These Vegan Cookbooks Will Have You Going Plant-Based ASAP

These days, vegan and plant-based cooking is so popular. We’re no longer reliant on just a cookbook or two choose from in the veggie space—you now have the unique opportunity to flip through a book that fits your specific needs. Whether you’re looking to follow a more plant-based diet while still incorporating some animal products or a totally vegan diet, there’s a vegan cookbook out there that has everything you need. There are vegan cookbooks that reflect your budget, ingredients you love, culture, favorite cooking methods, and so much more, says Catherine Perez, M.S., R.D., L.S.D., the plant-based registered dietitian behind the food blog Plant-Based R.D.

“Choose what speaks to your current cooking style and food philosophy so that you'll want to make the recipes often,” agrees Jackie Newgent, R.D.N., C.D.N., a plant-forward culinary dietitian, chef, and author of The Clean and Simple Diabetes Cookbook. “Make sure it features ingredients that you know and love and can find, but also those that can help you up your culinary game to add interest to your plant-based eating repertoire.”

There’s also a lot to avoid when it comes to picking a good vegan cookbook. A celebrity author or really gorgeous photos don’t necessarily mean the food will be delicious, and that’s what you’re really looking for in a good cookbook, Newgent says. Instead, Perez suggests checking out an author’s social media or blog for reviews or recipes you can try before purchasing to ensure you’ll be excited to get cooking.

Plus, any book that promises science-backed evidence and makes certain health claims should be double-checked. Just because something is vegan doesn’t make it inherently nutritious, so any nutrition-based book should have a reputable source with credentials, Perez says. Ready to get cooking? Here are the best vegan cookbooks to add to your plant-based collection.