5 Best Vegan Cookbooks for Beginners
If you’re a new vegan or interested in trying a plant-based diet, boy do I have some delectable plant based cookbooks for you. These are the very best vegan cookbooks for beginners (in my humble opinion).
You’ll be able to enjoy delicious recipes without using any animal products and at the same time improve your vegan cooking skills.
Related: How To Go Vegan For Beginners: 15 Tips
These vegan cookbooks offer:
- A combination of simple recipes and more complex recipes (for those special occasions).
- Loads of affordable recipes to stretch your dollar.
- Delicious vegan recipes to satisfy a vegan diet with whole foods to help you along on your plant-based journey.
Let’s jump in
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5 Best Vegan Cookbooks for Beginners
1. Oh She Glows
This is the cookbook that every vegan has on their shelf (or if you don’t, it’s a definite must)!
Oh She Glows, by Angela Liddon, has been around for years and it’s truly the best place to start your vegan journey. It offers loads of simple recipes and tasty vegan dishes for every occasion.
This cookbook also includes many allergy-friendly recipes–with over 90 gluten-free recipes–and many recipes free of soy, nuts, sugar, and grains too!
What I love about this book:
- There are photos for every recipe
- Meat eaters love these dishes too (I’ve tested many with my family)
- Easy recipes – great for everyday cooking
- She goes into great detail about her natural foods pantry – which is super helpful for anyone building out their vegan pantry.
- Loads of staples like dressings and sauces for all occasions
My recipe top picks:
- Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites (I use almond butter) – be warned you may eat these all in one go!
- Soul Soothing African Peanut Stew – perfect cozy stew for a fall or winter meal
- Lemon-Tahini Dress – this is to die for. You’ll want to pour it on everything
2. The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook
I am pretty obsessed with The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook by Nisha Vora from Rainbow Plant Life – teaching you absolutely everything you need to know about using an Instant Pot for your vegan recipes.
You’ll find stunning photos for each comforting recipe with detailed explanations and step by step instructions.
Stews, soups, curries, classic comfort food, sauces, dessert and so much more, Nisha’s Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook will be one of your go-to’s for everything from weeknight dinners to a weekend dinner party.
What I love about this book:
- Authentic curry recipes you won’t find anywhere else
- Detailed instructions on Instant Pot tips and tricks
- Cook time charts for all grains, beans, lentils and veggies
- Most of these vegan recipes freeze really well
My recipe top picks:
- Red Lentil Almond Curry – Oh wow, this recipe is sooo good. I’ve made it so many times and always make extra to put in the freezer.
- Tofu Cauliflower Tikka Masala – Indulgent, cozy, creamy and it will impress your meat eating friends too.
- Chinese Takeout-Style Tofu and Broccoli – Super easy and tasty dish, perfect for weekdays or when you want to get something on the table quickly.
3. Plants Only Kitchen
I discovered Plants Only Kitchen by Gaz Oakley when I first became vegan and started looking for vegan YouTubers to follow.
As someone originally from the UK I gravitated towards his traditional dishes like mushroom wellington and toad-in-the-hole with red onion gravy. Gaz is from Wales by the way.
Gaz is a master in the kitchen and also has loads of beautiful curries, pasta, burgers and so much more.
What I love about this book:
- Chef quality recipes that will truly impress
- Recipe icons on every page showing 15 minute meals, one-pot meals, gluten free, meal prep and more.
- Really cool photography with a photo for every recipe
- High protein recipes
My recipe top picks:
- Fluffy French Style Omelette – Made with chickpea flour – so easy and unexpectedly tastes like eggs!
- Jamaican Vegetable Curry – Stellar!
- Cheesy Stuffed Squash – the perfect choice for any special occasion – ultimate comfort dish.
4. Good For Your Gut
This is a great book for new vegans who have a tougher time getting used to beans and legumes.
Good For Your Gut by Desire Nielsen, RD focuses on nourishing low FODMAP vegan recipes for those with more sensitive tummies (great if you have IBS, inflammation, etc).
What I love about this book:
- Detailed chapters on gut health focusing on specific gut issues.
- Low FODMAP-Friendly foods list
- Recipes are categorized in 3 areas – Protect, Soothe, Heal – perfect for supporting your gut needs at any point.
- A beautiful book filled with tasty, easy recipes
My recipe top picks:
- Chickpea Umami Burgers – I made a double batch of these in the summer and froze them for easy meals. So good for lunch or a simple dinner.
- Sunchoke Kale White Bean Gratin – One of my favourite comforting dishes – just like a warm hug. Perfection.
- Spanish Chickpea and Spinach Stew – perfect one-pot dish full of flavour
5. The Complete Plant Based Cookbook
Think of The Complete Plant Based Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen as the unofficial vegan recipe bible! It has over 500 recipes with everything you could ever wish for.
In addition to all the usual suspects – burgers, pizza, stews, chilis, salads, pastas, etc you’ll find slow cooker vegan recipes, gluten-free recipes, conversions and a lot more.
Note: Some of these recipes include additional variations for vegetarian options (such as including eggs).
What I love about this book:
- The variety. You’ll find dishes from so many cultures – Indian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Japanese, Italian, American, Greek and on and on.
- Easy to follow, simple recipes
- Sturdy, high quality book you can keep for years
- Nutrition info for every recipe
My recipe top picks:
- Falafel – perfect easy recipe to make your favourite falafel wrap
- Mushroom Bourguignon – lovely depth of flavour
- Classic Tuscan White Bean Soup – Affordable, easy and a perfect one-pot dish
Final Thoughts:
I hope you love these vegan cookbooks for beginners. Whether you are trying plant-based meals for health reasons, to prevent animal cruelty or to protect our environment, I’m glad you’re here.
There is a common misconception that vegan, plant-based food lacks flavour, don’t have enough protein and are boring. Well, as I’m sure you know by now, this is anything but the case!
As I discover more amazing vegan cookbooks I’ll be updating this post, so please let me know in the comments if there is a vegan, plant-based cookbook you recommend I try!
Vegan Recipe Books I currently have on my ‘to try’ list:
- Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice and Soul
- Happy Pear Vegan Cookbook for Everyone
- Viva Vegan! 200 Authentic and Fabulous Recipes for Latin Food Lovers