The most recommended vegan cookbooks

Who picked these books? Meet our 7 experts.

7 authors created a book list connected to vegan cookbooks, and here are their favorite vegan cookbooks books.
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Book cover of Forks Over Knives: The Plant-Based Way to Health

Pip Waller Author Of Deeply Holistic: A Guide to Intuitive Self-Care--Know Your Body, Live Consciously, and Nurture Your Spirit

From my list on what to eat, what not to eat, and why.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a naturopathic therapist, teacher, and writer working mainly with plant medicine since 1989. For decades, I’ve been teaching many aspects of natural healing and have written 5 books, published in 6 languages, on various aspects of my work. One of my favourite books is DEEPLY HOLISTIC, a Guide to Intuitive Self-Care, a synthesis of much of the advice I’ve given clients over my 30 years of practice.

Pip's book list on what to eat, what not to eat, and why

Pip Waller Why did Pip love this book?

Forks Over Knives describes how changing your diet (forks) can be used to good effect to improve health, therefore, avoid the need for surgery (knives). This is a book about the most important advice on healthy eating – guess what? eating a whole-food, plant-based diet. It is full of inspiring success stories of people who have taken charge of their diet and transformed their health, as well as useful recipes. The author advocates entirely plant-based, and although there is a healthy way to eat animal products, the foundational diet for everyone needs to be mostly plants, and most definitely whole foods, meaning not processed or industrially produced.

By Gene Stone,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Forks Over Knives as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The #1 New York Times bestseller answers: What if one simple change could save you from heart disease, diabetes, and cancer?

For decades, that question has fascinated a small circle of impassioned doctors and researchers—and now, their life-changing research is making headlines in the hit documentary Forks Over Knives. Their answer? Eat a whole-foods, plant-based diet—it could save your life.

It may overturn most of the diet advice you’ve heard—but the experts behind Forks Over Knives aren’t afraid to make waves. In his book Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn explained that eating meat, dairy, and oils injures…


Book cover of Vegan Travel Handbook 1

Wendy Werneth Author Of Veggie Planet: Uncover the Vegan Treasures Hiding in Your Favorite World Cuisines

From my list on vegan travel.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been living a semi-nomadic lifestyle and traveling the globe for all my adult life, and travel has truly shaped who I am. In 2014, when I learned about the many advantages of a vegan lifestyle for my health, the planet, and the animals, I felt compelled to make the change. There was one thing holding me back, though, which was the fear that being vegan would ruin travel. Fortunately, I gave it a trial run anyway during a three-week trip to Greece and discovered that being vegan actually made traveling even more fun! Ever since, I’ve been sharing my global vegan discoveries on my website, the Nomadic Vegan.

Wendy's book list on vegan travel

Wendy Werneth Why did Wendy love this book?

Since there are not that many vegan travel books on the market (yet), this title sneaks onto this list, but with a caveat. This book is a collaboration by multiple authors, and some parts are definitely better than others.

The general travel information was clearly written by a vegan and is right on point. However, some of the destination-specific sections seem to be lifted from Lonely Planet’s other titles and weren’t written from a vegan perspective.

While the information about vegan food options in various countries is accurate, a vegan lifestyle is not just about food. Rather, it’s about avoiding causing harm to animals as far as possible through the choices we make in all aspects of our daily life.

Some of the activities mentioned in the Vegan Travel Handbook do not fit within this worldview, which may be off-putting for vegan readers. Nevertheless, for new vegans or vegan-curious travelers…

By Lonely Planet Food,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vegan Travel Handbook 1 as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Whether you've been vegan for years or are travelling as one for the first time, The Vegan Travel Handbook will help you discover, plan and book a huge range of vegan-friendly adventures around the globe.

Get essential advice and expert tips on everything from where to go when and the best vegan restaurants, accommodation and cities, to how to stay healthy on the road and order food with confidence. We also reveal unmissable vegan tours, festivals and food trucks.

From cooking classes in India to wildlife watching tours in New Zealand, Lonely Planet shows you how to explore the world…


Book cover of Billion Dollar Burger: Inside Big Tech's Race for the Future of Food

Richard Munson Author Of Tech to Table: 25 Innovators Reimagining Food

From my list on the future of food.

Why am I passionate about this?

Innovators long have fascinated me. I helped launch a clean-energy startup and advance legislation promoting environmental entrepreneurs. I’ve written biographies of Nikola Tesla (who gave us electric motors, radio, and remote controls) Jacques Cousteau (inventor of the Aqua Lung and master of undersea filming) and George Fabyan (pioneer of modern cryptography and acoustics), as well as a history of electricity (From Edison to Enron). I love reading (and writing) about ingenious and industrious individuals striving to achieve their dreams. 

Richard's book list on the future of food

Richard Munson Why did Richard love this book?

Here’s another engaging tale of the entrepreneurs and renegades fighting to bring lab-grown, cell-cultured meat to the world. I appreciated Purdy’s description of this competition as an “edible space race,” and unlike my other highlighted book, Billion Dollar Burger highlights the “difficult regulatory landscape” concocted by Big Meat lobbyists trying to keep protein alternatives off the shelves. He outlines ways to overcome that opposition and create healthier, more sustainable, and more humane food options.

By Chase Purdy,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Billion Dollar Burger as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A fast-paced, gripping insider account of the entrepreneurs and renegades racing to bring lab-grown meat to the world.

The trillion-dollar meat industry is one of our greatest environmental hazards; it pollutes more than all the world's fossil-fuel-powered cars. Global animal agriculture is responsible for deforestation, soil erosion and more emissions than air travel, paper mills and coal mining combined. It also depends on the slaughter of more than 60 billion animals per year, a number that is only increasing as the global appetite for meat swells. The whole world seems to be sleepwalking into a food crisis.

But a band…


Book cover of Keep It Vegan

Veronika Sophia Robinson Author Of The Mystic Cookfire: The Sacred Art of Creating Food to Nurture Friends and Family

From my list on conscious plant-based cookery.

Why am I passionate about this?

Veronika Sophia Robinson has eaten a plant-based diet for forty-eight years and knows what healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian food should taste like. She has had extensive experience in cooking for others whether around her kitchen table or in a yurt with no electricity feeding up to fifty families for five days (for many years). The Mystic Cookfire is a tome of over 400 pages. It is an expression of her deep love and respect for food, conscious cookery, and intentional eating. Her second recipe book Love From My Kitchen is a collection of vegan, gluten-free recipes based on the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. She’s delighted that her granddaughter is a fourth-generation vegetarian.

Veronika's book list on conscious plant-based cookery

Veronika Sophia Robinson Why did Veronika love this book?

True to the subtitle, these recipes are delicious, healthy and simple. The best recipe books have stories woven throughout and you read them like a novel. Keep It Vegan makes you want to slow down and savour each page, and it leaves you infused with passion and pride for creating dishes which nurture and satiate. Recipes include Rosemary and Pear-Stuffed French Toast to Sweet Potato and Kiwi Soup to Pea and Lemon Risotto with a mint oil drizzle to Smokey Moroccan Chickpea Stew with Saffron-infused Couscous to No-Bake Strawberry Vanilla Cheesecake. Every page is a delight!

By Aine Carlin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Keep It Vegan as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Think you know vegan cooking? Lengthy, complicated recipe lists, expensive, hard-to-find ingredients, flavourless food? Think again! Let Aine Carlin, creator of popular vegan lifestyle blog Pea Soup Eats, enlighten you with her delicious recipes and straightforward tips. Keep it simple with easy-to-follow recipes, using a sensible number of ingredients that can be found in your local supermarket. Keep it tasty with chapters including Breakfast, Brunch & More, Light Lunches & Simple Suppers, Something Special, Sauces & Sides and Sweet Treats. Delight your senses and tantalise your tastebuds with Rosemary and Pear Stuffed French Toast, Santorini Spaghetti or Sweet Potato Sushi.…


Book cover of Eat More, Live Well

Niki Webster Author Of Rainbow Bowls: Easy, delicious ways to #EatTheRainbow

From my list on healthy plant-based recipes.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been a fan of vegetables as long as I can remember, I went plant-based as a young girl and have never looked back. I love to celebrate vegetables in their wholesome, vibrant goodness and put them at the center of your diet. I love nothing more than pairing different flavours and textures to create feel-good food that tastes as good as it does for you and the planet. I have been running my blog – Rebel Recipes for over 6 years and have four plant-based cookbooks with fans from across the globe!

Niki's book list on healthy plant-based recipes

Niki Webster Why did Niki love this book?

The perfect combination of science and delicious recipes. Megan’s approach focuses on how the body works best and gut health. This book has over 80 recipes but also includes menu planning and shopping lists making it super helpful if you want to focus on health and nutrition. The book isn’t vegan but has a plant-forward approach.

By Megan Rossi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Eat More, Live Well as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It has never been so delicious to eat healthy! Treat yourself to delicious gut-loving recipes and lifestyle hacks from the bestselling author of Eat Yourself Healthy!

Want to enjoy delicious food that is actually good for your body? Forget cutting out or cutting down, Dr Megan Rossi's revolutionary Diversity Diet has changed the lives of thousands of her clients and proves that eating more plants and enjoying more flavour taps into the very latest scientific discoveries about how our body works best. That's right, eating MORE can boost your gut health and make you feel amazing.

In her brand-new book,…


Book cover of How to Cook Everything Vegetarian

Deana Gunn Author Of Vegetarian Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook

From my list on cooking vegetarian for easy and delicious meals.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a cookbook and children's book author and co-owner of Brown-Bag Publishers, a small independent publishing company since 2007. I love good food, and I have a passion for creating (and using!) recipes that are easy and result in delicious, healthy meals that appeal to the whole family. I’m the author of the bestselling Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's which was the first in the popular 10-book Trader Joe's cookbook series. I live in a small surf town in California with my husband and four kids.

Deana's book list on cooking vegetarian for easy and delicious meals

Deana Gunn Why did Deana love this book?

This cookbook by Mark Bittman re-energized the vegetarian movement over a decade ago (and was updated on its 10th anniversary). Think of it as the “Joy of Cooking” for vegetarians, covering all foods and techniques from A-Z. The recipes are straightforwad and approachable, making them perfect for beginner cooks as well as experienced home cooks. Favorites are Vegetarian Pho, Paella with Tomatoes and Eggs, and Curried Potatoes.

By Mark Bittman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Cook Everything Vegetarian as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Ten years ago, this breakthrough cookbook made vegetarian cooking accessible to everyone. Today, the issues surrounding a plant-based diet-health, sustainability, and ethics-continue to resonate with more and more people, whether or not they're fully vegetarian. This new edition has been completely reviewed and revised to stay relevant to today's cooks: New recipes include more vegan options and a brand-new chapter on smoothies, teas, and more. Charts, variations, and other key information have been updated. And, new for this edition, the recipes are showcased in bright full-colour photos throughout. With these photos and a host of recipes destined to become new…


Book cover of Love Real Food: More Than 100 Feel-Good Vegetarian Favorites to Delight the Senses and Nourish the Body

Deana Gunn Author Of Vegetarian Cooking with Trader Joe's Cookbook

From my list on cooking vegetarian for easy and delicious meals.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m a cookbook and children's book author and co-owner of Brown-Bag Publishers, a small independent publishing company since 2007. I love good food, and I have a passion for creating (and using!) recipes that are easy and result in delicious, healthy meals that appeal to the whole family. I’m the author of the bestselling Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's which was the first in the popular 10-book Trader Joe's cookbook series. I live in a small surf town in California with my husband and four kids.

Deana's book list on cooking vegetarian for easy and delicious meals

Deana Gunn Why did Deana love this book?

Kathryne is behind the vegetarian food blog, Cookie + Kate, and this cookbook includes favorite recipes such as Southwestern Roasted Veggie Salad, Lentil Soup, Butternut Squash Chipotle Chili, and homemade granola. I love that she incorporates roasted vegetables into so many salads and other dishes. It's my favorite way to prepare vegetables. Lots of photos throughout, which is a feature I appreciate in any cookbook.

By Kathryne Taylor,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Love Real Food as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Her friendly commentary inspires readers to step into the kitchen and cook healthy meals, again and again. And the book wouldn't be complete without plenty of pictures of her lovable, food- obsessed puppy sous chef, Cookie, of course! With delicious recipes like chai-spiced steel-cut oats, a pesto and quinoa power salad, jasmine tea mojitos, and reader favourite banana oat bread, Love Real Food is a natural extension of Taylor's blog, including the hallmarks that entice her many readers to visit her site daily for more. She's got quite the fanbase eagerto buy the book: Her blog has more than a…


Book cover of Vegan Cheese: Simple, Delicious Plant-Based Recipes

Veronika Sophia Robinson Author Of The Mystic Cookfire: The Sacred Art of Creating Food to Nurture Friends and Family

From my list on conscious plant-based cookery.

Why am I passionate about this?

Veronika Sophia Robinson has eaten a plant-based diet for forty-eight years and knows what healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian food should taste like. She has had extensive experience in cooking for others whether around her kitchen table or in a yurt with no electricity feeding up to fifty families for five days (for many years). The Mystic Cookfire is a tome of over 400 pages. It is an expression of her deep love and respect for food, conscious cookery, and intentional eating. Her second recipe book Love From My Kitchen is a collection of vegan, gluten-free recipes based on the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. She’s delighted that her granddaughter is a fourth-generation vegetarian.

Veronika's book list on conscious plant-based cookery

Veronika Sophia Robinson Why did Veronika love this book?

Whether for reasons of ethics or health, more and more people are looking for dairy cheese substitutes. Commercial versions are often poor imitations. This book is like winning cheese lotto! There are 60 plant-based cheeses (no easy feat) made using vegetables, tofu, seeds and nuts, ranging from firm to sharp, creamy to mild. These recipes draw on only natural ingredients and techniques. You can create the perfect cheese platter with spreads, sauces, sprinkles, block and wheel cheeses, soft and fresh cheeses, and accompaniments. Easy to follow. Beautiful photography.

By Jules Aron,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Vegan Cheese as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It isn't necessary to be intimidated by the idea of making cheese-vegan cheese is simple and straightforward with clean, basic ingredients. Here, Jules Aron shares the tricks of the trade for making sauces, cheese you can grate or slice, and soft spreadable options, using homemade nut milks, vegetables and natural helpers like carrageenan, agar-agar and nutritional yeast. Her flavoursome creations are enhanced with herbs and spices and run from incredibly easy to more complex, mimicking familiar cheeses, including: French-Style Brie, Herbed Feta, Aged Gruyere.

Armed with tips for building the perfect cheese plate and drink pairings, budding vegan cheese-makers will…


Book cover of The Great Plant-Based Con: Why eating a plants-only diet won't improve your health or save the planet

Steven Clark Cunningham Author Of It's Considerate to Be Literate about Religion: Poetry and Prose about Religion, Conflict, and Peace in Our World

From Steven's 3 favorite reads in 2023.

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Surgeon Scientist Poet Parent Scholar of religion

Steven's 3 favorite reads in 2023

Steven Clark Cunningham Why did Steven love this book?

This book is very well researched, and despite a lot of information, is very clearly presented. 

This book started my process from leaving behind 30 years of being a vegetarian to now eating meat from animals that are grass-fed (and grass-finished, when possible), and supporting regenerative farming – a change that is much better for my health and for the planet.

By Jayne Buxton,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Great Plant-Based Con as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'The most incredible book' Delia Smith

'Persuasive, entertaining and well researched' Sunday Times

Plant-based is best for health, go vegan to help save the planet, eat less meat... Almost every day we are bombarded with the seemingly incontrovertible message that we must reduce our consumption of meat and dairy - or eliminate them from our diets altogether.

But what if the pervasive message that the plant-based diet will improve our health and save the planet is misleading - or even false? What if removing animal foods from our diet is a serious threat to human health, and a red herring…


Book cover of Power Plates: 100 Nutritionally Balanced, One-Dish Vegan Meals [A Cookbook]

Lukas Volger Author Of Snacks for Dinner: Small Bites, Full Plates, Can't Lose

From my list on cookbooks for making plant-based cooking a habit.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been writing vegetarian cookbooks for almost 15 years, and have had many different jobs in the world of food – cooking in restaurants, running a small food business, working food photography shoots, and much more. While in my day-to-day eating, I go on and off following a strict plant-based diet, it’s long been my default style of eating because I find it to be so healthy, affordable, and fun! I’m never not excited and inspired by the abundance and diversity of vegetables and the incredible techniques and dishes that cuisines around the world have done with them. 

Lukas' book list on cookbooks for making plant-based cooking a habit

Lukas Volger Why did Lukas love this book?

This is the book I always recommend to people at the beginning of their vegetarian or vegan journey when they express concern about getting all their nutritional needs covered in their diets. Each recipe is designed to be nutritionally balanced – with a focus on nutritionally dense whole foods, healthy plant-based proteins, fats, and fibers – and they always leave me full and satisfied. But rather than reading like a dry health book, it’s brimming with fresh, colorful, and exciting ideas and recipes that are smart and streamlined, and actually feasible for weeknights.  

By Gena Hamshaw,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Power Plates as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Focused on the art of crafting complete, balanced meals that deliver sustained energy and nourishment, this book features 100 compelling and delicious recipes that just happen to be vegan.

These 100 recipes for wholesome and nourishing vegan food from blogger, nutritionist, and Food52 author Gena Hamshaw help you make delicious vegan meals that deliver balanced and sustained energy. Every recipe contains the key macronutrients of healthy fats, complex carbohydrates, and proteins, which together make for a complete meal--things like Smoky Red Lentil Stew with Chard, and Falafel Bowls with Freekah and Cauliflower. Photographs accompany each recipe, showing how Gena's simple…