Few modern chefs have reshaped the way people think about cooking at home like Samin Nosrat. With her 2017 bestselling debut, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Nosrat became not only a cookbook author but a beloved teacher, Netflix star, and cultural figure whose warmth and clarity of instruction turned kitchen novices into confident cooks.
Now, she returns with her most personal project yet: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love (Catapult, September 16, 2025). At once a cookbook, a guide to living, and a celebration of community, Good Things brings together 125 recipes, cooking rituals, and reflections designed to foster connection, comfort, and joy.
Already a New York Times bestseller and a #1 Best Seller in Celebrity & TV Show Cookbooks, it is one of the most anticipated cookbooks of the year.
Shop Good Things Cookbook
A Cookbook About More Than Just Food
At its heart, Good Things isn’t just a collection of recipes. It is about rituals, traditions, and the thread of connection that food weaves between people.
Nosrat herself writes: “Recipes, like rituals, endure because they’re passed down to us—whether by ancestors, neighbors, friends, strangers on the internet, or me to you. A written recipe is just a shimmering decoy for the true inheritance: the thread of connection that cooking it will unspool.”
This ethos defines the entire book. Whether it’s a comforting bowl of soup for a grieving friend, a cake for a birthday celebration, or a dinner party squeezed into a too-small apartment, Nosrat shows how cooking nourishes both the body and the soul.
The Recipes: 125 Dishes That Nourish and Delight
Good Things includes over 125 recipes, each tested, refined, and written with Nosrat’s trademark clarity. They cover everyday essentials, celebratory showstoppers, and deeply personal dishes that reveal her culinary journey.
Highlights include:
- Ricotta Custard Pancakes – light, fluffy, and weekend-perfect.
- Saffron-Burnished Roast Chicken – an elegant centerpiece infused with vibrant spice.
- Calabrian Chili Crisp – crunchy, spicy, and tingly, a condiment that elevates everything.
- Sky-High Focaccia – a chewy, bubbly bread that becomes the star of any meal.
- Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting – a childhood-evoking dessert perfected over decades.
These recipes showcase Nosrat’s range: from rustic comfort foods to globally inspired flavors, always grounded in careful technique and joy.
Shop Good Things Cookbook
Lessons, Tips, and Kitchen Wisdom
Like Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, Good Things doubles as a teaching guide. Throughout the book, Nosrat offers techniques, insights, and practical wisdom that empower home cooks.
Some memorable lessons include:
- How to buy olive oil – always check the harvest date for freshness.
- When to splurge – use your best ingredients in salad dressings, where quality shines.
- Best uses for a pressure cooker – chicken stock and dulce de leche, two essentials made simple.
These details reinforce Nosrat’s reputation as both a teacher and a companion in the kitchen. Her generosity of spirit makes readers feel guided, never lectured.
Rituals of Cooking and Living
What sets Good Things apart from most cookbooks is its focus on rituals and sharing. Recipes are framed not just as instructions but as moments of connection:
- A pot of soup becomes a gesture of comfort.
- A cake becomes a celebration of friendship.
- A shared meal becomes a ritual of belonging.
In this way, the book feels as much about how to live as how to cook. It reminds readers that food is a vessel for love, memory, and togetherness.
Shop Good Things Cookbook
Why Good Things Matters
Good Things captures the cultural moment. After years of uncertainty and disconnection, Nosrat presents a vision of cooking as a practice of healing and community. The book resonates because it offers:
- Comfort – simple dishes that warm and console.
- Connection – rituals that bring people together.
- Creativity – inventive recipes and new flavor combinations.
- Confidence – practical lessons that build lifelong cooking skills.
It’s a book designed not just to sit on the shelf, but to be lived with and cooked from daily.
Critical Acclaim
Even before release, Good Things has drawn praise from critics and fellow chefs alike. Many see it as the natural continuation of Nosrat’s mission to democratize good cooking.
Alice Waters, mentor and culinary legend, has called her “America’s next great cooking teacher.” Publications such as GQ, Literary Hub, and Our Culture Magazine have listed it among the most anticipated books of 2025.
Early reader reviews emphasize the warmth, clarity, and soulfulness of the book, with over 60 ratings averaging 4.6 stars.
Shop Good Things Cookbook
Comparing Good Things to Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat
Fans inevitably compare Good Things to Nosrat’s first book, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat. While both share her clear teaching voice and deep love of food, they serve different purposes:
- Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat – a technical masterclass on the fundamentals of flavor.
- Good Things – a personal, soulful collection of recipes and rituals meant to be lived and shared.
Together, they form a complementary pair: one builds skills, the other builds memories.
Photography and Design
The book’s visual beauty comes from Aya Brackett, whose photography captures both food and the emotions around it. From the golden crust of focaccia to the communal joy of a crowded table, the images elevate the recipes into celebrations of life itself.
The design is clean, inviting, and vibrant, making Good Things as pleasurable to read as it is to cook from.
Shop Good Things Cookbook
Who Will Love Good Things?
This cookbook is perfect for:
- Fans of Samin Nosrat who loved Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
- Home cooks looking for reliable, flavorful recipes.
- Hosts and entertainers who enjoy creating rituals around meals.
- Anyone seeking joy through cooking, connection, and food rituals.
It bridges the gap between instruction and inspiration, offering both practical know-how and heartfelt meaning.
Book Details
- Title: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love
- Author: Samin Nosrat
- Photographer: Aya Brackett
- Publisher: Catapult
- Release Date: September 16, 2025
- Pages: 272
- Format: Hardcover & Ebook
- ISBN: 9781646222773
- Category: Celebrity & TV Show Cookbooks
Final Thoughts
With Good Things, Samin Nosrat has created more than a cookbook. She has crafted a guide to living with joy, generosity, and connection through food. With 125 flavor-forward recipes, practical lessons, and reflections on rituals, it’s a book that feeds both the stomach and the soul.
Whether you’re making a weeknight soup, planning a celebratory feast, or simply seeking comfort in the kitchen, Good Things will meet you with warmth, clarity, and inspiration.
This is not just a cookbook — it’s a celebration of life’s simplest, most profound pleasures.
Shop Good Things Cookbook
FAQ
- Who is the author of Good Things?
Samin Nosrat, bestselling author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat and one of America’s most beloved cooking teachers. - How many recipes are included?
125 meticulously tested recipes spanning comfort food, celebration dishes, and global flavors. - What makes this cookbook unique?
Its focus on rituals, connection, and joy — framing recipes as opportunities for shared experiences. - When is Good Things released?
September 16, 2025. - What are some standout recipes?
Saffron-burnished roast chicken, ricotta custard pancakes, Calabrian chili crisp, sky-high focaccia, and yellow cake with chocolate frosting. - Does it include cooking tips?
Yes, with insights on olive oil, pressure cookers, ingredient quality, and more. - How does it compare to Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat?
That book focused on fundamentals; this one emphasizes recipes, rituals, and shared cooking experiences. - Who is the photographer?
Aya Brackett, whose vibrant photography enhances the book’s warmth and beauty. - Is it beginner-friendly?
Yes, recipes are approachable and guided by Nosrat’s clear, encouraging instructions.
