Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files

by Deb Perelman

A collection of essential recipes for meals you'll want to prepare again and again, from Cozy Chicken and Dumplings to Fettuccine with White Ragout, and from Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies to Strawberry Summer Stack Cake.

Deb Perelman is the author of two best-selling cookbooks; one of the internet's most successful food bloggers; the creator of a homegrown brand with more than a million Instagram followers; and the self-taught cook with the tiny kitchen who obsessively tests her recipes to make sure that no bowls are wasted and that the results are always worth the effort.

Here, in her third book, Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files, Perelman gives us 100 recipes (including a few favorites from her site) that aim to make shopping easier, preparation more practical and enjoyable, and food more reliably delicious for the home cook.

What's a keeper?

a full-crunch cucumber salad you'll want to make over and over again for lunch
a tomato and corn cobbler that tastes like summer sunshine
an epic deep-dish broccoli cheddar quiche that even quiche skeptics love
a slow-roasted chicken on a bed of unapologetically schmaltzy croutons
a butterscotched apple crisp that will ruin you for all others
perfect spaghetti and meatballs, better than ever
Deb's ultimate pound cake, one to redeem all the sleepy ones you've eaten over the years

These are the fail-safe, satisfying recipes you'll rely on for years to come--from Perelman's forever files to yours.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Food, Nonfiction, Reference, Culinary, Adult

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2022

About the author

Deb Perelman is a self-taught home cook and photographer; and the creator of SmittenKitchen.com, an award-winning blog with a focus on stepped-up home cooking through unfussy ingredients. In previous iterations of her so-called career, she’s been a record store shift supervisor, a scrawler of “happy birthday” on bakery cakes, an art therapist, and a technology reporter. She likes her current gig—the one where she wakes up and cooks whatever she feels like that day—the best. The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook is her first book. Deb lives in New York City with her husband and two great kids.

Reviews

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it weird that my most-anticipated book release of 2022 was a cookbook? Maybe. But I've been following Deb's Smitten Kitchen blog for over a decade and I've yet to find a recipe developer who I resonate so deeply with. Sure, she likes beans, tomatoes, and mushrooms, which means some of her recipes just don't appeal, but truly no other cookbook I've ever read inspired me to bookmark sixty-seven of the recipes to make at some point in the future. Not only that, but every single recipe had a photo (and a gorgeous one at that!), it's got lay-flat binding, and there are a TON of really delicious-sounding vegetarian recipes (along with a number that are GF and/or vegan, though those aren't in the majority if that's a dietary concern). I now own all three of Deb's cookbooks, and while I've very much enjoyed the first two, when she says she thinks this is her best one yet... well, I think I've got to agree!

Recipes I've Made:
Charred Brussels Sprouts with Ricotta and Hazelnuts - I happened to have all the ingredients on hand and made this the day I got the book. SO simple and super tasty!
apple cider old fashioned - quite strong, as the recipe indicates, and fairly sweet as well, though that will depend on your apple cider. I really enjoyed it, though I liked it best cut with regular or sparkling apple cider.
chocolate dulce puddle cakes - super rich and decadent, naturally GF dessert for two! I used manjar instead of dulce de leche (which is basically just a thicker, more caramelized dulce de leche) and it was super tasty!
citrus with radishes and hazelnuts - I've never really done a breakfast salad before, so this was a fun thing to try! I enjoyed it, but I don't think it'll make it into regular rotation.
White Russian Slush - tasty, but I couldn't get the nice separation on the top--definitely user error, though I do think it's a more advanced technique.
chocolate chip cookies with salted walnut brittle - this definitely isn't *my* peak chocolate chip cookie, but it's fun and super tasty!
Braised Winter Squash Wedges - fun winter squash dish that works well as a side or a main. I think this works particularly well for a dinner party / holiday / group, as the presentation was beautiful, but it's one of those meals that feels a little impractical for everyday eating.
winter squash soup with red onion crisp - holy fuck, I was NOT expecting to love this so much! I made the soup with the leftover braised winter squash above, and damn, this was honestly so flavorful and tasty, and it's vegan AND gluten free, so nobody has an excuse not to eat this one, lol.
charred salt and vinegar cabbage - as Deb says in the recipe blurb, she's not gonna try and convince you you'll love this one if it sounds gross, but if you suspect this might be up your alley, it absolutely slaps! Made a half-recipe with the half green cabbage I had languishing in my fridge, and it was definitely a winner.
caramelized cinnamon sugar french toast - this was a hit!! doesn't need any additional toppings, and came together in about 30 minutes. will definitely be making this again!
family-style creme brulee - first time making creme brulee and it turned out excellent! I did realize that the recipe doesn't mention the salt that's listed in the ingredients so I forgot to add it--didn't miss it, but I bet the flavor's enhanced just a smidge with it included. I do think next time I'd split into individual ramekins, just because we're not really "let's all eat from the same bowl" kind of people, lol.
green angel hair with garlic butter - the garlic butter is a revelation and it will seem like you are adding too much salt, but you are not! I made with only 3/4 of a pound because that was all I have, and I still wanted more sauce, so I'd try with a half lb next time.
sour cream and flaky cheddar biscuits - Yum! Great use for extra sour cream and very tasty!
thick molasses spice cookies - I'm just so-so on molasses cookies, but these were a delight! I enjoyed the extra kick from the crystallized ginger.

