Diets Vegetarian The 10 Best Vegetarian Cookbooks, According to a Dietitian Love & Lemons Every Day tops the list with flavor-packed, approachable recipes By Anne Cook Carroll, MS, RD Anne Cook Carroll, MS, RD Anne Cook Carroll is a Registered Dietitian with a master's degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She is a clinical dietitian at an inpatient hospital and also works in private practice. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 31, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN Medically reviewed by Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN Melissa Rifkin is a Connecticut-based registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience working in the clinical setting. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Marley Hall Fact checked by Marley Hall LinkedIn Marley Hall is a writer and fact checker who is certified in clinical and translational research. Her work has been published in medical journals in the field of surgery, and she has received numerous awards for publication in education. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Verywell Fit / Crea Taylor Whether you’re following a vegetarian diet or just looking to incorporate more veggies into your meals, vegetarian cookbooks are an excellent resource to have on hand. They provide a platform to explore different plant-based ingredients, preparations, and flavor combinations, helping to inspire home cooking and creativity in the kitchen. When selecting our top list of vegetarian cookbooks, we considered author credibility, the skill level required, accessibility of ingredients and equipment needed, as well as nutritional content and diversity of recipes. Ultimately, the best vegetarian cookbook for you is the one that contains ingredients and recipes that appeal to your tastes and dietary needs and suits your lifestyle and comfort level in the kitchen. We also had a registered dietician from our Review Board review this article for accuracy surrounding what to look for in vegetarian cookbooks, the difference between vegan and vegetarian, and how nutritious a vegetarian diet really is. Here are the best vegetarian cookbooks, according to a dietitian. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Love and Lemons Every Day at Amazon Jump to Review Best Comprehensive: How To Cook Everything Vegetarian at Amazon Jump to Review Best Gourmet : On Vegetables at Amazon Jump to Review Best Gourmet Runner-Up: Plenty More at Amazon Jump to Review Best Back to Basics: Vegetables: The Essential Reference at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget-Friendly : Plant-Based on a Budget at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Everyday Meals: At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen at Amazon Jump to Review Best Seasonal: Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables at Amazon Jump to Review Best Vegan: Sweet Potato Soul at Amazon Jump to Review Best Vegan Runner-Up: Oh She Glows for Dinner at Amazon Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look for FAQ Why Trust Verywell Fit? Best Overall Love and Lemons Every Day View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Approachable recipes for everyday cooking Includes complete guide to plant-based proteins Includes strategies to meal plan and reduce food waste Cons Some recipes may not be kid-friendly Love & Lemons Every Day is our top pick because it's packed with a diverse range of flavorful, balanced meals that are approachable for everyday cooking. Author Jeanine Donofrio of the Love & Lemons blog also incorporates helpful tips, including quick-flavor fixes, seasonal produce guides, plant-based protein lists, a grains and legumes cooking cheat sheet, and strategies for reducing food waste. This book includes over 100 vegetarian recipes, including breakfast, snacks, soups, salads, dinner, side dishes, sauces, and more. Recipes are made for everyday cooking, suitable for both new and seasoned home cooks. We love that these recipes are family-friendly, too, making it easier to get more plant-based meals on the table for everyone to enjoy. Price at time of publication: $21 Number of Recipes: Over 100 | Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soups, sauces, dressings, side dishes, desserts, drinks Best Comprehensive How To Cook Everything Vegetarian: Completely Revised Tenth Anniversary Edition Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Comprehensive guide including vegetarian cooking basics Detailed breakdown on vegetarian ingredients Provides substitution suggestions making recipes easily adaptable Cons Organized by ingredients, not meal type, which can be difficult to navigate for meal planning If you're feeling like a vegetarian diet is limiting, look no further than this book for endless inspiration. Mark Bittman, legendary New York Times food journalist and author of 30 books, delivers a comprehensive guide to all things vegetables in How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. This impressive compilation has over 1,000 recipes, showcasing the limitless varieties of plant-based cooking. We named this the best comprehensive book for a good reason—it covers almost everything you could think of, including teas, smoothies, pastas, grains, plant-based proteins, desserts, sauces, and more. It