Knowing the right vegan cookbooks can help you greatly in this quest for the good life.
Being a vegan used to mean you were part of a fringe community, living on the edge of an extreme diet that no one understood. But with more celebrities, athletes, and people in your life adopting the vegan lifestyle every day, meat-free is becoming the new mainstream.
With this sudden surge in popularity, an increasing number of professional chefs and inspired amateurs have been publishing cookbooks to serve as helpful guides in the kitchen.
My 8 Favorite Vegan Cookbooks
1. Forks Over Knives – The Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Plant-Based Eating All Through the Year – by Del Sroufe
This famous vegan cookbook was inspired by a documentary film that started an entire movement. If you’ve never owned a vegan cookbook before, start with this one. You’ll honestly never look at fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes the same way again.
The recipes inside are simple yet elegant while being globally and seasonally inspired and approached with a health and wellness angle.
2. Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck – by Thug Kitchen LLC
This New York Times Bestseller was written by the famous LA-based duo, Matt Holloway, and Michelle Davis, who are passionate about cutting to the chase and cooking with fresh instead of processed foods.
It stands out among all other cookbooks because of its hilariously foul-mouthed approach to eating well with vegan foods. It makes going meat-free feel trendy, fun, and easy, which makes it a great pick for newbie vegans.
3. The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out – by Angela Liddon
Another famous vegan cookbook that has received rave reviews and deserved mention here is The Oh She Glows Cookbook. The website/blog of the same name is an international sensation that you’re probably already familiar with.
This is a great cookbook to have on hand if you have food allergies or want to cut out more than just meat from your diet.
A lot of the book’s recipes cut out gluten, soy, nuts, and sugar as well. It’s also a good one for cooking vegan meals for your non-vegan friends that’ll make them totally forget about meat.
4. Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook – by Richa Hingle
Variety is the spice of life when it comes to vegan cooking, and Indian food is an impressive example of this. This book features amazingly tasty curries, flatbreads, dals, snacks, and desserts that have been inspired by regional cuisines and Indian culture.
One of the most important spices in Indian cooking is Turmeric, which is great for vegan athletes who want to reduce inflammation and get an antioxidant boost. There are lots of vegan recipes with turmeric that are exotic enough to entice your taste buds, yet easy enough to throw together after work.
5. Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook – by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
To make the most of every fruit and vegetable at your disposal, pick up this comprehensive cookbook that goes far beyond fake meat products and no-brainer pasta dishes.
It has an amusing and upbeat tone and incorporates budget-friendly ingredients that you probably already have lying around your kitchen.
The eccentric authors make it easy to get excited about meat-free meals, which makes it a great pick for new vegans looking for a detailed and accessible introduction to veganism.
6. Vegan Slow Cooker for Beginners: Essentials to Get Started – by Rockridge Press
Gone are the day when slow cookers were just for pork, beef, and chicken. This book shows you how to save time on meal prep with vegan dishes when you have a busy schedule.
As the title suggests, this is a book for beginner chefs and written in a simple way to ease you into 150 delicious slow cooker recipes that defy stereotypes. As a bonus, many of these recipes make enough for leftovers and save well in the fridge.
7. Vegan: High Protein Cookbook – by Green Protein
Getting enough protein is a top concern for every vegan fitness buff I’ve ever met. This is an ideal cookbook for individuals who hit the gym hard because it highlights plant foods that all athletes should be eating.
Inside you’ll find unique protein-rich recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, smoothies, and snacks to provide you with a balanced level of protein throughout the day. Pick up this cookbook to fuel your workouts and take the guesswork out of vegan bodybuilding meal planning.
8. The Joy of Vegan Baking: The Compassionate Cooks’ Traditional Treats and Sinful Sweets – by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
Just because you’ve gone vegan doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the sweet stuff, and this book proves it! The Joy of Vegan Baking has a wonderful collection of cakes, cookies, crepes, pies, pastries, and puddings that leave eggs and dairy out of the equation entirely.
Vegan egg substitutes in baked goods also are healthy sources of meat-free protein for bodybuilders and athletes looking to build muscle and strength. Pick up this book if you have a sweet tooth and want to satisfy your food cravings in the healthiest way possible.
Please write in and let me know what you think about these vegan cookbooks and if you have some suggestions of your own!