[Toni NB · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Deb Perelman. I started following her blog years ago and recently she’s added a YouTube channel. She has an easy going style that I like, her blog reads like a conversation and so low stress and low key. But her recipes are GOOD.

This is her latest book that I received as a Secret Santa gift this past Christmas (yes, I did request only books and my Secret Santa kindly gifted me two).

The table of contents includes:

Breakfast - the baked French toast made my mouth water.
Salad - I was surprisingly impressed with this section and intend to make all the recipes.
Soups/stews - sadly not very impressed with this section as I dearly LOVE soup, I can eat it daily no matter if it’s 98°F, it’s been eyewitnessed.
Vegetables - this was the biggest section with over 2 dozen recipes and was my favorite part of the book.
No, I’m not remotely vegetarian. Bacon should have a trophy.
Meat - and it is indeed almost all meat. One shrimp recipe. No fish recipes.
Sweets - cookies, bars, tarts, cakes. Can’t wait to make her chocolate peanut butter filled cookies.

But the best part of her book?
Every recipe has a full size color photo.

NB: my other book from Secret Santa was The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco. I’ve always wanted to read it.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was thinking earlier this year that there really isn't a need for cookbooks anymore. You pick up a Sweet Dumpling Squash at the grocery, go home and google it, and the next thing you know you're making a tahini sauce to go with it. And for free. And I've been happy, and smug in my way, to do just that. Often times my googling took me to Smitten Kitchen, always with positive results.

Still, I was surprised when this actual cookbook was brought home one day for perusal. I perused. And it was not going back to the store.

I can vouch for the Toasted Ricotta Gnocchi with Pistachio Pesto, the Carrot Tarte Tatin, Slow-simmered Lentils with Kale and Goat Cheese, and Simple Black Bean Chili. Whenever I make chicken wings (Super Bowl Sunday), I will be doing it ala Weeknight Lemon Chicken Wings.

And I haven't even got to breakfasts and desserts yet.

[Kristine]

I 💖 Deb Perlman’s Books. I subscribe to Messages and have both her Cookbooks. Just writing this is making me Hungry.

I posted below a Recipe I was sent.

This is Publishing in November and I Definitely Want It 🥘

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm an experienced, good cook, and my pet peeve in cookbooks is space wasted on things that any cook like me could easily throw together. That's why most of the cookbooks I buy tend to have a theme based on what I tend to cook a lot of (tomatoes, or chicken, or citrus) or to provide specialized instruction (baking sourdough breads, making pasta from scratch, or fermenting). In a general cookbook like this, what I'm looking for is 1) creative ideas that I couldn't think of myself, 2) new-to-me techniques, and 3) perhaps ingredients that I haven't tried before but could have some utility in my general cooking. This cookbook fulfills all three, without the least bit of pretension.

So far, I've cooked (in descending order of my family's and my enjoyment):

1) Ginger garlic chicken noodle soup: WINNER. Everyone liked it. It was full of flavor, homey, and totally satisfying. This is a better version of something I make regularly. Where this departed from my similar quick soup was the concept of making essentially a dipping sauce and adding some of that to the soup in individual portions. There were two intriguing ingredients: black rice vinegar (which I couldn't quickly find and so replaced with regular rice vinegar, but I plan to seek it out because it sounds like a useful/interesting thing to have on hand) and chili crisp. I don't tend to buy spicy chili condiments because I grow lots of hot peppers and dry them every year. When I want spice (which is always), I throw some of those into whatever I'm making or make some sort of quick condiment with them. However, I did try the chili crisp in this soup and it was interesting. I'll experiment more.

