Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

by Samin Nosrat
Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Cookbooks / Food Writing
Technical
  • ID: 5823
  • Added: 2025-10-24
  • Updated: 2025-10-24
  • ISBN: 9781782112310
  • Publisher: Canongate Books
  • Published: 2017-08-29
  • Reviews: 3

Samin Nosrat's 'Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat' distills the four fundamental principles that elevate any dish, offering a simple yet revolutionary method to cook instinctively. Drawing from her experiences at Chez Panisse, Nosrat teaches how to balance flavors and techniques to create delicious meals with any ingredients. The book includes 100 essential recipes and their variations, providing a comprehensive guide for both professionals and home cooks. /n/nPraise for the book includes accolades from renowned chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi and Nigella Lawson, highlighting its impact as a Sunday Times Food Book of the Year and a New York Times bestseller. Nosrat's approach demystifies cooking, making it accessible and empowering for anyone looking to improve their culinary skills.

Reviews
Reddit - CookbookLovers · 2020-03-21
enthusiastic 4.50

The book is highly recommended for beginners, offering a comprehensive guide to thinking like a cook rather than just following recipes.

This Reddit discussion praises the book as an excellent starting point for aspiring chefs. It emphasizes that the book helps beginners understand the fundamentals of cooking, encouraging them to think creatively and develop their own techniques. The community highlights the book's comprehensive approach, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their cooking skills. The positive feedback indicates that it's a must-read for those interested in mastering the basics of cooking.

Quick quotes

    I love this book. I think it's one of two that every aspiring chef should read.

    No book has helped me understand the basics of cooking like this one.

    It's worth reading every page, even if it's 622 pages long.

Cookbook Review Blog · 2018-12-10
practical 4.00

The book is a practical guide to cooking, focusing on techniques and experimentation. It encourages readers to explore and learn through hands-on cooking.

This review emphasizes the practical nature of the book, which is designed to help readers learn and explore cooking techniques. It encourages a hands-on approach, making it a great resource for those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen. The reviewer appreciates the book's focus on the four key elements of cooking, which are explained in a way that makes them accessible and easy to understand. Overall, it's seen as a valuable guide for anyone looking to improve their cooking skills.

Quick quotes

    This is a book all about cooking, so expect to be doing a lot of it.

    The idea here is to learn and explore the techniques of cooking.

    It's a great resource for those who enjoy experimenting in the kitchen.

Kitchen Catastrophe · 2018-11-01
informative 3.50

The book takes a long time to get to the recipes, but the educational content is valuable. The approach is similar to other cookbooks but with a unique perspective.

This review highlights that the book spends a significant amount of time on educational content before reaching the recipes. While this might be a drawback for some, the detailed explanations and unique perspective on cooking techniques are appreciated. The reviewer notes that the book's approach is similar to others but stands out with its in-depth exploration of the four key elements of cooking. Overall, it's seen as a valuable resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of cooking.

Quick quotes

    Samin goes for a similar approach: her book takes over 200 pages to get to the actual recipes in the cookbook.

    She spends 40 pages explaining the importance of salt, fat, acid, and heat in cooking.

    The book is a great resource for those looking to understand the science behind cooking.

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