also offers vegan substitutions for different staples used throughout the book to make recipes easily adaptable, and there are step-by-step guides to the principles of cooking. Price at time of publication: $20 Number of Recipes: Over 1,000 | Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Salads, soups, pasta, grains, fruits and vegetables, high protein foods, sauces and condiments, desserts, beverages Best Gourmet On Vegetables: Modern Recipes for the Home Kitchen Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Barnesandnoble.com Includes a quick reference on a variety of vegetarian ingredients Recipes incorporate unique, elevated textures and flavors Minimal food waste approach Cons More advanced recipes that may not be suitable for everyday cooking Jeremy Fox applies the “nose to tail” cooking approach to vegetables in his book On Vegetables: Modern Recipes for the Home Kitchen. This book will inspire you to use all parts of the vegetable in unique and creative ways, leaving no waste behind. We love all the attention to detail in these recipes that result in beautifully plated, delicious, restaurant-worthy plates. The introduction section breaks down key tips for the storage, purchasing, and basic preparation skills for over 30 vegetable varieties, which comes in handy as a quick reference guide to set you up for the recipes the book has to offer. You’ll apply techniques to vegetables that are usually reserved for meat, like braising, which yields a complex depth of flavor. Our savory favorite is the Potato Beignets, Romesco, and Charred Scallion, and for a sweet treat, try the Peas, White Chocolate, and Macadamia Blondie. This book is for the adventurous home cook looking to expand beyond the simple roasted vegetable and experiment with innovative approaches to plant-based meals. Price at time of publication: $38 Number of Recipes: 160 | Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced | Recipe Categories Include: Lunch, dinners, desserts, sauces The 13 Best Cookbooks of 2023, According to a Dietitian Best Gourmet Runner-Up Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London's Ottolenghi Amazon View On Amazon View On Penguinrandomhouse.com View On Target Teaches cooking methods that can be applied to a variety of plant-based ingredients Recipes incorporate unique, elevated textures and flavors Includes a detailed index for a quick reference guide of ingredients Some recipes have longer ingredient lists and prep time, may not be suitable for everyday meals If you're looking to really elevate the flavors of plant-based ingredients and experiment with different cooking techniques, try Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London's Yotam Ottolenghi. Ottolenghi is a world-renowned Israeli chef known for his Mediterranean-focused restaurants and markets in London that serve up some of the most creative vegetarian dishes and unique flavor profiles. Pick up this book and transport yourself into one of Ottolenghi’s kitchens to learn how to create his perfectly balanced plates at home. Each section of the book is dedicated to a different cooking method, including tossed, steamed, blanched, simmered, braised, grilled, and more. It allows you to develop a variety of methods to prepare and cook plant-based ingredients. This book is best for at-home cooks that are ready to move beyond the basics and develop more complex flavors. Some recipes involve several ingredients and have longer cook and prep time, which may not be suitable for everyday cooking and quick family meals. However, the cooking skills and flavor combinations you will learn from this book will make you a more confident vegetarian chef, with the ability to improvise and make recipe modifications. Price at time of publication: $22 Number of Recipes: Over 150 | Experience Level: Intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Organized by preparation/cooking method, including both sweet and savory dishes Best Back to Basics EatingWell Vegetables: The Essential Reference EatingWell View On Amazon View On Walmart Pros Comprehensive resource for prepping and cooking different vegetable varieties Enables you to look up recipes based on what vegetables are in your refrigerator Includes tips for produce shopping Cons Organized by ingredients, not meal type, which can be difficult to navigate for meal planning Limited breakfast recipes EatingWell’s Vegetables: The Essential Reference serves as an encyclopedia of vegetable preparation and cooking methods. It’s perfect if you’re looking for some inspiration on how to cook up whatever veggies might be in your refrigerator. The book is laid out as an A to Z reference guide of over 40 vegetables, providing market tips, cooking basics, nutrition facts, and simple preparations for each vegetable. Additionally, there are a few sample recipes in each vegetable section, showcasing the different ways to incorporate them into your cooking. We consider this book a kitchen staple, referencing it whenever we need a quick tutorial on some basic prep and cooking methods for our vegetables. Price at time of publication: $25 Number of Recipes: Over 250 | Experience Level: Beginner | Recipe Categories Include: Organized by vegetable, including mostly lunch and dinner recipes Best Budget-Friendly Plant-Based on a Budget: Delicious Vegan Recipes for