful flavors. In this blog post, we’ve curated a list of exceptional Caribbean cookbooks that not only showcase delicious recipes but also celebrate the stories, history, and creativity behind the dishes. Get ready to explore the essence of the Caribbean through its most cherished culinary guides!
1. ISLAS by Von Diaz
This narrative cookbook by writer, documentary producer, and author Von Diaz travels across oceans and nations to uplift the shared ancestral cooking techniques of these islands in more than 125 recipes, including intimate profiles of the historical context of each technique, stories from islanders, and step-by-step guides for recreating them at home.
Website: http://www.vondiaz.com/books
Social: @cocinacriolla
2. THE SOUL OF SCOTCHIE by Helena Faustin
Helena Faustin’s passion for cooking developed at the age of 15 and she has spent years perfecting her craft. One look at her cookbook will transport you right into her kitchen as she shares recipes full of traditional herbs and spices native to Jamaica. She also happens to be a mom of 3, a wife, and registered nurse in the heart of New York City. When she’s not saving the lives of children, she’s creating delicious, home cooked island food, and healing souls, one meal at a time.
Website: https://thatnursecooks.com/
Cookbook: https://found.us/creators/thatnursecancook?code=thatnursecancook
Social: @thatnursecancook
3. MAD LOVE by Chef Devan
Chef Devan Rajkumar has spent years cooking French, Italian, Mexican and Japanese food while traveling the world. Rajkumar’s new cookbook — "Mad Love: Big Flavors Made to Share from South Asia to the West Indies"— merges his roots in Guyana, South America and the Caribbean.
Website: https://www.chefdev.ca
Cookbook: https://www.chefdev.ca/cookbook/p/madlove
Social: @chefdevan
4. GATHER by Chef Chris Viaud
From James Beard nominee and Top Chef contestant Chef Chris Viaud comes GATHER, featuring recipes that not only bring friends and family together but keep them at the table. Inside you’ll find:
100 seasonal appetizers
Bold and wholesome family-style entrees
Unique, eye-catching cocktails perfect for entertaining
Elegant desserts for all cravings
Stunning original photography
Tips and techniques that promise to revolutionize your approach in the kitchen
Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/GATHER-Seasonal-Recipes-People-Together/dp/1646434471
Social: @chefchrisviaud
5. EVERYONE’S TABLE by Gregory Gourdet
Gregory Gourdet is a celebrated chef, best-selling author, and television personality. He is best known for his award-winning cuisine, bevy of TV appearances, and trendsetting role in the culinary boom of Portland.
2022 James Beard Foundation Award Winner for Best General Cookbook- Everyone’s Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health
2023 James Beard Foundation Award Winner for Best New Restaurant- Kann Restaurant
Website: https://gregorygourdet.com/
Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/Everyones-Table-Global-Recipes-Modern/dp/0062984519
Social: @gg30000
6. RICE by Chef JJ
Cultural tastemaker, family man and renowned American chef, JJ Johnson is most recognized for his innovative approach to African Caribbean cuisine. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including the James Beard Foundation Book Award and a two-time spot on the Nation’s Restaurant News Power List. He has been featured on a variety of TV shows including Food Network’s Chopped, Netflix’s Street Food and Selena + Chef on HBO Max and hosts his own show, 'Just Eats with Chef JJ’ airing for its fifth season on TV One's network Cleo TV this fall. Chef JJ's highly anticipated cookbook, The Simple Art of Rice: Recipes from Around the World for the Heart of Your Table, will be released in September 2023.
Website: https://chefjj.co/
Cookbook: https://chefjj.co/simple-art-of-rice-shop-page
Social: @chefjj
7. CARIBBEAN PALEO by Althea Brown
Metemgee (met-tem-g) is home to authentic Guyanese/Caribbean recipes with proven results, wholesome remixes and a bit of back story. Led by home-cook Althea Brown, the cookbook features traditional Guyanese recipes that include Whole30, Paleo, Dairy Free or Gluten free versions that will leave you speechless.
Website: https://metemgee.com/
Cookbook: https://metemgee.com/cookbook/
Social: @metemgee
8. EAST WINDS by Riaz Phillips
This cookbook features recipes and food stories from the East of the Caribbean by award-winning author Riaz Philipps.The shared foods of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname are rooted in similarity and yet fascinatingly different. Jam-packed with recipes, there’s inspiration for everyone and every occasion, whether that be a cozy curry and roti on Friday nights or a feast for family and friends. Interwoven throughout, Riaz’s food and travel writing illuminates the diverse history of the Indian, Chinese and African heritage that culminates in the food culture of these lands today. Ranging from plant-based to meat and seafood, Riaz offers up not only delicious dishes but also the inseparable stories of people and place. More than a cookbook, with East Winds you’ll go on a culinary journey to explore the roots and evolution of the dishes you’re cooking.
Website: https://www.instagram.com/riazphillips
Cookbook: HERE
Social: @riazphillips
9. HAITI UNCOVERED by Nadege Fleurimond
Haiti Uncovered is a culinary coffee table book that embraces the regional cuisine and cooking traditions of Haiti through the author's personal journey, insights and recipesHaiti Uncovered delves into the art of Haitian Cuisine and brings into focus he beauty of Haiti through its diverse culinary traditions while offering to Haitians and non-Haitians an opportunity to explore and learn about Haiti as a whole. This beautifully bound and illustrated, hard cover book, aims to present and represent the history, dishes, recipes and cooking traditions of the people of Haiti throughout the various regions. It is a conscious and determined effort by the author to present a personal journey, yet to create something that is both accurate and lasting. This 10th anniversary edition boasts 4 new recipes, new covers and a new afterword.
Website: https://shop.nadegefleurimond.com/
Social: @haitiuncovered
10. BELLY FULL by Leanne Enston
For Lesley Enston, cooking has always been a way to connect to her Caribbean roots. After growing up in Toronto, moving to Brooklyn, spending a few years in London, she ultimately settled in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Along the way she’s consistently found herself over a stovetop, preparing the dishes her Trini mother first introduced her to, along with all her favorite foods from around the islands—and putting Scotch bonnet in just about everything. Lesley is a seasoned home cook and takes great pleasure in spreading the joy (and heat) of these flavors to her friends and loved ones by way of her famed backyard dinner parties. Better yet, Lesley’s young half Haitian daughter, Desalin, now plays the role of sous chef, enjoying the flavors her mother and grandmother cherish so deeply. You can find Lesley’s recipes in Bon Appétit, Food52, and the New York Times.
Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/Belly-Full-Exploring-Fundamental-Ingredients/dp/1984861824
Social: @lesenston
Caribbean cuisine is more than just food—it's a celebration of history, culture, and community. Each cookbook on this list offers a unique perspective, providing an opportunity to connect with the islands and experience the magic of their kitchens right at home. Whether you’re craving the heat of Trinidadian curries, the smoky flavors of Jamaican jerk, or the comforting embrace of Bajan macaroni pie, these cookbooks bring the flavors of the Caribbean to life. So, grab one of these gems, tie on your apron, and let the rich traditions of the Caribbean inspire your next culinary adventure. Happy cooking!