2) Pecorino polenta with garlicky kale: ALSO A WINNER. This is super simple and could have easily fit into the category of "obvious and easy meal that doesn't require a cookbook." I've made this meal a hundred times. But, in this recipe, both elements are cooked in the oven. Yes, polenta in the oven! It worked beautifully, which means my polenta-making process is forever changed. No more continuous stirring at the stove for 45 minutes. And the kale in the oven was also a revelation. I enjoyed the crispy bits. Usually, I use parm as a default hard cheese, but I appreciate the use of pecorino as a variation. Big thumbs up.

3) Sour cream and flaky cheddar biscuits: I personally enjoyed these a lot, though I feel obligated to say that the middle was a bit stodgy. The recipe instructs you to basically (sort of) laminate the dough in order to create flaky layers. I'm perfectly willing to assume that the fault was my own and that I didn't manipulate the dough quickly enough (my 5yo was "helping," so.....), or else maybe I took them out too early. My partner is from a state with a lot of biscuit pride, so he wasn't super impressed, though he agreed the flavor was great. I am definitely going to try again.

4) Creamy tomato chickpea masala: This was okay, and I do think it is a bit obvious/something very like stuff I've thrown together a million times, without offering anything additional. I made the variation with half chickpeas, half cauliflower. It was good, it was fine, but if I had not been following a recipe I think I could have given it more flavor, more interesting spicy notes, and more oomph in general (I'm not saying I'm a genius in the kitchen, but I have several Indian cookbooks that explain the use of spices, and without following those techniques any Indian dish is going to be bland and disappointing in comparison).

5) Additional mention: I was planning to make the "green angel hair with garlic butter," but because I didn't actually read the recipe before I started making it, and because I budgeted it as a "quick meal" for a day when we were pressed for time, I wasn't able to follow the recipe after all, which calls for roasting a head of garlic. I ended up just making regular pasta with a garlic/spinach pan sauce. However, the recipe is more intriguing than I initially assumed. You roast the garlic, then you blend it up with spinach and butter to make the sauce, which you then cook with the pasta as with any recipe. I think that sounds fabulous, and it's a nice variation on the typical pasta-making process, which for me has gotten a bit stale. (Bonus is that my kid cannot avoid the spinach!)

UPDATE: The slumped parmesan frittata was also delicious, not a run-of-the-mill frittata.

Based on the recipes I've already made, as well as the mouth-watering table of contents, I think this is going to be a book I use often. Here are some of the recipes I'm planning to make, either asap or when the ingredients are in season:

- Peanut butter, oat, and jam bars (basically peanut butter and jelly in breakfast form, which is great because PB&J is pretty much the only thing my kid eats). UPDATE: These were a hit.

- Peach crumb muffins (peach season can't come around fast enough! I'll be using peaches from my own tree!).

- Cozy chicken and dumplings

- Spinach spiral bread

- Carrot tarte tatin (!!)

- Toasted riccota gnocchi with pistachio pesto

- Creamy coconut rice with chili-lime vegetables

- Mango curd tart (!!!)

Overall, the recipes are practical, unpretentious, interesting, and uncomplicated. I really appreciate this cookbook and recommend it 100%.

UPDATE 7.9.23:

- Peach crumb muffins were delicious. Though I do have to say that the number of peaches (enough to make 1.5 cups of chopped pieces plus 24-36 slices) is going to be higher than the 3 medium-large required in the recipe. (I used my own donut peaches, so those are smaller anyway, and it took 6-7). Also, they needed to bake about 10 minutes longer for me than the recipe suggests.

- Cozy chicken and dumplings was also delicious. It's basic, but a good recipe to have around.

- Green angel hair with garlic butter: We call this "Grinch spaghetti" in our house, and it's a reliable hit. It can feel a bit heavy, though, so I began substituting some of the butter for olive oil, and nobody has noticed.

- Charred salt and vinegar cabbage: It's okay, it's good cabbage, but there are a lot of steps to get to it. If you have time for a medium-effort side dish, it's good.

- Spinach spiral bread: This is a high-effort bread with "eh" results. I liked it all right but nobody else did. I won't make this one again.

- Toasted ricotta gnocchi with pistachio pesto: Winner. I served with a vegetable. Maybe a bit on the salty side (note for next time). Heavy so best for winter.

- Slow-roasted chicken with schmaltzy croutons: I love chicken, particularly when paired with light vegetables and lemon, so this really hit the spot for me. My partner thought it was okay. I'll make it again when I have enough time.

