Something from Nothing: A Cookbook
About this product
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Something from Nothing is Alison Roman’s latest book featuring over 100 deceptively simple, casually stylish, impossibly delicious recipes that make the most of your pantry. A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, THE ECONOMIST, LIT HUB • A BON APPÉTIT BEST COOKBOOK OF THE YEAR
In Something from Nothing, bestselling author Alison Roman gives you a collection of simple, smart, timeless recipes that rely on a home cook's best kept secret: a well-stocked pantry. Making the most of your shelf-stable bottles, bags, jars and cans, Alison shows you how to cook as she does–loosely, intuitively, and with maximum flavor. With each recipe you’ll fall deeper in love with the magic of pantry cooking by using flavorful, hardworking ingredients, leaving you to ask, “How did something so wonderful come from basically nothing?”. In this book, you’ll find warm, opinionated writing coupled with classic recipes, both with signature Alison flair, such as:Snacks and Things to Start with: Herbed Artichoke Dip; Spanish Tortilla & Friends; and Labne with Caramelized Harissa
Soups & Stews: Kimchi-Tomato Soup with Rice & a Soft Egg; Golden Mushroom Soup with Orzo & a Pat of Butter; and Ginger & Greens Noodle Soup
Vegetables & How to Make Them Taste Even Better: Forever-Roasted Squash with Browned Butter Dates; Wine-Braised Romano Beans with Anchovy; and Spiced, Butter-Roasted Carrots with Walnuts
Pasta & Noodles: Saucy Roasted Eggplant Pasta; Bolognese with Fennel; and Carbonara for Two
Beans & Grains: Crispy Baked Beans with Mushrooms & Parmesan; Buttered Polenta with Fresh Corn; Caramelized Beans with Tomato & Cabbage
Meats & Fishes: Crushed-Olive Chicken with Turmeric; Steak Like Tartare; Crispy Fish with Dill & Fried Capers
Whether you’re feeding yourself on a busy weeknight or hosting a last-minute dinner party, this book has just what you need. For easy, straightforward recipes that still impress, Something from Nothing has you covered, showing you how to turn every bag of beans, tin of anchovies and jar of olives into a meal worth celebrating. Read more
Editor's Take
Amazon and Target reviewers describe Something from Nothing: A Cookbook as approachable, practical, and especially good for pantry-driven cooking. One Target reviewer says the recipes are easy to follow and use ingredients they usually have on hand. Goodreads readers echo that it feels cookable, budget-friendly, and full of recipes that make them want to cook right away.
On Reddit, cookbook communities praise the book’s accessibility and say it works well for complete weeknight meals. Several users note that Alison Roman’s writing style is still engaging and that the book feels useful for home cooks who want flexible, low-fuss dinners. A Reddit thread also mentions that some recipes may feel familiar to longtime fans, but readers still recommend the book overall.
Review blogs and book-focused sites generally frame it as a smart, satisfying pantry cookbook that delivers on its premise of making dinner from shelf-stable ingredients. Overall, the customer sentiment skews strongly positive, with the main recurring themes being practicality, flavor, and ease of use.
Price History
Specifications
| Publisher | Clarkson Potter |
| Publication date | November 11, 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 320 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1984826417 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1984826411 |
| Item Weight | 2.94 pounds |
| Dimensions | 8.3 x 1.13 x 10.26 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank | #3,646 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #9 in Budget Cooking #12 in Cooking for One or Two #21 in Cooking by Ingredient |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (301) |
