A vegan diet can be a great way to get your daily nutrients and improve your overall health as well as helping lots of animals. But cooking vegan meals at home, or even ordering them in restaurants, can be difficult if you are new to the lifestyle. With that said, there are some essential cookbooks out there for those who want to expand their cooking skills when it comes to plant-based cuisine. In this blog post we will list 21 of our favorite cookbooks available in 2021.
Best Cookbook for Exploring New Ingredients
Color Me Vegan by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Eat your way to healthier living with these 150 color-themed recipes! A rainbow of plant-based cuisine is waiting for you in Colleen Patrick-Goudreau‘s book which shows how each natural food, from ruby red fruits to earthy brown grains, can be expertly prepared and harness the antioxidant power behind every color. When it comes time for dinner or lunch try one of these color inspired recipes! A very clever way to explore ingredients and get out of a rut.
Favorite dish: Six-Shades-of-Red Soup
Best General Cookbook for New Vegans
Isa Does It: Amazingly Easy, Wildly Delicious Vegan Recipes for Every Day of the Week by Isa Chandra Muskovitz
A comprehensive vegan cookbook, Isa has the perfect dish for any meal. Whether you need a quick and easy lunch or want to throw an elaborate dinner party – this is your go-to guide! Every page offers something new with over 200 recipes that are wholesome yet satisfying and made with easily available ingredients.
Favorite dish: Rosemary Chocolate Chip Cookies
Best Cookbook for Cooking Everything from Scratch
The Homemade Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples by Miyoko Schinner
A guide to creating vegan versions of staple ingredients to stock your fridge and pantry – from dairy and meat substitutes such as vegan yogurt, butter, mayo, bacon, cheese, pancakes mix, crackers, pasta sauces and cookies. Kitchen crafters know the pleasure of making their own staples or specialty foods so enjoy a more natural approach to eating. Perfect for those who are sick buying over processed products and yearn to create less waste. Join the homemade revolution!
Favorite dish: Almond feta cheese
Best Cookbook for Impressing Someone Special
Vegan 100: Over 100 Incredible Recipes from Avant-Garde Vegan by Gaz Oakley
Gaz is a professional chef with a very successful YouTube channel. Because of his background you know that the food will be very flavorful. The ingredients are easy to come by, but there are lots of steps, some of which are rather time consuming. This book is perfect to impress someone special or for a dinner party.
Favorite dish: Kentucky Fried Chick’n
Best Cookbook for Comfort Food
Rachel Ama’s Vegan Eats by Rachel Ama
Rachel takes inspiration from naturally vegan dishes and cuisines as well as her Caribbean and West African roots to create great full-flavor recipes that are easy to make. The ingredients lists for the meals are short, supermarket friendly, and in a fun twist Rachel has included a song with each recipe so you have an epic playlist of music while cooking up these delicious plates!
Favorite dish: Red Thai curry noodles
Best Cookbook to Master your Pressure Cooker
The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook: Wholesome, Indulgent Plant-Based Recipes Made in the Instant Pot by Nisha Vora
A must-have cookbook for any Instant Pot owner, Nisha provides the reader with over 90 recipes that are both not only delicious but also nourishing. The book includes a comprehensive guide to using an Instant Pot electric cooker as well as many recipes including dessert. Yes… Dessert in a pressure cooker. Whether you’re looking for something simple like rosemary and garlic white beans or more complex such as blueberry cheesecake, this is the perfect recipe book for you.
Favourite dish: Homemade coconut yogurt
Best Cookbook for Authentic Indian Food
Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook by Richa Hingle
From delightful dals to rich curries, flatbreads, savory breakfasts, snacks and much more, this vegan cookbook brings you Richa Hingle’s collection of plant-based Indian recipes inspired by Indian regional cuisines. These tantalizing dishes are sure to be a staple in your kitchen. Richa is a cook who makes authentic Indian cooking accessible to everyone. Discover the secrets behind her eclectic Indian dishes and taste some mouth-watering desserts that are sure to become your new favorites!
