Best Vegetarian Cookbook
Have you been considering a transition to a more plant-based diet? Are you wondering how to make vegetables every day without becoming boring? If you are already vegetarian, are you looking for a few new recipes to shake things up a bit?
There is a wide variety of vegetarian cookbooks available online, and some are more useful than others. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular and highly recommended vegetarian cookbooks available on the market today.
1. Editor’s Pick: La Vida Verde: Plant-Based Mexican Cooking with Authentic Flavor
This cookbook by Jocelyn Ramirez can help make your vegan cooking fresh and colorful. The authentic, time-honored Mexican recipes are easy to follow and approachable, and include delicious offerings such as mushroom cocktail, jackfruit tacos, and chocolate bread pudding – yum!
Ramirez, the chef and founder of a catering company called Todo Verde, has transformed 60 traditional dishes she learned from her grandmother while growing up into wonderful plant-based meals you and your family are sure to love. The recipes make a few vegan substitutions that are simple, healthy, and affordable, and still taste authentic, spicy, and savory. Even die-hard meat eaters will love these recipes.
For people who grew up on Mexican food, or love that type of cuisine, but want to go vegan, this cookbook will make the transition so much easier. Many people, including those of Mexican descent, love this book for its authentic taste and simplicity in use.
Aside from the wonderful recipes, the book itself is a gem to look at. The photos are beautiful, the layout is intuitive, and the binding is top notch.
One drawback is the recipes rely heavily on jackfruit, and some users would have preferred other authentic Mexican plant-based alternatives and more creativity.
Pros
- Written by Jocelyn Ramirez, a chef and founder of catering company Todo Verde
- Includes authentic Mexican recipes that make vegan cooking more fresh and colorful
- Transforms 60 authentic meals into wonderful plant-based alternatives
- Incorporates vegan substitutions that are simple, healthy, spicy, and savory
- Makes the transition to vegan cuisine much easier
- Includes beautiful photos, with an intuitive and easy to follow layout
Cons
- Recipes rely heavily on jackfruit
2. Runner Up: How to Cook Everything Vegetarian Tenth Edition
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman was one of the first way of new, Vegetarian focused cookbooks from the early 2010s. The tenth edition of this cookbook included gorgeous full-colour photos designed to inspire chefs as much as inform.
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian also included a host of updated charts, substitutions and the like. The author and publisher also built out the vegan options as well, and includes a brand new chapter on smoothies and tea. The language is also super accessible for those just getting started. Bittman himself has over 30 years of experience in food writing and has won 6 James Beard Awards. It’s safe to say he knows his stuff. The only caveat here is that the formatting for the Kindle version appears to lack significant functionality. In particular the search function is difficult to use and often results in having to wade through pages manually. This however could be fixed in a future update.
With that said, the cookbook does struggle a little when it comes to more complex offerings. This isn’t a bad thing by any stretch as it provides loads of vegetarian tips and tricks. Just don’t expect to find anything too far off the beaten path.
Pros
- Accessible language.
- Gorgeous photography.
- Excellent, learner-oriented tools like charts and temperature guides.
- Robust offering of basic vegetarian recipes.
- New chapters and additional vegan options to celebrate the 10th
Cons
- Kindle version has functionality issues.
3. Best Afro-Inspired: Afro-Vegan: Farm Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed
Afro-Vegan: Farm Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavours covers an incredible range of recipes. Bryant Terry gives us over 100 recipes inspired by three very different areas. Better yet, Afro-Vegan has also been named one of the best Vegetarian Cookbooks of all time by Bon Appetit.
Terry dives deep into Kenyan specialities, Brazilian classics, and Southern twists. This is also a great resource for this looking to up their cook up game. Many of the recipes scale up extremely well. The fact that there’s a drinks section to boot is just another plus. The big draw here is Afro-Vegan’s breadth of creativity. This is quite literally the definition of fusion.
One area where Afro-Vegan stumbles is with daily recipes. Many of the ingredients are tough to find, or expensive in a North American marketplace. If you’re looking to find vegan or vegetarian takes on classic African, Caribbean and Southern dishes then you’ll like be disappointed. Rather, this cook book is best for those looking to push boundaries with interesting ingredients.