- Perfect meatballs and spaghetti: I'm not a big meatball person, but everyone else in my house is so I tried it. It was a good basic recipe.

- Thick molasses spice cookies: Great. She really means take them out when they still seem raw, and it's really true that they aren't raw.

- Better-than-classic pound cake: The book hypes this one up a lot, but I thought it was just okay. For me, pound cake is supposed to be kind of dense and heavy (maybe I'm wrong?), and this was lighter and drier.

- Pecorino polenta with garlicky kale: I've made this multiple times since my original review, but I started pairing it with braised pork. My partner thought the polenta and kale alone weren't enough for a whole meal, and the pork makes it really special. Whether you eat it plain, add meat, add tomato sauce or anything else, I still think this method of making polenta in the oven is awesome and saves a lot of time.

This continues to be one of my top practical cookbooks. I reach for it often and have made several recipes multiple times (the chicken soup I originally reviewed above, the Grinch spaghetti, the polenta and kale), and I know I haven't yet exhausted what it has to offer.

[Vanessa Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook! I usually check out a stack of cookbooks from the library and end up trying very few of the recipes, but I loved cooking out of this book. The green angel hair pasta with garlic butter was a hit with my kids. Deb is the best!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all the Smitten Kitchen cookbooks. The recipes are accessible and there are photographs of everything. You want to try each one, but her vegetable and dessert recipes remain my favorite.

[Brynna King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in my “cookbook reading era” and have stumbled upon my favorite cookbook of all time.
I laughed, I salivated and I dog-eared just about every darn page to make over the course of the next year, but really could be like the next 3 months, all the recipes look that good. Deb’s writing is hilarious, practical and she takes out so much of the fuss that busy people who also are picky about only eating good, worthwhile food (me) need in their lives.
Highly, highly recommend!

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m not a religious reader of the Smitten Kitchen blog, but I recognized what the book title referred to, so I thought why not to requesting it. That said, I have no idea if the recipes here are repeats from the blog or new for the cookbook.

If the rambling at the beginning of cooking blogs irritates you, this cookbook is not for you. If you like Midwest simple meals, this cookbook is not for you. If you have a picky kiddo to feed, this cookbook is not for you.

However, if you like bright and vibrant flavor combos, this cookbook IS for you. If you aren’t afraid to try a cooking technique beyond the dusty air fryer, this cookbook IS for you. If you have an adventurous family to feed, this cookbook IS for you.

One thing I do wish it did, was number the steps in the instructions. It makes it more reader-friendly, especially for neurodivergent brains.

[Mary Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cookbook, helped me get out of a cooking rut. I used to try out Smitten Kitchen recipes before kids so it was fun to revisit. The turkey meatloaf and smashed potatoes were a crowd pleaser (win!) We liked the cottage cheese, tomato, bagel seasoning snack/lunch. My husband loved the pulled pork even though at first he was skeptical that I was cooking it in the oven. Lastly I had to make the green pasta from the cover…it was delicious. I used thin pasta and wish I har used angel hair. There is no better smell that garlic roasting. I had to return the book back to the library but I’ll revisit it again in the fall and for sure make the French onion soup and other cold weather dishes.

[Laura]

I haven’t made any of the recipes yet, but I bookmarked every single one in the salad chapter and the vegetables chapter, which is a pretty promising start! Think comfort food vibes with creative panache, while feeling totally achievable for the home cook. Stay tuned for an update after I’ve done some cooking from this trove… my biggest problem being which recipe to start with!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not normally write reviews for anything in a public forum, but this book warrants a few moments to tell everyone else that this cookbook is necessary.

I have been following Smitten Kitchen for quite awhile on social media, and each of Deb’s recipes on her blog have been achievable, with ingredients you normally have on hand- each yielding delicious results.

This cookbook is full of recipes just like that… I have cooked two this week alone that have made me count the minutes until I could devour the leftovers.

Deb, you knocked it out of the park- this book is truly one for your forever shelf.

[Catherine Morse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Smitten Kitchen recipes. I especially loved the Caramelized Cinnamon Sugar French Toast!

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many in here I’m excited to try! The formatting wasn’t my favorite, but also love the tone of the book and humor in it. Photography looks delicious too haha!

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love you Deb

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deb is one of my favorite people on the internet, and I have a whole long list of recipes from this book I’m dying to make.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cookbook is for you - if you have time to cook on the weekend and don’t have any picky eaters in your house. The recipes look delicious but most people won’t make them. I’ll try the falafel, creamy tomato masala soup and the charred salt & vinegar cabbage. Three recipes isn’t worth $35 for me. You might want to borrow this from your local library or go to the author’s blog where most of these recipes can be found.

