Buying guide for best vegetarian cookbooks
Vegetarian cookbooks are for everyone — carnivores included. Whether you’re trying to incorporate more meatless meals into your week or you’ve been a herbivorous eater for years, vegetarian cookbooks offer plenty of recipe ideas where veggies are the star of the dish.
Anyone can flip through a veggie-based cookbook and find something to love. Do you like classic dishes like pizza and chili? There are vegetarian versions you might enjoy. There are also some innovative new vegetarian dishes that could end up becoming your favorites.
With the right vegetarian cookbook, a beginner cook or new vegetarian can find the tools to help them discover an array of foods. Veteran chefs can also find inspiration inside the variety of vegetarian cookbooks on offer. Whatever your skill level or dietary choices, a vegetarian cookbook makes a great companion for your kitchen. In this buying guide, we give you the recipe for shopping success and a taste of our favorites.
What is a vegetarian?
Vegetarianism is typically used to refer to someone who is lacto-ovo-vegetarian — meaning they eat eggs and dairy. Vegetarians consume a plant-based diet and do not eat any animal flesh: beef, chicken, fish, etc.
There are many varieties of vegetarians, though. These include:
- Lacto-ovo: someone who eats a plant-based diet but also eats eggs and dairy
- Lacto: someone who eats a plant-based diet, eats dairy products, but does not consume eggs
- Ovo: someone who eats a plant-based diet, eats eggs, but does not consume dairy products
- Partial vegetarian: someone who eats a mostly plant-based diet but who may also consume fish (pescatarian) or poultry (pollo-vegetarian)
Benefits of a vegetarian diet
Diet choice is a personal one, and not every diet works for every individual. There are, however, several notable benefits to a vegetarian diet.
- Decreased risk of heart disease
- Lowered cancer risk
- Reduced risk of type 2 diabetes
There are also several risks associated with a mainly plant-based diet. It may be harder for some individuals to eat enough protein and achieve the daily recommended amount of certain vitamins and minerals (notably calcium and B vitamins).
Key considerations
Cookbook type
It would be impossible to list all of the cookbook types available, even within the single vegetarian category. But when browsing for a vegetarian cookbook, you may have a particular focus in mind. Do you want a vegetarian cookbook that includes recipes for your Instant Pot or other specific appliance? Are you interested in beginner-friendly recipes? Do you want a list of recipes perfect for entertaining? The type of cookbook you choose depends on your particular needs.
Other dietary restrictions
If you have any other dietary restrictions, such allergies or intolerances to gluten or cheese, scan the table of contents or index to check whether offending ingredients turn up often.
"Does the cookbook you’re eyeing have hard-to-find ingredients? Try to source those unusual items before buying the book. "
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Features
Layout
Take a peek at a cookbook’s table of contents. There’s a lot of information there. Does the general structure of the cookbook make sense? Does it seem appealing? Does the extra information (pantry organization, nutritional information) seem valuable to you? Do you prefer a cookbook organized by ingredient, meal type, or something else? Glancing at the table of contents will tell you most of what you need to know short of physically flipping through a book. If you’re shopping online, not to worry. You should be able to preview the table of contents from your computer.
Number of recipes
If you’re simply looking for plant-based inspiration, a heavy-duty vegetarian cooking tome might not be suitable for you. Those new to cooking may prefer a book that provides some instructional guidance. Again, the table of contents will give you an idea of the number of recipes, so always check there when shopping for a cookbook, vegetarian or otherwise.
Resources
Are you new to a vegetarian diet? You may find a book with additional resources useful. Helpful resources for newbie vegetarians include shopping lists, dietary tips, and pantry staple suggestions.
Photography
A cookbook without photographs may serve as a useful reference, but most people respond to visual imagery. It’s much easier to replicate a recipe when you have an idea of how the final product is supposed to look. Beautiful photographs often also serve as a source of inspiration for seasoned cooks.
