A collection of the best vegetarian cookbooks for vegetarians, and meat-eaters alike!
Whether you are looking to up your daily dose of veggies, incorporate more meat-free meals, are a lifelong vegetarian, are entirely new to plant-based eating, buying a gift for a friend or family member (or all of the above!), this list of the best vegetarian cookbooks has a little something to suit every palate and skill level, beginner and expert alike. So grab a favorite beverage, check out those reviews, and enjoy!
Best Vegetarian Cookbooks
Vegetarian Family Cookbook: 100 Simple Kid-Friendly Recipes to Enjoy Together
I could not put together a vegetarian cookbooks collection without tooting my own horn now could I? As a vegetarian since the age of eight, this book is one of my proudest achievements. It is a culmination of my life experiences as a vegetarian and includes some of my most treasured recipes to date. These are recipes I make for my own family regularly and I know I'm biased, but I think it is a rather well-rounded collection of recipes, incorporating a variety of cuisines and flavors to appeal to a broader audience.
![Ultimate Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone [American Measurements]](https://moonandspoonandyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/41idZUMPHWL._SL500_.webp)
Ultimate Veg: Easy & Delicious Meals for Everyone [American Measurements]
I first watched Jamie Oliver as a teenager on his show "Naked Chef". He is a large part of my culinary journey and he continues to be at the forefront of all things food. When he came out with this wholly vegetarian cookbook, I certainly jumped right on it! This vegetarian cookbook is one of the bestselling vegetarian cookbooks of all time. Is it well worth the hype? YES!
Love Real Food: More Than 100 Feel-Good Vegetarian Favorites to Delight the Senses and Nourish the Body: A Cookbook
Kathryne Taylor is the creator of Cookie + Kate, a wildly popular vegetarian food blog (and rightly so!). Her book, Love Real Food, takes a wonderfully refreshing whole foods-focused approach to vegetarian cooking. My personal favorite thing about this cookbook is how appealing the recipes are to vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters alike.
The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook: A Fresh Guide to Eating Well With 700 Foolproof Recipes (The Complete ATK Cookbook Series)
Any recipe from an America's Test Kitchen cookbook is going to be, well, well-tested! If you are looking for comprehensive and foolproof, this is an excellent choice. It includes 700 recipes that are vegetarian, 500 of which are gluten-free, and 250 of which are vegan.
The Moosewood Cookbook: 40th Anniversary Edition
A list of vegetarian cookbooks would be incomplete without the inclusion of the Moosewood Cookbook! I first checked out this book at the library as a newly vegetarian child. The Moosewood Cookbook is a compilation of recipes served at the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, New York, and it continues to be a cult favorite in the vegetarian cookbook world.
The Vegetarian Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity with Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Legumes, Nuts, Seeds, and More, Based on the Wisdom of Leading American Chefs
An essential in the world of vegetarian cooking, The Vegetarian Flavor Bible takes the reader on a highly detailed journey through vegetarian cuisine. Whether you are new to vegetarianism or simply tired of the same ol', this cookbook is certain to shift your perspective as to what is possible with vegetarian ingredients.
The Mexican Vegetarian Cookbook: 400 authentic everyday recipes for the home cook
This magical cookbook not only contains 400 delicious vegetarian recipes but authentic Mexican recipes to boot. If you really want to dive into the world of Mexican cuisine, meat-free, this book is for you! It is hard to read this book and not walk away completely inspired.
![East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing [American Measurements]](https://moonandspoonandyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/51dT3ZKGQ1L._SL500_.webp)
East: 120 Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes from Bangalore to Beijing [American Measurements]
If you are a fan of Asian flavors but short on ideas, enter East, a true explosion of both fun and flavor in book form. I've personally yet to have made a recipe from this book that is anything short of amazing!
![The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone: [A Cookbook]](https://moonandspoonandyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/51NEYol97oL._SL500_.webp)
The New Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone: [A Cookbook]
This 500+ page vegetarian cookbook from Deborah Madison is truly a comprehensive vegetarian cookbook. Find everything from sauces, desserts, and main meals to tips and tricks to incorporate in the kitchen. If you only purchase one cookbook from this list, this would be a great choice.
How To Cook Everything Vegetarian: Completely Revised Tenth Anniversary Edition
Mark Bittman's How To Cook Everything Vegetarian is considered a classic and is a very approachable vegetarian cookbook. Apart from the foolproof recipes fit for any leg of a vegetarian recipe, this cookbook is also incredibly well-written and detailed to boot.
![Super Natural Simple: Whole-Food, Vegetarian Recipes for Real Life [A Cookbook]](https://moonandspoonandyum.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/51qtfznpnL._SL500_.webp)
Super Natural Simple: Whole-Food, Vegetarian Recipes for Real Life [A Cookbook]
Heidi Swanson is the creator of 101 Cookbooks, a vegetarian food blog. Super Natural Simple focuses on a whole-food approach and is a great collection of vegetarian recipes that lean toward the healthier side of the spectrum.