[Lydia Segui · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want Deb Perlman to have me over for dinner and be my best friend. I have all three of her cookbooks and they just get better and better. I love her idea behind “keepers” because these recipes are tried and true. Her passion for cooking is so obvious in all her work, but this book seems more personal and heartfelt. She’s amazing.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It pains me, deeply, to say I didn't love this book.

I liked it. I thought it was pretty good. I would still recommend it. But I LOVE Smitten Kitchen (and Deb herself) and I know she thinks of this book as the one she was meant to write, cook, publish. So I had pretty high expectations. And then everything I made from it was...pretty good? I'll eat the leftovers without complaint but I likely won't make them again. Which is, unfortunately, the exact opposite of what the subtitle promises.

:/

[Karen Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well rounded, accessible cookbook with a bunch of modern classics, achievable at home with minimum skills…. A great addition to a cookbook shelf.

[Jenifer Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, zucchini lasagna is my fave. So many yummy recipes!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been following Deb Perelman since Smitten Kitchen was just a blog. I own one of her cookbooks and use several recipes regularly, so I was excited to check out her newest cookbook. Perelman explains that when she first started cooking more she kept running into recipes that didn't work, so her blog was her attempt to share the recipes she found worked best. And this cookbook is a collection of recipes that make cooking easier and more enjoyable. Not necessarily "basic" recipes, but just ones Perelman has found herself going back to again and again. Organized like a traditional cookbook with chapters for breakfast, vegetables, meats, dessert, etc. Several of the recipes have notes with tips that make that dish easier - what can be prepared ahead of time, does it freeze well, etc. There are several recipes I'd like to try. Overall, another great cookbook from Deb Perelman and her Smitten Kitchen.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deceptively inventive and totally delicious...

A 100 recipes that are easy to prepare and make, with streamlined ingedients (most you have on hand) .
Incredibly simple in design and dishes you want to make and eat.
I particularly was partial to the spaghetti and meatballs, the tomato and corn cobbler and the desserts. From breakfast, to salads, mains and desserts, this cookbook as it all. Truly keepers you will make over and over again because they are deceptively inventive and totally delicious and easy. A good layout with tempting photos, you, too, will be smitten.
Recommend.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was supposed to be a Christmas present, but I couldn’t wait to start cooking from it. I love reading Deb’s intros to all the recipes and as the title states- her recipes really are keepers. Hers are one of the few books I still cook from instead of a recipe off the internet. So happy to have another Smitten Kitchen cookbook in my library!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all my Smitten Kitchen cookbooks and this was in no exception. Enjoyable to read and enjoyable to cook from. Recipes we enjoyed were Ginger Garlic Chicken Noodle Soup and Winter Squash Soup with Red Onion Crisp (amazing!). We liked the Falafel, Weeknight Lemon Chicken Wings, Crushed Ranch-y Potatoes, and Apple Butterscotch Crisp. We were slightly less impressed with the Turkey Meatloaf and Carrot Cake. There are definitely more recipes from the book to try and enjoy.

[Anie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, this is a good cookbook. Nearly everything in here makes my mouth water just reading about it, and as usual, Deb hits it out of the park with reliable recipes that don't make you want to tear your hair out with the amount of time and effort they take. Many of these recipes really truly are keepers -- things you make once and know you'll be returning to again and again. And then you make them again next week.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This took me years and years to finish READING. Deb's words are almost even better than her recipes. Despite the delay in reading the whole thing, this cookbook does have recipes I have used individually over the years, all to great success. They are, indeed, keepers. I made one more this week and look forward to so many more. What a great cookbook!

[Chessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ran out of time to do a lot of cooking from this, but it seems like a lovely cookbook with reliable recipes that we have come to expect from such a standout as Deb Perelman. A great addition to any public library collection, readers will recognize Perelman from her popular blog Smitten Kitchen.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it so much! This is the cookbook I’ll be cooking out or for the foreseeable future 💕 when I got it, I immediately made 1 recipe, and had two more tee’d-up for the next day! Almost every recipe is something different that has me immediately intrigued, and that I’d want to make!

[Kim Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the organization of this book, especially the sheer number of vegetable forward recipes. I’ve made the chicken with rice, tomatoes, and chorizo, the slow simmered lentils with kale and goat cheese, and the baked orzo with artichokes. All exceptionally yummy! I’m excited to try the pecorino polenta next.