15 Best Vegan Cookbooks To Read In 2023

People seeking a healthy lifestyle often seek to redefine their relationship with food. Due to the popularity of the Meatless Mondays movement, many people are exploring a plant-based or vegan diet. Vegan and plant-based diets are often used interchangeably, but there are some key differences between the two diets. A vegan diet means eating a diet that consists of fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds that excludes all animal products, including meat, dairy, cheese, and eggs, and animal-derived products like gelatin and honey. A plant-based diet is similar to a vegan diet but not as strict, and there is more wiggle room. People who follow a plant-based diet can eat dairy and animal products occasionally, but eating plants is the main focus.

Luckily more and more vegan products have hit the market, and more restaurants and fast food chains are adding vegan items to their menus, making it easier for anyone considering adopting a vegan lifestyle. Changing your diet takes time, and there is a learning curve for home chefs learning to cook with plants. Home chefs that want to add more vegan recipes to their weekly repertoire will likely enjoy reading through vegan cookbooks to learn tips for vegan cooking. Whether you are a long-time vegan looking for new recipes or new to the lifestyle and beginning your plant-based journey, cookbooks are a great way to learn more. There are several different incredible vegan cookbooks you can read to inspire you wherever you are on your vegan journey.

Classic staples of the Latino kitchen, like guacamole and salsa, are already vegan, but many Latin and Caribbean dishes are fairly meat-heavy. But vegan food just got tastier thanks to author Karla Salinari, who wrote "Abuelita's Plant-Based Kitchen: Vegan Cuisine Inspired by Latin & Caribbean Family Recipes." This book is a game changer for vegan diners that miss their classic Latin-inspired cuisine. 

The author is a self-taught home chef who grew up between Miami and Puerto Rico, two places that have rich and distinct food cultures. She gravitated towards plant-based cooking and eating as a way to get healthier, and her cookbook offers a great approach to taking charge of your diet while still being able to eat childhood favorites. 

The book starts with a little about her own relatable journey on her path to a plant-based/vegan diet. She shares the struggle of eating healthy without feeling deprived of flavor. Then, she gives you a look inside her pantry with a list of spices and staples that are the base of her meals. Reading this book feels like talking with a friend: Her instructions are clear, and she makes the reader believe in her confidence as a recipe creator.

If you love the spices and flavors of Latin-inspired foods, then "Abuela's Plant-Based Kitchen: Vegan Cuisine Inspired by Latin & Caribbean Family Recipes" is a must-have for your vegan kitchen: Find it on Amazon for $29.96.

For anyone who may be skeptical about whether vegan food is good or is worried about making the transition, the "Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan" cookbook is for you. The book is written by popular vegan blogger Richard Makin who has been developing vegan recipes since he transitioned from long-time vegetarianism to a completely vegan diet five years ago. The book is an extension of his blog School Night Vegan where he has been sharing vegan recipes since 2017. 

He takes the reader along with him as he looks at classic meat dishes and transforms them. The cookbook opens with a look at how to build a vegan pantry and his practical advice on how to ease into restocking your pantry. He goes on to explain what vegan cooking means to him and the exciting new challenge that vegan cooking has given him, as it has led to more creativity in his food. It is no wonder that he has such a big social media following; he is down to earth and approaches veganism with curiosity and confidence that can help anyone looking to explore the wide possibilities of vegan cuisine. You can purchase "Anything You Can Cook, I Can Cook Vegan" on Amazon for $32.50.

If you have spent any time across the pond, then you might already be familiar with the vegan fast food chain The Vurger Co., which serves vegan fast food at its four locations in England. The Vurger Co. has now released a cookbook to teach vegan home chefs how to make some satisfying vegan fast food at home.

The chain's cookbook "The Vurger Co. at Home: 80 soul-satisfying, indulgent, and delicious vegan fast foods recipes" is a hit with vegan and vegan-curious diners all over. The book has 4.5 out of 5 stars, and it's easy to understand why since it's filled with vegan recipes for dishes like butternut squash mac and cheese, vegan pulled pork sliders, and the classic vurger. Plus, the book understands the importance of sauces in making vegan dishes pop: The book includes all the best sauces from brick-and-mortar restaurants.

