Cookbook: A book with meals they look forward to making

A recipe they can imagine making

A favourite meal, a cuisine they are curious about or a technique they want to practise can point you towards the right book. Start there rather than choosing purely by the author's popularity.

If a contents page or sample recipe is available, read it with the recipient's kitchen in mind. Ingredients, equipment and preparation time can determine whether the book becomes useful or simply sits on a shelf. Someone beginning may value clear steps; a confident cook may want more depth.

Match the recipes to their life, including dietary requirements and how many people they cook for. A gift book should support their interests, not hint that they need to change their eating habits.

Choose the copy as well as the title

• Check the edition's measurement units and ingredient terminology.

• Look at readable type, page layout and a format they will enjoy using beside the worktop.

• Check for books they already own, including earlier editions with similar titles.

• Choose the actual cooking subject instead of assuming every cookbook covers baking or batch cooking.

At Christmas, a note about a recipe you would enjoy making together can give the book a personal beginning. A shared meal can be the useful extra without adding tools they have not asked for.

A recipe book for Diwali

Start with a cooking interest they have expressed. A book about Indian food may suit someone who wants it, but the occasion does not establish their preferred cuisine or experience. Compare recipes, dietary needs and the edition before choosing a present for their kitchen.

For other presents to suit the visit, browse our Diwali gift guide.