Where would we be without cookbooks, but in a quagmire of trial and error- tossing the dice to see if what we come up with will be exciting, tasty, terrible, or barely edible. Cookbooks can save us a lot of time, effort, and money.
Because of the information that’s available about processed foods, some of the best plant-based cookbooks are waxing in high demand these days. Under many categories, they are approaching and even bypassing traditional meat-based cookbooks.
Plant-based diets have been deemed to be a healthier choice overall and have gained a lot of traction over the past several years. Research continues to be conducted that most commonly find plant-based diets to reduce a multitude of health risks when compared to a meat-based diet.
The Top 5 Best Plant-Based Diet Cookbooks Out There
The best plant-based cookbooks should be easy to read, follow, and successfully repeat. The following five cookbooks in our list tick the box on all counts.
5. Forks Over Knives: The Cookbook
Amazon Price for Paperback (at time of the article being written): $11.26
This plant-based cookbook gives you 300 plant-based whole food recipes to choose from. The goal of this book is to be a guide in losing weight, preventing disease and other food-related health issues, and keeping you thriving daily while eating well.
The outstanding feature of this book is the variety of recipes. With that many different recipes that cover snacks as well as meals, readers won’t get sick of eating the same or similar meals day in, day out.
Author Del Sroufe worked as a chef and is a co-owner at Wellness-Forum Foods. In multiple capacities, Del has been involved in the vegan and vegetarian arena for over 22 years.
This cookbook is right up your alley if you have a moderate level of experience in the kitchen, and don’t mind hearty prep work. Ingredients lists that may fall on the lengthy end of things as well. So if you’re looking for one of the best whole food plant based cookbooks, have a look at Forks Over Knives
4. The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners: 75 Delicious, Healthy Whole Food Recipes
Amazon Price for Paperback (at time of the article being written): $13.66
The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners is a great starting point twofold. First, it’s a launch point for those who are new to plant-based eating. Second, it’s a beginner’s book for those who are green in the kitchen.
All of the recipes are kept simple, using accessible ingredients. The book contains charts to assist in cooking certain plant-based ingredients, shopping lists of staple plant foods, as well as a sample menu. The author made sure to keep the ingredients accessible through most local grocery stores.
Gabriel Miller is an author, chef, and gardener of his organic vegetable farm. He also operates his blog “Plant-Based Gabriel,” where he helps people make the change from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian or plant-based diet.
If there are any complaints about this book, it’s by those who aren’t beginners. People who are more experienced in the kitchen might find it to be too simple.
3. The Plant-Based Diet for Beginners: The Health Benefits of Eating a Plant-Based Diet.
Amazon Price for Paperback (at time of the article being written): $9.99
Instead of a list of recipes for you to choose from, this book promotes a 21-day meal plan based entirely on plant-based foods. The recipes populating this book are meant to be easy, healthy, and fast- aimed at the beginner.
Though the recipes are less complex than what you’d find in other cookbooks, it is largely geared toward those who are new to the plant-based scene. This is telling in all of the additional nutritional and health benefits information listed out for the reader. To make acquiring ingredients easier, basic shopping lists are included.
Author Alice Newman specializes in Nutrition and Dietology, and runs the full gambit when it comes to working with others concerning their physical health requirements- be it in the gym or injury prevention situations.
Though there is nutritional information about a variety of ingredients, a major complaint is that there are no protein totals listed per ingredient or meal. So, if you try this book out, you’ll have to do a little leg work to figure that much out.
2. Plant-Based Air Fryer Cookbook: 75 Whole-Food Vegan Recipes
Amazon Price for Paperback (at time of the article being written): $15.29
This book is the perfect solution to cutting down on using salts, oils, flours, or sugars, intending to focus on keeping healthy foods healthy. It must be said though it should go without saying- an air-fryer is required.
This book consists of 75 recipes, Information about plant-based diets, some guidance toward running the air fryer to its best potential, and some tips and tricks to help out with the recipes.
Janet and Maddie Dockery are most commonly known for their mother and daughter YouTube channels “Vegan as Fork” and “Madrosed.”
The only complaints that could be found for this cookbook are the lack of color photos. That said, none of the previous three had any color photos either.
1. The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook: 500 Inspired, Flexible Recipes for Eating Well Without Meat
Amazon Price for Paperback (at time of the article being written): $25.16
This book is the most extensive on this list, boasting over 500 flexible vegan plant-based recipes to choose from. Packed into this book are food storage strategies, and practical techniques to assist the reader to understand the recipes as well as carrying them out properly.
Being at 432 pages of print length, this cookbook will be plenty enough to keep one busy. The variety of recipes will avoid any monotony that might commonly come with plant-based diets.
America’s Test Kitchen is a top-rated TV show with over 4 million weekly viewers.
Many of the recipes do require the use of some dairy products, so bear that in mind as it is unusual for a plant-based book.
Final Thoughts
People adhere to specific diets for specific reasons, sometimes several specific reasons. Though each book above has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, they will all assist you in keeping your plant-based diet tasty, and effective.
Just as important, is that the variety of meals will keep things interesting on the taste buds. If you’re going to make this a lifestyle, you don’t want to burn out on the same old knee-jerk two or three recipes.