The Magnificent Book of Vegetables: Eat a rainbow everyday with over 80 vegetarian recipes
If you are looking to "eat the rainbow", this book from Alice Hart has certainly got you covered. This cookbook dives deep into the world of vegetables and you will be certain to never look at produce the same way again! Every recipe in this collection is a true gourmet experience in my humble opinion.
Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi
Yotam Ottolenghi's Plenty not only incorporates his background as a classically trained chef, but also draws inspiration from a wide variety of cultures with a heavy emphasis on vegetables. If you truly need to liven the tastebuds, this makes a great choice for getting out of a vegetarian funk.
The Weekday Vegetarians: 100 Recipes and a Real-Life Plan for Eating Less Meat: A Cookbook
Jenny Rosenstrach of Dinner: A Love Story has created a vegetarian cookbook that is packed with recipes that look complicated, but are anything but. This book is a great display of how one can still achieve fun and flavorful, even when short on time.
Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian: More Than 650 Meatless Recipes from Around the World: A Cookbook
Inspired by world travels, Madhur Jaffrey's World Vegetarian is a true culinary journey around the globe. One of the many wonderful things about this cookbook is the ability of the recipes to appeal to both veggie-leaning and meat-eaters alike. These recipes are satisfying and will not leave one hungry as many vegetable-forward recipes can do.
Simply Vegetarian Cookbook: Fuss-Free Recipes Everyone Will Love
Susan Pridmore is the voice behind The Wimpy Vegetarian, a veggie-centric food blog. This delightful cookbook has one main theme and that is "ease". And, who doesn't need more of that in the kitchen? While these recipes are easy to make, they do not skimp on flavor or creativity.
The Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook
Whether you are already a fan of Middle Eastern flavors or simply new to Middle Eastern cuisine, this book likely has some value for you. With over 50 years of cooking experience, Salma Hage knows her stuff when it comes to technique and combining flavors for maximum deliciousness.
Foolproof Vegetarian One-Pot: 60 Delicious Dishes, From Weekend Slow Cooks to Easy-Going Traybakes
If you are looking for a bit of ease in the kitchen, but do not want to skimp on flavor or satiation, this one-pot cookbook is certain to tickle your fancy. The ingredients are simple and accessible, the instructions clear and the results fantastic (this goes well beyond soups!).
The French Market Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes from My Parisian Kitchen
Apart from pastries, prior to this book, I connected French cuisine to rather meat-heavy dishes. This book shifted my perspective and then some. Clotilde Dusoulier is the voice behind Chocolate and Zucchini, a food blog, and Change My Life, a life-coaching site. If you're curious about French cuisine, this book will take you on a lovely seasonal journey.
Mumbai Modern: Vegetarian Recipes Inspired by Indian Roots and California Cuisine
As a longtime Indian food lover, this cookbook ticks all the boxes. While it is not quite authentically Indian, it incorporates many classic Indian elements to create a fusion of Indian and Californian cuisines. This is simply put a fun vegetarian cookbook as it combines ingredients one would not normally think to combine. And best of all? It works!
Vegetarian Heartland: Recipes for Life's Adventures
Shelly Westerhausen is the creator of Vegetarian Ventures, a food blog. Her cookbook is inspired by life in the Midwest US as a vegetarian and much like her blog, is a stunning visual work of art paired with rather remarkable and foolproof vegetarian recipes that are creative, yet highly approachable. It's a win all around!
Vegetarian Mediterranean Cookbook: 125+ Simple, Healthy Recipes for Living Well
`The Vegetarian Mediterranean Cookbook is not only filled with easy vegetarian recipes but authentically Mediterranean, too. Many of the dishes found in this book lean on the healthier side and incorporate readily available ingredients.
Evergreen Kitchen: Weeknight Vegetarian Dinners for Everyone
If you are looking for some weeknight inspiration, this book has got you covered when it comes to flavorful and approachable vegetarian dinner recipes that are anything but boring. Bri Beaudoin is the voice behind Evergreen Kitchen, a vegetarian food blog.
Vegetarian Soul Food Cookbook: 75 Classic Recipes to Satisfy Your Cravings
As someone originally from the South, I was excited when I first got my hands on this cookbook, and it certainly did not disappoint. It contains many delicious classic Southern soul food recipes minus the meat, but definitely not minus the flavor!
Naturally Nourished Cookbook: Healthy, Delicious Meals Made with Everyday Ingredients
Sarah Britton is the voice behind My New Roots, a well-known food blog in the healthy food blog space. Naturally Nourished not only contains well-rounded, nourishing vegetarian dishes, but dishes that more often than not, turn out rather visually stunning as well, making this a great book to have on hand for entertaining purposes.
Anjali says
I've been looking for some new plant based cookbooks to try and this list was so helpful! Thanks for laying out all of the options - I have lots of good ones to choose from here!
Rachna says
Oh wow! This is an amazing collection. Have bookmarked the post to use later.
MacKenzie says
Thank you for sharing this. All these cookbooks look fabulous. Adding a few to my list.
Jess says
My hubby just went vegan and I am lost as to how to cook for him so I totally appreciate this list to help me get started with this lifestyle change!
Tara says
Bookmarking this list for later! I've got several foodies on my Christmas gift list and they will be over the moon with these. Thanks!