Expert Tip
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Accessories
Here are a few helpful kitchen tools to pair with your new favorite plant-focused cookbook.
Pressure cooker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Beans and lentils are favorite diet staples for many vegetarians. They’re nutritious and filling, and dry beans are ultra-inexpensive. Dry beans take a long time to cook, but you can use an Instant Pot to cut the cooking time drastically. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 has a pressure cooker function that is equally useful for a variety of other vegetable-centric dishes, like soups and stews.
Food processor: Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor
A lot of vegetarian dishes require plenty of cutting and chopping. During a typical weeknight, meal prepping vegetable-heavy dishes can be time-consuming. Cut down on prep time with a Cuisinart 14-Cup Food Processor. Use it to shred carrots, liquify sauces, and slice potatoes.
Sheet pans: New Star Foodservice Commercial-Grade 18-Gauge Aluminum Sheet Pan
Roasted veggies are the best kind of veggies. Use heavy-duty sheet pans, like the New Star Foodservice Commercial Grade pans, to roast broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, and carrots to perfection.
Dutch oven: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron 5.5 Quart Dutch Round French Oven
Substitute quinoa and mushrooms for meat in your next plant-based chili and simmer the rich concoction on your stovetop in a high-quality LeCreuset dutch oven.
Vegetarian cookbook prices
A vegetarian cookbook with a short overview and a small selection of simple recipes won’t cost you more than $20. You’ll pay a premium for new releases, cookbooks written by famous chefs, and books that include high-quality photography. These cookbooks could cost up to $40, but somewhere around $25 is a more likely price.
E-book versions of your favorite cookbooks are typically lower in price, but some find it tough to view and cook from digital editions of cookbooks.
Tips
- Stock your pantry with spices and seasonings. Don’t be afraid to flavor your food boldly.
- Dried beans are cheaper than canned, but there’s no reason you can’t speed up the cooking process by using canned beans.
- A vegetarian who doesn’t eat eggs or dairy products needs to pay close attention to the foods they eat to ensure they’re getting all the essential vitamins needed for survival.
- Are you feeling lethargic? Don’t self-diagnose a deficiency. Ask your doctor about blood testing to ensure you’re getting the appropriate amount of iron and B vitamins in your diet.
Other products we considered
The Thug Kitchen cookbook is an ultra-popular book of vegan recipes. It’s not for the faint of heart — the book contains plenty of profanity — and some of the seasoning instructions are a little on the light side. Otherwise, it’s a great book to scan for veg-centric hosting.
The First Mess Cookbook is a gorgeous plant-based cookbook that features beautiful full-page photography. A simple glance at the photos will leave you salivating. The recipes are organized by season, so this pick is perfect for the cook interested in utilizing seasonal produce.
Plenty More, written by chef Yotam Ottolenghi, is a feast for the eyes. The book is filled with incredible mouth-watering recipes, but it’s not one we’d recommend for the novice cook.
FAQ
Q. What’s the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan?
A. Unlike vegetarians, vegans avoid all animal-derived products, including honey, eggs, dairy, and leather.
Q. How do I know whether I'm getting enough protein from my diet?
A. If you suspect you may have a deficiency, speak to your doctor, who can order a blood test to verify. A vegetarian diet requires careful planning to ensure you’re getting enough protein. Most people eating a vegetarian diet, especially lacto-ovo vegetarians, shouldn’t have a problem eating enough protein. Athletes, however, may find it tough to get enough protein with a plant-based diet and may need to supplement with products like protein bars and powders.
Q. I’m cooking for my non-vegetarian friends or family. What’s a good dish to serve meat-eating guests?
A. We suggest avoiding meat substitutes. Choose a recipe for a dish that highlights and elevates one or more plant-based ingredients. Serve reluctant carnivores things like vegetable pasta or vegetarian pizza. Consider cooking an Indian dish for your next dinner party or potluck. Indian cuisine incredibly vegetarian-friendly.
