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Best Overall: The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook
This book's recipes not only look delicious, but they also come with key photos to walk you through tricky techniques.
Best Basic: Meatless
Per usual, Martha Stewart’s guidance in the kitchen is much appreciated, especially when it comes to vegetarian cooking.
Best for Beginners: The Simply Vegetarian Cookbook at Amazon
Rest assured there are plenty of simple recipes for the many different scenarios that arise during busy weeks.
Best in a Time Crunch: The 30-Minute Vegetarian Cookbook at Amazon
An introduction section compares animal proteins to plant-based proteins on a per-gram basis, so you know exactly how much you’re getting with your swaps.
Best Blog-Turned-Cookbook: Love Real Food at Amazon
This book covers it all—from breakfast all the way to happy hour and desserts.
Best Mediterranean: Vegetarian Mediterranean Cookbook at Amazon
These 125+ recipes showcase Mediterranean classics, like eggplant moussaka and spanakopita, as well as inventive dishes that may surprise you.
Best Celebrity: Ultimate Veg at Amazon
Jamie Oliver's dishes, including veggie pad Thai and veggie chili, will appeal to vegetarians as well as omnivores who just want to go meatless occasionally.
Best Photography: Plenty More
These refined, elegant, and restaurant-worthy dishes prove "vegetarian" goes way beyond basic salads.
Best New Release: Super Natural Simple: Whole-Food, Vegetarian Recipes for Real Life
Frugal vegetarians and flexitarians will appreciate her low-maintenance approach to preparing nutrient-dense drinks, condiments, breakfasts, snacks, lunches, dinners, and desserts.
We all know that eating more veggies is good for our wallets and the environment. These books will make plant-based eating easy and appealing for vegetarians and omnivores alike. Whether you're a beginner or looking for a specific type of dish, this list has you covered with the best meatless recipes in a variety of categories.
Here are the best vegetarian cookbooks.
Best Overall: The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook
A-Z veggie guide
Kitchen tools care included
Photos for tricky techniques
Limited breakfast options
America’s Test Kitchen does it again with another comprehensive (700 recipes) and trusted resource for those seeking vegetarian recipes. To sweeten the deal and appeal to a very wide audience, 300 of those recipes require 45 minutes or less, 500 are gluten-free, and 250 are vegan-friendly—all clearly labeled within the book. Packed full of photos, these recipes not only look delicious, but also come with key photos to walk you through tricky techniques.
The introduction details pantry and equipment essentials, offers knife lessons, and includes a lengthy produce guide. Whether you’re a strict vegetarian or not, recipes like summer vegetable gratin; twice-baked potatoes with broccoli, cheddar, and scallions; and frittata with asparagus and goat cheese will have you returning to this book time and time again.
Number of Recipes: 700 | Pages: 472 | Date Published: 2015
Best Basic: Meatless
Grain cooking chart
Many small plate recipes
No section specifically for breakfast or lunch
Per usual, Martha Stewart’s guidance in the kitchen is much appreciated, especially when it comes to vegetarian cooking. An informative introduction covers “protein powerhouses” to educate readers about the many sources of plant-based proteins.
The 200-plus recipes are even grouped into suggested themed menus, such as "Fall Harvest Feast" (featuring stuffed acorn squash with quinoa and pistachios, plus mushroom, spinach, and scallion tart) or “Summer Farmer’s Market Lunch” (featuring smooth tomato gazpacho and zucchini “pasta” with tomatoes and walnuts)—perfect for those days when you’re having a hard time deciding what to make or which dishes pair best together.
Number of Recipes: More than 200 | Pages: 384 | Date Published: 2013
"An equal mix of cooked grains and beans/lentils can be used to create easy patties or fillings," says Shruti Mishra, professional plant-based chef and Zesty Kitchen co-creator. "To add flavor and texture, add a handful of a well-grounded seed mix and nuts, like sesame, coconut, and flax."
Best for Beginners: Simply Vegetarian Cookbook
Quick meals
Produce prep information
Few photos in beginning sections
The name of the game here is simplicity, because, as author Susan Pridmore puts it, “There are enough things to be stressed about in life. Dinner shouldn’t be one of them.” Instead of organizing by meal course, the book is divided up by type of ease (such as five-ingredient recipes, 30-minute max recipes, and slow cooker and pressure cooker recipes), so you can rest assured there are plenty of simple recipes for the many different scenarios that arise during busy weeks.