Favorite dish: Dal makani
Best Cookbook for African and Carribean Food
Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry
From Jamaican jerk tofu and Trinidadian-style coucou to Ethiopian spiced lentils, this cookbook is a collection of both classic recipes as well as fresh takes on old favorites. The African diaspora has long been known for its vibrant cuisine full of flavor thanks in part to the many different cultures that have come together over time on the continent. In Afro Vegan renowned chef Bryant Terry reworks and remixes some favorite staples from his culture such as curries made with Caribbean spices or southern fried chicken sandwiches into vegan dishes without sacrificing any taste. Meet Bryant and see him cook one of his recipes.
Favorite dish: Peach glazed pearl onions
Best Cookbook for Keto Vegans
Vegan Keto by Liz Macdowell
Liz MacDowell has created a book of recipes that will satisfy any vegan and keto dieters needs. The unique approach in Vegan Keto, harnesses the health benefits from both lifestyles to offer a weight loss strategy by eating healthy fats with plant-based proteins. Liz dispels myths about combining these two diets and offers strategies for achieving success while making sure not to exclude either lifestyle choices. Hear Liz talk about keto diet made vegan.
Favorite dish: Almond butter and raspberry chia pudding
Best Cookbook for Whole Foods Plant Based cooking
Forks Over Knives—The Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Plant-Based Eating All Through the Year by Del Sroufe
The companion cookbook to the 2011 book Forks Over Knives, this will help you put all that knowledge into action. The cookbook is divided into chapters like breakfasts, salads, soups, wraps etc and the ingredients are very easy to find and perfect for those wanting to use a whole foods plant based diet to try to treat, prevent and reverse chronic health conditions. See lasagna cooked Forks Over Knives style.
Favorite dish: Brown Lentil Stew with avocado salsa
Best Cookbook to Go Vegan
30 Day Vegan Challenge by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Part cookbook, part friend, part teacher, this book is a great guide for anyone who wants to make the transition from either vegetarian or omnivore. The author gently helps readers connect to their compassion and guides them through how they can do it in an easy, healthful, affordable way as well as providing some important nutrition information. There are also valuable tips on eating out at restaurants and speaking with family members about veganism that’ll come in handy! Watch Colleen make the Pasta Alfredo recipe from the book.
Favorite dish: Smoky White Bean Chowder
Best Cookbook for Baking
Vegan Baking for Beginners: 75 Recipes for Sweet and Savory Treats by JL Fields
Get your oven preheating and check out these delicious recipes that will leave friends begging for more. From cakes to pies – we have all of them here with comprehensive recipe labels in order to make it easy on any allergy or preference.
With the help of this specialized vegan cookbook, you’ll learn how to bake your favorite dishes without animal products. Learn everything from baking basics with egg replacement options and tips for beginner bakers like avoiding over-mixing dough or getting cookies spread too thin. This book also includes a troubleshooting guide that will show you what happened if there’s an issue in your recipe so it can be corrected! See JL talking about her baking book.
Favorite recipes: Easy baklava
Best Cookbook to Convince Die Hard Meat Eaters
The Edgy Veg: 138 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes by Candice Hutchings
Tired of the same ol’ thing, Candice started veganizing all her favorite childhood cravings and food-nerd obsessions. With recipes ranging from UnOrthodox Lox & Cream Cheese Bagels to Cobb Your Enthusiasm Salad, this book has something for everyone! Enjoy favorites like Buffalo Cauliflower Wings 7 Ways or Easy Cheesy Fondue without any guilt because no foods are off limits in these delicious dishes that have been approved by a serious carnivore. Watch the cookbook trailer.
Favourite dish: Easy cheese fondue
Best Cookbook for the Italian Classics
Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen: 150 Pizzas, Pastas, Pestos, Risottos, & Lots of Creamy Italian Classic by Chloe Coscarelli
Chloe’s fresh, vegan take on classic Italian cuisine is illustrated by gorgeous full-color photographs throughout the book. With Chloe’s vibrant personality, every page of this cookbook being colorful and inviting, you’ll want to explore Italy through Chloe’s eyes with her delicious recipes! Vegans can enjoy their favorite Italian comfort foods once again! Chloe’s Potato Gnocchi, Lasagna Bolognese, and Eggplant Parmesan are back on the menu. For dessert enjoy Chocolate-Dipped Almond Biscotti and Italian Wedding Cake as well as Banana Coffee Cupcakes with Pomegranate Mint Italian Soda that will be sure to win over even the most omnivorous of eaters. Watch an in-depth review.
Favourite dish: Tiramisu
Best Cookbook for Aspiring Cheesemakers
Vegan Cheese: Simple, Delicious, Plant-Based Cheese Recipes by Jules Aron
There is a new wave to cheese, and it’s vegan! Jules Aron shares tips on making sauces, cheeses that can be grated or sliced, and soft spreadable options. From rich Bries to the sharp and firm Cheddar, Jules Aron has you covered. For nut and soy-free people, there is something here for everyone! Watch Jules launch party for the book.
Favourite dish: Camembert!
Best Cookbook for Soul Food
Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul : A Cookbook by Jenne Claiborne
In Sweet Potato Soul, Jenné revives the long tradition of soul food using fresh, local ingredients creatively. In dishes like Coconut Collard Salad and Fried Cauliflower Chicken she incorporates new flavors with Peach Date BBQ Jackfruit Sliders or Sweet Potato-Tahini Cookies that celebrate her plant-based roots. She updates classics such as Jalapeño Hush Puppies. Meet Jenne see her cooking some recipes from her cookbook.
Favourite dishes: Coconut collard salad
Best Cookbook for those on a Budget
Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week, in Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal by Toni Okamoto
Toni has been teaching hundreds of thousands of people how to eat a plant-strong diet and live on less money. With Plant-Based On A Budget, going vegan is not only an attainable goal but the best choice for your health, the planet—and your wallet! Toni’s guidance doesn’t just help you save time or money-it helps with both! Every recipe in this book can be ready in around 30 minutes or less. See Toni’s style of cooking.
Favourite dishes: Banana Zucchini pancakes
Best Cookbook for the Best Salads
Salad Samurai: 100 Cutting-Edge, Ultra-Hearty, Easy-to-Make Salads You Don’t Have to Be Vegan to Love by Terry Hope Romero
Terry Hope Romero is the savior of those who only want to eat inspiring salads. When you’re looking for fresh, innovative salad recipes that will make your taste buds dance then Terry’s book Salad Samurai should be right up on top of your list! See Jenne make one of the recipes from the book.
Favorite dishes: Smoky, sriracha pecans
Best Cookbook for the Gym Rat
The High-Protein Vegan Cookbook: 125+ Hearty Plant-Based Recipes by Ginny Kay McMeans
With more than 125 protein-rich, plant-based recipes, this book proves that vegans don’t have to skimp on the protein. The High Protein Vegan Cookbook highlights how you can build muscle and lose weight with a vegan diet. See one of Ginny’s high protein recipes.
Favourite dishes: Toasted protein mushroom rolls
Best Cookbook for Raising Vegan Kids
The Vegucated Family Table: Irresistible Vegan Recipes and Proven Tips for Feeding Plant-Powered Babies, Toddlers, and Kids by Marisa Miller Wolfson and Laura Delhauer
The Vegucated Family Table is the first to focus on raising vegans “from scratch,” from five months through to elementary school. With more than 125 rigorously tested recipes for beloved dishes like Baby Mac-o-Lantern and Cheeze, Chickpea Sweet Potato Croquettes, PBJ Smoothie Bowl, Tempeh Tacos and so much more this book will become a go-to reference for parents raising vegan children. See lots of families and kids making recipes from the book.
Favorite recipes: Thumbprint cookies
Best Cookbook for Those with no Time
Fast Easy Cheap Vegan: 101 Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less, for $10 or Less, and with 10 Ingredients or Less! By Sam Turnball
Some people think that veganism can be too time-consuming, but with Sam Turnbull’s cookbook “Fast Easy Cheap Vegan” we get to see just how simple it can be. In each of the recipes she shares in her book you only need 10 ingredients or less and they are all inexpensive! With a focus on quick cooking times for comfort foods like chili con carne and grilled cheese sandwiches these wholesome meals will keep everyone happy from your kids who don’t want anything green to adults craving something comforting after work. This book and its recipes are perfect for those who have a busy schedule. With many of the ingredients found in most grocery stores, these dishes will quickly become your favorite go-to meals. See Sam’s cooking style.
Favorite recipes: DIY Instant Ramen Soup
Let’s Discuss!
We’d love to hear from you! Do you have a favorite cookbook? Any that we forgot? Do you agree/disagree with our list? Let us know in the comments below!