If you have been missing fast food, "The Vurger Co. at Home: 80 soul-satisfying, indulgent, and delicious vegan fast food recipes" is just what you need for fun and tasty vegan food. Buy it on Amazon for $29.99.

Everyone has different reasons for turning to a plant-based vegan diet. It could be for health, environmental, or animal rights reasons, although for some people, it's as simple as not liking the taste of meat. But the "Fake Meat: Real Food for Vegan Appetites" is perfect for people who are vegan and miss meaty dishes. The book looks at the different versions of plant-based meats and considers how to cook them the right way. The author of the book, chef, restaurant owner, and author Isa Chandra Moskowitz, remakes classic meat dishes with seitan, tofu, and other vegan ingredients. 

She proves that it is possible to enjoy fake meat in all its glory with dishes like pastrami sandwiches, hot chicken, and lobster rolls. The author shares her path to veganism and the love of animals that got her there, and we are glad it did because the recipes are as meat-free as they are delicious. If you are looking for ways to explore all of the plant-based meat options in new and unique ways, "Fake Meat: Real Food for Vegan Appetites" is the book for you. Check it out on Amazon for $26.12.

Eating healthy and following a vegan diet is not just for the wealthy; healthy eating and a cruelty-free diet are accessible to everyone regardless of socioeconomic status,  and "Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy" proves that point. The author Toni Okamoto shows readers how to meal prep and batch-cook healthy vegan recipes that help save money and time. 

The first section is called "Start Where You Are," which sums up the author's realistic take on changing your diet and lifestyle. She pushes readers to celebrate their success however it looks. She is honest about becoming vegan and how jumping into a new diet can be overwhelming and frustrating, but she guides readers along a journey of discovering that cooking vegan meals at home can be manageable and, most importantly, tasty.

If you are on a budget, and most of us are, whether budgeting money or time, this book is for you. Find "Plant-Based on a Budget Quick & Easy: 100 Fast, Healthy, Meal-Prep, Freezer-Friendly, and One-Pot Vegan Recipe" on Amazon for $23.99.

People who are new to a vegan diet may be concerned about getting enough protein in their diet. Many people who are unfamiliar with plant-based protein may think of vegans as weak and thin. But nothing could be further from the truth, as fitness expert and author John Lewis and writer and editor Rachel Holtzman prove in "Badass Vegan: Fuel Your Body, Ph*ck the System, and Live Your Life Right."

John Lewis, the creator of Badass Vegan, went plant-based as a reaction to the chronic health problems he saw in his community. He has dedicated himself to educating others about the health benefits of going vegan. The book is filled with practical tips to get started and motivational information to keep you going. The recipes range from street tacos to sushi, but before he even gets to the recipes, he encourages readers to change their thinking about what vegan means and take a look at themselves and their diet.

This book is for anyone that wants to prioritize their health and step into a plant-based mindset and diet. Look for "Badass Vegan: Fuel Your Body, Ph*ck the System, and Live Your Life Right" and buy it on Amazon for $34.99.

Chinese food may not be the first cuisine you think of when you consider vegan dishes. Vegan Chinese food uses the same fragrant spices as regular Chinese food but has more umami-rich ingredients to give the dishes an exciting vibrancy of flavor. Author Hannah Che, who trained at the Guangzhou Vegetarian Culinary School, has written a unique cookbook that explores a long tradition of vegetarianism in Chinese culture. 

"The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a Thousand-Year-Old Tradition: A Cookbook" is filled with exciting recipes that combine classic flavors like Sweet and Sour Tofu, Stir Fried Greens, and Stuffed Cabbage Rolls. Throughout the book, she takes her readers on a culinary tour of Chinese vegan recipes and storytelling about the history of the dishes and how she connects to them. In addition to the various foods and their stories, the book has beautiful photography that captures the brightness of her vegan dishes. If you are tired of take-out and drawn to learn your favorite vegan Chinese recipes, this is the book you have been waiting for. "The Vegan Chinese Kitchen: Recipes and Modern Stories from a Thousand-Year-Old Tradition: A Cookbook" is available on Amazon for $24.13.