An educational introduction breaks down vegetarian protein sources, provides carb swaps, and includes a produce cooking guide. Recipes like butternut squash and barley risotto, chickpea and coconut curry soup, and more will appeal to vegetarians and omnivores.
Number of Recipes: More than 100 | Pages: 228 | Date Published: 2018
Best in a Time Crunch: The 30-Minute Vegetarian Cookbook
Easy-to-find ingredients
Vegetarian protein chart
Little to no advanced cooking information
Vegetarian or not, most people don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. These 100 recipes will ensure you have a delicious, satisfying meal on the table in under 30 minutes (quicker than delivery in most cases), leaving you plenty of time to go about your day. Even better? These meals also cap around 10 ingredients, so you’re not stuck with any excessive grocery lists.
From breakfast to dessert, this book covers it all. An introduction compares animal proteins to plant-based proteins on a per-gram basis, so you know exactly how much you’re getting with your swaps. Nobody will miss the meat when you serve up recipes like mushroom spaghetti Bolognese, kidney bean and pumpkin chili, and raw pistachio and cashew halva. Better yet, you’ll have even more time on your hands to enjoy them.
Number of Recipes: 100 | Pages: 220 | Date Published: 2019
To up the flavor when cooking plant-based meals, Mishra says there are two versatile spices that stand above the rest: cumin and cayenne pepper.
Best Blog-Turned-Cookbook: Love Real Food
Dietary substitutions
Food ingredient information for dogs
Not a photo for every recipe
The popular blog Cookie + Kate has gotten the cookbook upgrade, and the result is not disappointing. Author Kathryne Taylor focuses on vegetarianism and even includes some advice on making food for dogs. (Cookie, her dog, is a large part of her popular site and book.)
This book truly covers it all; from breakfast all the way to happy hour and desserts, recipes like apple crisp breakfast parfaits, butternut squash chipotle chili, and spicy cucumber margaritas will keep you coming back for more. There are even suggested menus if you’re having trouble figuring out which dishes pair together well, such as “Fall Game Days” and “Prep-Ahead Party Options.”
Number of Recipes: More than 100 | Pages: 272 | Date Published: 2017
Best Mediterranean: Vegetarian Mediterranean Cookbook
Grocery shopping tips
Low price point
Minimum photos throughout
Mediterranean cuisine and vegetarianism go hand in hand, so a cookbook that combines the two makes perfect sense. More than 125 recipes from Sanaa Abourezk showcase Mediterranean classics, like eggplant moussaka and spanakopita, as well as inventive dishes that may surprise you, like sweet and sour beet dip and lentil and mushroom lasagna. The book also offers readers a comprehensive introduction to Mediterranean cooking, explaining Mediterranean basics, like key pantry ingredients, and offering shopping tips.
Number of Recipes: More than 125 | Pages: 202 | Date Published: 2020
"Most soups and pasta can be thickened using nuts, like cashews and pistachios, soaked/roasted well and then blended with coconut water. These give them a creamy texture and also a sweet taste." - Shruti Mishra, Professional Plant-Based Chef and Zesty Kitchen Co-Creator
Best Celebrity: Ultimate Veg
Numerous food categories
Easy-to-follow instructions
Small font
British celebrity Jamie Oliver created "Ultimate Veg" to highlight “brilliantly easy, delicious, and flavor-packed vegetable recipes.” Dishes such as veggie pad Thai, summer spinach pancakes, and veggie chili will appeal to vegetarians as well as omnivores who just want to go meatless a few nights each week.
Oliver himself declares this book “is not just for vegetarians.” There are plenty of vibrant photos to show off these veggie-forward recipes as well as pictures of Oliver’s culinary travels and adventures around the globe. There’s even a chapter of "One Pan Wonders" for those nights you simply don’t want to spend a long time cleaning.
Number of Recipes: More than 100 | Pages: 312 | Date Published: 2020
Best Photography: Plenty More
Stellar photos
Unconventional recipes
Not organized by meal type
Following up the award-winning "Plenty," Yotam Ottolenghi published another stunning vegetarian cookbook full of vibrant photography that will inspire anyone to get in the kitchen and eat more vegetables. The book is organized by cooking method, with chapters like “Braised,” “Grilled,” and “Tossed."
Recipes such as ricotta pancakes with gooseberry relish create delicious ways to use fruits and veggies in early breakfasts, all the way until your evening dessert of meringue roulade with rose petals and fresh raspberries. These refined, elegant, and restaurant-worthy dishes will expand your horizon, showing vegetarianism goes way beyond basic salads.
