Libro de cocina vs. recetario
The Spanish words 'libro de cocina' and 'recetario' both refer to a collection of recipes, but they convey slightly different concepts. While both are used to compile recipes, their usage depends on the context and the content structure.
Libro de cocina
A cookbook that often includes detailed information about the cultural background or origins of the dishes, tips, techniques, and possibly pictures of finished meals.
Me regalaron un libro de cocina italiano para mi cumpleaños.
(I was given an Italian cookbook for my birthday.)
El libro de cocina contiene una sección dedicada a la historia de la comida mexicana.
(The cookbook contains a section dedicated to the history of Mexican food.)
Recetario
Usually refers to a simpler list or compilation of recipes, primarily focused on ingredients and instructions without many additional features.
Mi abuela siempre usaba su antiguo recetario para preparar la cena.
(My grandmother always used her old recipe book to prepare dinner.)
Encontré un recetario online con una variedad de opciones veganas.
(I found an online recipe book with a variety of vegan options.)
Summary
'Libro de cocina' is most commonly used when talking about professionally published cookbooks that often include additional details beyond just recipes such as cooking tips, stories and images. 'Recetario', on the other hand, typically refers to simpler collections of recipes, focusing more on the practical aspect with less emphasis on design or additional context. These differences can vary depending on regional uses of Spanish.