Pros
- Huge array of creative recipes blending multiple spice combinations seamlessly.
- Wonderful full-color images including historical photos.
- Beyond cooking: Terry talks as much about the philosophy of food as he does in delivering succinct, easy-to-understand recipes.
Cons
- Expensive ingredients.
- Very much about Terry’s take on classic recipes, not replicating them perfectly.
4. Best Celebrity: Ultimate Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone
This cookbook by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver offers easy, delicious, plant-based recipes. Some examples include veggie pad Thai, veggie chili, and summer spinach pancakes. Oliver explains the book is not just for vegetarians, as it will appeal to anyone who just wants to enjoy a meatless meal a few times a week or simply enjoy something different for a change.
Oliver spent more than eight years traveling the world and developing new recipes for this book, his ‘labor of love’.
The book focuses on family favorites and simple suppers, with pure, great tasting food. There are chapters on soups, sandwiches, brunch, pies/baked goods, curries/stews, burgers, pasta, and rice/noodle dishes. Oliver dedicates an entire chapter to one-pan meals that minimize clean up after cooking.
This cookbook will widen your repertoire of vegetable dishes, and show you how to make satisfying meatless meals that are filling and delicious. All the recipes include nutrition information, and the American version of the book uses Imperial measurements instead of metric.
The book is gorgeous with vibrant images and photos of Oliver’s travels, exploring cuisines around the world. And Oliver has a unique writing style that brings in some of his favorite British colloquial sayings to liven up the recipes. It’s a fun and entertaining book to read even if you’re not cooking.
Pros
- Easy, delicious plant-based recipes by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver
- Appeals not just to vegetarians but to anyone who wants to try something new
- Focuses on family favorites and simple suppers, with a chapter dedicated to one-pan dishes
- All recipes include nutrition information
- Gorgeous book, with vibrant photos
- Unique writing style which is fun to read even if you are not cooking
Cons
- None mentioned by users
5. Best Ultimate: Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul
Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes is a fine addition to any kitchen shelf, especially for those craving the savoury sensations of the south. The focus here is very much on cuisine from the deep south. Expect to find more common recipes like Fried Cauliflower next to Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roles, and Jackfruit Slides. With that said, sweet potato is definitely a star in many recipes. This is especially true in the desert section.
Another advantage to Sweet Potato Soul is that many of the recipes are simple and no fuss. With that said, this also means that those looking for more complex recipes may be disappointed. With that said, Sous Vide Guy was a little disappointed with the lack of accompanying photos for some recipes. For those who lack experience with southern cooking this could be a deal breaker.
Pros
- Wide range of southern-infused vegetarian recipes.
- East-to-follow instructions with simple recipes (no making three dishes at a minimum!)
- Conversational style, with lots of history surrounding the ingredients.
Cons
- Lack of photography.
6. Best Mediterranean: Vegetarian Mediterranean Cookbook: 125+ Simple, Healthy Recipes for Living Well
This cookbook focuses on the Mediterranean diet, which goes hand in hand with vegetarianism. It includes 125 recipes from author Sanaa Abourezk, that offer traditional dishes such as eggplant moussaka and spanakopita, and creative recipes like lentil and mushroom lasagna. It provides a thorough introduction to the basics of Mediterranean cooking, including important ingredients to keep your kitchen stocked up with, and useful tips.
The recipes are timeless, gluten-free, and use whole, simple ingredients. They help bring Mediterranean flavors and freshness into your kitchen. There is a focus on Mediterranean cooking philosophies such as infusing oils and focusing on texture, and shopping locally. All ingredients in this book are easy to find.
One drawback is there are no photos in the book (other than on the cover and the first page of each chapter). Also, the pages in the book use a lower quality paper.
Pros
- Includes 125 Mediterranean dishes ranging from traditional to innovative
- Provides thorough intro to Mediterranean cooking, including ingredients to keep on hand
- Recipes are timeless, gluten-free, and use whole, simple ingredients
- Focuses on Mediterranean cooking philosophies like infusing oils and shopping locally
- All ingredients are easy to find locally
Cons
- Book contains very few photos
- Pages in the book are of lower quality paper
Choosing a vegetarian cookbook
As you can see, there is a wide variety of vegetarian cookbooks available in the market today. Here are a few tips to consider when choosing such a cookbook for yourself.
Quick and simple
Even if you’re a gourmet cook, your first vegetarian cookbook should focus on quick and simple recipes. Most of us are busy rushing around, and quick and easy recipes are best for this lifestyle. Fast and simple is also handy if you are new to vegetarian cooking because then you won’t become overwhelmed. Look for a cookbook that features recipes you can make in a short amount of time.
Versatility
Your first vegetarian cookbook should not focus on one particular item such as noodles or desserts. Look for a cookbook that includes recipes on everything from breakfast to entrees to desserts and snacks. This is very important if you are new to vegetarianism, so you can learn how to plan out your meals.
Later, when you are more well-versed in the art of vegetarian cooking, you can look for cookbooks that specialize.
Nutrition
With almost all vegetarian cookbooks, you won’t have to worry about whether the meals will be well-balanced. For peace of mind though, you can look for cookbooks that include nutritional information for each recipe.
Also search for cookbooks that focus on recipes that include a lot of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Vegetarians can fulfill their nutritional needs by making sure they eat lots of different types of vegetarian foods each day. Protein is important, so look for meals that include quinoa, tofu, beans, lentils, nuts, or meat substitutes.
Locally sourced ingredients
Some cookbooks include obscure ingredients that are hard to find at your local store. Although they may be interesting, they will not be useful if you can’t find them. Look for a cookbook that focuses on ingredients you can find in your area.
If your ingredients are locally sourced, they are guaranteed to be fresh, and more likely to be high in nutrients. Seasonal vegetables are also a great choice because they are better tasting and they lower your carbon footprint.
Culture
Look for vegetarian cookbooks that feature recipes from your favorite cultures. You shouldn’t have to miss out on your preferred cuisines just because you are going vegetarian.
Accommodating meat lovers
If you cook for your family, chances are they are not all vegetarian or vegan. You may still need to cook dishes that will appeal to them too. Instead of focusing on faux meat, which many meat lovers do not like, look for cookbooks that incorporate umami into their recipes. Umami is a savory flavor common in meat dishes, and you can achieve this flavor with certain vegetarian ingredients such as mushrooms, cheese, and fermented vegetables. Later, you can introduce your meat-loving family to tofu and faux meats.
Vegetarianism is a wonderful way to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Cookbooks are a useful way to learn about vegetarian cooking and acquire tasty recipes. Consider your lifestyle, local sourcing, and the versatility of the cookbooks when looking for one of your own, and compare the various books available on the market. Before long, you will find the vegetarian cookbook that is right for you.
FAQs
What defines a vegetarian? What exactly is a vegetarian diet?
A vegetarian diet typically forgoes meat, but allows for eating eggs and dairy-products. Vegetarian staples include fruit, vegetables, and grains from protein rich plants like nuts and legumes. Both tofu and tempeh are also common additions as a way of packing extra protein in per plate.
What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets?
Vegan and Vegetarian diets differ when it comes to animal products. Veganism believes that any animal product – whether eggs from a chicken or milk from a cow – should be avoided. This can be in part due to concerns over the impacts of factory farming, or for moral reasons. Vegetarianism is much more common for those with dietary restrictions. It can be challenging to adjust to a vegan diet at first, but fortunately the quality of animal-product substitutes continues to rise.
What is the best vegetarian cookbook to buy?
Sous Vide Guy can comfortably suggest How to Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. This is a fantastic starter book for new or curious vegetarian cooks. Bittman excels in offering unique dishes. Often vegetarian cookbooks include ‘vegetarianized’ recipes of omnivorous favorites. Not so here. Although some of the recipes parallel household staples there’s a wide range of creativity on display. Likewise, there are extensive substitutions options for when you forgot the tempeh at the store.
Is a vegetarian diet healthier?
Vegetarian diets are increasingly common all around the reason, and for good reason too. Vegetarianism is one of the most effective lifestyle choices for reducing heart disease, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. With that said you still need to watch your protein intake while being vegetarian. It’s all too easy to overcorrect towards protein-packed, nut-based meals. As always it’s important to have a balanced diet – whether vegetarian, vegan, or omnivorous.