Number of Recipes: More than 150 | Pages: 352 | Date Published: 2014
"Keeping some roasted nuts and seeds in either maple syrup with added spices like ginger helps add that extra crunch to any meal." - Shruti Mishra, Professional Plant-Based Chef and Zesty Kitchen Co-Creator
Best New Release: Super Natural Simple: Whole-Food, Vegetarian Recipes for Real Life
Quick meals
Helpful pantry list in intro
No photos for basic recipes in back
Bestselling serial cookbook author Heidi Swanson's latest work is filled with meals that can be made even if time or ingredients are short in supply. Frugal vegetarians and flexitarians will appreciate her low maintenance approach to preparing nutrient-dense drinks, condiments, breakfasts, snacks, lunches, dinners, and desserts. Good recipes to try out first include dirty chai baked oatmeal, puffed rice party mix, California blender cookies, red-spiced tempeh with broccoli, and beet and feta socca. Plus, the “sheet pan meals" and “easy grills” sections stand out as content many culinary books often neglect.
Number of Recipes: 120 | Pages: 288 | Date Published: 2021
Looking for ways to save money at the grocery store? "Swapping out brand name products for store or generic brands is a way to keep your budget and vegetarian needs achievable," says Taste Nutrition Consulting founder Tessa Nguyen, who is also a chef and registered dietitian.
Beginner and vegetarian vets alike will get much use out of "The Complete Vegetarian Cookbook" (view at Amazon). While "Love Real Food" (view at Amazon), in addition to "Vegetarian Mediterranean Cookbook" (view at Amazon), include supplemental material and resources likely to be beneficial to plant-based eaters.
What to Look for in a Vegetarian Cookbook
Cost
Set a maximum spend limit prior to shopping, as cookbook prices vary greatly. New print copies can be as low as $13, but some cost as much as $40. Used texts and ebooks can be more affordable alternatives worth hunting for when sticking to a budget is a top priority.
Recipe Count
It’s usually preferable to get as much “bang for your buck” as possible. The average number of recipes in most cookbooks ranges from 70 to 200. That said, it can also be wise to take note of other information included that might be helpful to home cooks, like whether it contains sample grocery shopping lists or alternative ingredient and cooking instructions that omit common allergens, such as peanuts, wheat, dairy, soy, etc.
Author
Cookbook authors are often popular food bloggers, professional chefs, certified nutritionists or cooking challenge champs. Knowing more about the writer’s background can indicate how useful the book is going to be long-term. If the person has more of a “Meatless Monday” approach to vegetarian food, opting for a book created by someone who primarily eats plant-based may be a better call in terms of reliable content.
FAQs
What exactly is a vegetarian diet?
Vegetarianism exists in myriad forms. The main description of this dietary lifestyle is abstinence from certain animal-derived foods, but some types meat or other ingredients may be permissible depending on the specific kind of vegetarian one is. Examples include: lacto-ovo-vegetarians, who consume dairy products and eggs, but not poultry, fish, or red meat; lacto-vegetarians, who adhere to the same dietary plan as lacto-ovo-vegetarians, but don't eat eggs; ovo-vegetarians, who will eat eggs, but no dairy products, like cheese or milk; and pescatarians, who only eat fish, fully omitting red meat and poultry from meals and snacks.
What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian diets?
Vegans do not consume animal byproducts in any form. This includes meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, all dairy products, and honey.
While vegetarians also abstain from eating meat, some still incorporate eggs or dairy products, like milk and cheese, into meals. Vegetarian diets are more flexible, and there are several subsets of the diet, which are defined by which animal products are eaten (as described above).
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
The Spruce Eats writer Alyssa Langer is a cookbook enthusiast herself, collecting dozens over the years and always turning to them for inspiration, whether it’s a time-consuming weekend baking project or just a quick Monday night dinner. Having worked in the cookbook publishing world in the past, she knows what it takes to create a quality book that delivers something new and exciting to readers—particularly in an increasingly online world.
This piece was updated by Rachel Werner, an eco-conscious vegan and culinary writer who regularly creates content related to plant-based eating. Her product reviews, food styling and photography have also been featured in a variety of regional and national publications, such as TheKitchn, Fabulous Wisconsin, BRAVA and Hobby Farms Magazine. Keep tabs on Rachel’s work “behind the camera” via the vegan lifestyle Instagram account @trulyplanted. For this roundup, she interviewed Shruti Mishra, professional plant-based chef and Zesty Kitchen co-creator, and Tessa Nguyen, chef, registered dietitian, and Taste Nutrition Consulting founder.
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