Here are my top recommendations for vegan and plant-based or plant-forward cookbooks if you want to expand beyond the recipes in the 21 Days Vegan mailing list.
Top Recommendations
If I could only use one cookbook for the rest of my life, it would be this one. Flavor is an entirely vegetarian, primarily plant-based (or easily modified to be plant-based) cookbook by renowned author and restaurateur Yotam Ottolenghi. What makes these recipes so incredible is that many use techniques typically found in meat-based dishes such as basting, searing, grilling, slow cooking, and more. A must have for the vegan kitchen.
Lauren Hartmann, author of the vegan comfort food blog Rabbit and Wolves is one of my greatest cooking inspirations. Her delicious recipes range from “crack broccoli tacos” (so named because they are so addictive) to breaded cauliflower steaks so delicious I have cooked them as our vegan Thanksgiving main four years running. Her cookbook is a wonderful sample of her amazing creations!
Regional and International Cooking
Whether featuring a cuisine that is predominantly plant-based (such as Indian cooking) or vegan takes on regional favorites, these are my top recommendations for cookbooks that feature international and regional recipes.
The Korean Vegan by Joanne Lee Molinaro
In addition to the incredibly delicious recipes, one thing I love about this book is that the recipes range from dead simple to incredibly complex so you can build your vegan and Korean cooking skills as you go!
The Vegan Chinese Kitchen by Hannah Che
The recipes in this book benefit from access to a well-stocked Asian grocery store but if you can get your hands on ingredients like Szechuan chili bean paste then you are in for a treat. Another exciting aspect of this book is the broad range of ways to use bean curd (aka tofu) in different styles!
Sweet Potato Soul by Jenne Claireborne
I have made the paprika and white bean sausages from this book so many times I could probably do it in my sleep. This and other amazing southern-style recipes make this a book you’ll come back to again and again.
Vegetarian India by Madhur Jaffrey
While not strictly vegan, this vegetarian cookbook is primarily plant-based and most vegetarian recipes are easily modified to be. Jaffrey is the authority on Indian cooking so this is a must-have for your library if you love Indian food.
100% Plant-Based Comfort Food
Sometimes all you really want is a big plate of nachos. Or a gyro-inspired wrap filled with garlic sauce. Or a decadent chocolate cake. These 100% vegan, plant-based cookbooks feature comfort food classics to cover every craving.
Bish Bash Bosh! Your Favorites: All Plants by Ian Theasby
When you’re vegan for the animals and the planet… but not the health benefits! This book is full of delicious comfort food favorites made vegan.
The Vegan 8 by Brandi Doming
Simple, homey dishes made with 8 or fewer ingredients. This book skews towards comfort food and is great for quick weeknight meals.
Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
My go-to for vegan cookies. This book has done the hard work of perfecting whether to swap in flaxseed or coconut oil, as well as cooking times. Try the cowgirl cookie – you won’t be disappointed!
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Vegan baking can be tricky if you’re modifying non-vegan recipes. This book is full of excellent vegan recipes for cupcakes. One thing I love is that the cakes and frosting are separate sections so you can mix and match styles (although they do make recommendations for pairings!).
Pure Veg and Healthy Vegan Eating
If you’re looking for recipes that are all about clean, healthy, vegan eating, the following are some of my go-tos.
The How Not to Die Cookbook by Michael Greger M.D.
Dr. Michael Greger is the authority on plant-based eating for your health, so it is no surprise that the How Not To Die Cookbook doubles down on clean, healthy, plant-based eating while still featuring delicious recipes.
On Vegetables by Jeremy Fox
This elegant book may look like it should be a coffee table book, but plan for it to live in your kitchen. There are hundreds of ideas for elevating humble veggies into amazing dishes that you’ll be inspired by again and again.
Vegetable Literacy by Deborah Madison
How can you go wrong with a cookbook that explores the entire plant kingdom? Twelve sections explore the twelve families of the edible plant kingdom with some inspiring results.