Under $30 a Week, in Less Than 30 Minutes a Meal Amazon View On Amazon View On Abebooks.com View On Barnesandnoble.com Pros Recipes for easy, inexpensive meals Suitable for vegans Includes one-pot meal recipes Cons Recipes are very basic and may not be innovative enough for more experienced home cooks Eating plant-based doesn’t need to be an expensive endeavor, and Plant-Based on a Budget is proof. The introduction section walks you through vegan cooking basics, pantry essentials, and general tips on how to save money on food and how to navigate grocery aisles. Each recipe includes "Toni’s Tips" to troubleshoot common cooking pitfalls and to modify recipes based on your taste buds and what’s in your pantry. Flip to the one-pot meal section for easy, affordable, everyday dinners you’ll cook on repeat. Try the Stovetop Blueberry Oatmeal for a satisfying breakfast with an antioxidant boost or the Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowl for a hearty, nutritious start to your day. Price at time of publication: $20 Number of Recipes: 100 | Experience Level: Beginner | Recipe Categories Include: Breakfast, salads, snacks, staples, one-pot meals, desserts Best for Everyday Meals At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen: Celebrating the Art of Eating Well Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Pros Includes pantry stocking guide and meal planning guides Most recipes are suitable for gluten-free diets James Beard Award-winning cookbook Cons Requires a lot of pantry stocking to execute the recipes When it comes to everyday cooking, At Home in the Whole Food Kitchen is our go-to cookbook. Part One of this book sets the stage with a pantry stocking guide, simple recipes for daily nourishment, plus meal planning guidelines and tips for living a whole food lifestyle. Part Two is packed full of delicious plant-based recipes. We love the pantry meal section, which offers up some tasty combinations utilizing basic ingredients you likely have on hand in your kitchen. Recipes range from light, fresh salads and soups to heartier stews, grain bowls, veggie burgers, and casserole dishes—you’ll find a veggie dish that will satisfy any mood or craving. Check out the "Snacks, Nibbles and Drinks" section to inspire a health-forward “mocktail party”—and we promise you won’t miss the meat and cheese plate. Price at time of publication: $24 Number of Recipes: 150 | Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Breakfast, salads, soups, snacks, whole meals, dessert, drinks, pantry recipes The 8 Best Gluten-Free Cookbooks, According to a Dietitian Best Seasonal Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables Amazon View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com View On Target Pros James Beard Award-winning cookbook Recipes incorporate unique, elevated textures and flavors Includes pantry stocking guide and prep and cooking tips for different vegetable varieties Cons Some recipes incorporate meat, seafood, and dairy and are not suitable for full vegetarian or vegan diets Limited breakfast recipes If you’re looking to cook with the seasons, Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables is your pick. As the title suggests, this book is organized by season: Spring, Early Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer, Fall, and Winter. In this great reference, you’ll learn about seasonal harvesting and highlighting the flavors of peak-picked produce. We love the "Sauces, Dips and Dressing" section for recipes to elevate any simply roasted vegetable, like the Caper Raisin Vinaigrette and the Salsa Verde variations. Local, in-season produce typically contains higher nutrient contents as it’s harvested at peak ripeness and has reduced transit time—go to your local farmer’s market or join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to stock up on ingredients for the Six Seasons recipes. Price at time of publication: $25 Number of Recipes: Over 100 | Experience Level: Intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Organized by season and vegetable, including mostly lunch and dinner recipes Best Vegan Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul : A Cookbook Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Barnesandnoble.com Pros Suitable for vegan diets Recipes incorporate unique flavors and vegan-friendly comfort food favorites Includes pantry stocking guide Cons Some recipes require many ingredients and steps Jenné Claiborne’s Sweet Potato Soul cookbook is our top pick for flavorful, innovative vegan dishes. The introduction provides a brief history of southern cooking and soul food and a breakdown of adapting this way of cooking to a vegan diet. Her vibrant recipes highlight southern flavors, including smokey, sweet, and spicy. Pair the Date BBQ Jackfruit Sliders with the Coconut Collard Salad for a comfort meal packed with nutritious ingredients. Vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores will delight in these thoughtfully-crafted dishes. Price at time of publication: $20 Number of Recipes: 100 | Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Breakfast, salads, soups, sides, mains, sweets, drinks, pantry staples and sauces The 8 Best Vegan Cookbooks of 2023, According to a Dietitian Best Vegan Runner-Up Oh She Glows for Dinner: Nourishing Plant-Based Meals to Keep You Glowing Courtesy of Walwart View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Barnesandnoble.com Pros Includes a meal planning guide and meal prep tips Includes dietary labels and recipe modifications to navigate food allergies Family-friendly recipes Cons Does not include breakfast recipes Oh She Glows for Dinner is the third cookbook from The New York Times bestselling author Angela Liddon. This book offers over 100 nutrient-dense, vegan recipes—primarily for lunch and dinner. It's a great resource for tips and tricks on how to meal plan and prep that is geared toward healthy family meals. It also provides a convenient index of recipes in the back based on preferences, including one-pot meals, freezer friendly, gluten-free, and more, in addition to a helpful pantry stocking guide. We like that this book makes it easy for those navigating dietary allergies or specific food preferences. Each recipe includes dietary labels, noting if they are gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, grain-free, or oil-free, along with suggested recipe modifications. Oh She Glows for Dinner is filled with a flavorful variety of plant-based dishes that both vegans and omnivores will enjoy, including meal-worthy salads, casseroles, hearty soups and stews, desserts, drinks, sauces, dressings, and make-ahead spice mixes. Our favorite recipes are the Cheesy Lentil Bolognese Casserole, Fast Family Fajitas, and the Glow Green 30-Minute Pesto Pasta. Number of Recipes: Over 100 | Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate | Recipe Categories Include: Salads, soups and stews, sides, mains, sweets, drinks, sauces, dressings, and spice mixes What to Look for in a Vegetarian Cookbook Skill Level If you want to enjoy winter sceneries, you look for the best shoes to walk on ice, right? The same rule applies to cookbooks. Go for one that feels approachable and suits your comfort level in the kitchen. If you’re a newer cook, go for one of the introductory or comprehensive cookbooks. If you’re confident with the fundamentals of cooking with vegetables, push yourself out of your comfort zone and go with an elevated, gourmet, vegetarian cookbook. Bottom line: Flip through the pages and go with what inspires you most. Ingredients and Recipe Lists Before you purchase a cookbook, take a look at the recipe list, which is generally located in the table of contents. Review it to ensure that the recipes appeal to you and that they use ingredients that fit your dietary requirements. For example, if you avoid gluten, the recipes should include gluten-free grains or offer easy modifications. Even if you are buying the book online, many retailers give you the option to take a peek before purchasing. 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. Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian? Vegan means eating a diet consisting of 100% plant products and excludes meat, poultry, dairy, eggs, and fish. A vegetarian diet is primarily plant-based but may include dairy and eggs. Learn More: Vegan vs. Vegetarian: What’s the Difference? How nutritious is a vegetarian diet? Current research shows that vegetarian diets rich in plant-based foods can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. However, not all vegetarian diets are created equal. The health benefits of a vegetarian diet are associated with high intakes of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats. Vegetarian diets that are primarily made up of processed foods with high amounts of added sugar and saturated fats are less likely to produce positive health outcomes. There are some potential drawbacks to following a vegetarian diet, including the risk of inadequate intake of protein and certain micronutrients, including vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, calcium, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids. However, incorporating a range of plant-based proteins such as soy, legumes, nuts, and seeds, as well as dairy, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, reduces the risk of deficiencies. Supplementing with the appropriate nutrients, depending on your diet and individual needs, can also help to meet your nutritional needs on a vegetarian diet. How hard is it to be a vegetarian? It is not necessarily difficult to follow a vegetarian diet, depending on your dietary preferences and access to plant-based foods. As plant-based styles of eating become more common, vegetarian foods are even easier to find in grocery stores and restaurants. Many restaurants offer a variety of vegetarian options or accommodate substitutions. You may want to consult with a registered dietitian to ensure you are meeting all of your dietary needs and eating a well-rounded diet. Why Trust Verywell Fit? As a registered dietitian, Anne Carroll uses her clinical expertise to cut through marketing claims and get down to the science. These are all products that she has researched, vetted, and would recommend to her clients in private practice and incorporate into her own cooking. 1 Source Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Melina V, Craig W, Levin S. Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics: vegetarian diets. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2016;116(12):1970-1980. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit