Basics The 8 Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2021, According to a Dietitian Spice things up in the kitchen with these plant-based cookbooks By Alex Aldeborgh, MS, RD instagram Alex Aldeborgh is a Registered Dietitian with a Master's degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She has a virtual private practice and spends her time developing healthy recipes and nutrition content for her blog and Instagram page Daisybeet. Learn about our editorial process Alex Aldeborgh, MS, RD Updated on February 03, 2021 Print More in Basics Hot Topics Food Safety Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Our Top Picks Oh She Glows for Dinner "You’ll find meal prep plans, weeknight one-pot recipes, favorite holiday and seasonal recipes, and inspired dinner recipes." Plant-Based on a Budget "Recipes here feature whole food, affordable ingredients, with plenty of easy substitutions to use what you have on hand." The Plant Based Diet for Beginners "Specifically written for beginners, it will help you gain confidence in the kitchen and explore easy but delicious recipes." Sweet Potato Soul "Her creative and flavorful recipes are paired with narratives about traditional soul food recipes." Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen "You'll discover familiar tastes as well as new recipes and flavors to entice your taste buds." Baked with Love "Along with over 100 recipes, you’ll find tips and tricks for healthy baking, beautiful photography, and allergy-friendly options." The Homemade Vegan Pantry "Learn to love cooking from scratch and appreciate slow food and homemade ingredients with this cookbook." Evolving Vegan "This book features recipes and stories from plant-based eateries around North America." A vegan diet can be one of the healthiest eating patterns. Vegan diets eschew all animal products, including eggs, dairy, meat, fish, poultry, and honey. A well-balanced vegan diet will include plenty of vegetables, fruit, beans and legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds. If you currently follow a vegan diet, or if you’re trying to eat more plant-based meals, you may feel a bit overwhelmed or bored of your typical recipes. A vegan cookbook is the perfect tool to help make meals exciting, delicious, satisfying, and fun. We’ve rounded up the best vegan cookbooks to get you inspired. Here, the best vegan cookbooks: Oh She Glows for Dinner Courtesy of Walmart Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Barnesandnoble.com Angela Liddon’s blog, Oh She Glows, is one of the most popular vegan blogs on the web. Since 2008, Liddon has published hundreds of recipes on her blog, as well as three vegan cookbooks. Her latest cookbook, Oh She Glows for Dinner, came out in 2020 and is filled with a variety of dinner recipes everyone will love. In her book, you’ll find meal prep plans, weeknight one-pot recipes, favorite holiday and seasonal recipes, and inspired dinner recipes. There is also a handy index, which helps you look up recipes based on other dietary preferences such as gluten-free, nut-free, or freezer-friendly. Plant-Based on a Budget Courtesy of Barnes and Noble Buy on Amazon Buy on Barnesandnoble.com Following a vegan diet might seem expensive and time-consuming, but Toni Okamoto is here to show you how to eat Plant Based on a Budget. The recipes in this book feature whole food, affordable ingredients, with plenty of easy substitutions to use what you have on hand. Each recipe in this book also takes only 30 minutes or less to prepare. Want some ideas about what recipes you’ll find in this book? Banana zucchini pancakes, peanut butter ramen stir fry, and real-deal chocolate chip cookies, to name just a few. The 9 Best Vegan Snacks The Plant Based Diet for Beginners Courtesy of Walmart Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart If you’re new to veganism or just dipping your toes into a plant-based lifestyle, Gabriel Miller’s cookbook The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners is perfect for you. It’s specifically written for beginners to help you gain confidence in the kitchen and explore easy but delicious recipes. Each recipe in this book uses simple ingredients that you can find in your local grocery store and includes nutrition information and detailed instructions. This book also has other beginner resources, including shopping lists, sample menus, and a guide to cooking grains and beans. Sweet Potato Soul Courtesy of Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Target Do you follow a plant-based diet but constantly crave your favorite non-vegan foods like cinnamon rolls or fried chicken? You need Jenné Claiborne’s cookbook in your life because she has vegan alternatives for just about every craving. Raised in Atlanta, Jenné grew up eating Soul Food like biscuits, collards, and sweet potato pie. As a plant-based chef, she has spent years perfecting her delicious vegan versions of classic, comforting favorites. Her creative and flavorful recipes are paired with narratives about traditional soul food recipes, plus nutritional information about the ingredients. Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen Courtesy of Barnes and Noble Buy on Amazon Buy on Barnesandnoble.com Buy on Target Want to replicate your favorite Indian recipes at home? Richa Hingle’s cookbook has you covered, with recipes like mango curry tofu, avocado naan, and tempeh tikka masala. When making your way through this cookbook, you will discover familiar tastes as well as new recipes and flavors to entice your taste buds. The vegan recipes in this cookbook feature vegetables and pulses, like cauliflower, split peas, lentils, and tofu. Richa also provides substitution suggestions and replacement spices in case your pantry isn’t fully stocked with all the required ingredients. Baked with Love Courtesy of Barnes and Noble Buy on Amazon Buy on Barnesandnoble.com Buy on Target Brittany Berlin bakes up enticing vegan dessert recipes for her blog, The Banana Diaries, and her new cookbook. Her recipes prove that vegan desserts can be just as decadent as traditional recipes, even when they don’t have any butter, eggs, or dairy. In addition to over 100 recipes, you’ll find tips and tricks for healthy baking, beautiful photography, and allergy-friendly options that are gluten-free, nut-free, and grain-free. The list of drool-worthy recipes is long, but some examples include s’mores brownies, red velvet cupcakes, and caramel-stuffed chocolate chip cookies. The 7 Best Vegan Candy of 2021, According to a Dietitian The Homemade Vegan Pantry Courtesy of Barnes and noble Buy on Amazon Buy on Barnesandnoble.com Buy on Target If you’re a confident cook with plenty of complex plant-based recipes under your belt, you may want to consider Miyoko Schinner’s cookbook. For someone who has already mastered basic cooking techniques, you can branch out to learn how to make vegan versions of pantry staples from scratch. In this cookbook, you’ll find simple recipes for handcrafted foods, such as homemade ice cream, pizza dough, French buttercreams, and pasta. Learn to love cooking from scratch and appreciate slow food and homemade ingredients with this cookbook. The 7 Best Plant-Based Meat Alternatives of 2021, According to a Dietitian Evolving Vegan Courtesy of Walmart Buy on Amazon Buy on Walmart Buy on Target Is your favorite part of traveling exploring new restaurants and enjoying different cuisines? Check out Mena Massoud’s cookbook, Evolving Vegan. This book features recipes and stories from plant-based eateries around North America, so you can take a trip around the continent without leaving your kitchen. Some featured recipes include Indian Tofu Curry from The Sudra in Portland, Oregan, Young Coconut Ceviche from Rosalinda in Toronto, and Boston Cream Pie-Cake from Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This book also has a personal twist, with authentic Egyptian recipes from Mena’s mother. The 8 Best Vegetarian Cookbooks of 2021, According to a Dietitian Final Verdict For an excellent vegan cookbook that will boost your dinner (and leftover lunch) game, consider Angela Liddon's Oh She Glows For Dinner (view at Amazon). What to Look for in Vegan Cookbooks Author’s Experience with Vegan Cooking: For vegan cookbooks, it’s important that the author has experience eating a plant-based or plant-focused diet because they will know the ins and outs of vegan ingredients. An author who regularly makes plant-based recipes will know how to troubleshoot tricky recipes to make them perfectly doable for the home cook. Use of Whole Food Ingredients: Vegan diets can lean towards the unhealthy side if you rely on processed foods more often than whole food ingredients. When choosing a vegan cookbook, take a look at the ingredients in the recipes. If most of the ingredients include nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, you’ll be able to find plenty of nutritious recipes to support your health. Experience level: If you're new to cooking, you may need a bit more guidance and explanation of cooking methods. If you're more experienced, on the other hand, you may prefer a cookbook that's light on advice and heavy on recipes. Also, consider the time each recipe requires. If you're short on time or just prefer more uncomplicated recipes, many cookbooks offer simple, healthy dishes. Equipment: Take a look at the kitchen tools you will need before investing in a cookbook. Many cookbooks feature quick, easy, and nutritious recipes that can be incredibly convenient—but only if you have the kitchen equipment needed. FAQs What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian cookbooks? While vegetarian and vegan cookbooks both promote the use of plant-based ingredients such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, they differ because vegan cookbooks will not include honey, eggs, or any animal products. How do I know if a cookbook fits my experience level? Whether you're a beginner or experienced chef, it's important to browse through the recipe lists and directions before purchasing a cookbook to ensure it fits your experience, time, equipment on hand, and taste buds. Read through a few recipes to see if you feel confident that you can follow the directions to achieve the result. If it feels too challenging, select a book that specifies it is for beginners. What Experts Say "Look for a cookbook with lots of variety, but be sure that it includes recipes that fit your life, not the other way around. Part of good health is minimizing stress, so make sure the recipes aren't too complicated."—Beth Lipton, recipe developer and cookbook author Why Trust Verywell Fit? As a registered dietitian, Alex Aldeborgh, MS, RD puts the same thoroughness and care into researching these recommendations as she would for herself or her clients. A passionate home cook herself, Alex assesses the content of cookbooks for creativity, feasibility, and variety. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get it free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit