As a vegan you will likely find yourself constantly being criticized by friends, family and strangers for the lifestyle you have chosen. If I had a nickle for every time I’ve been posed with the question “what do you eat?,” I could retire at the ripe age of 21 and start my own sanctuary for animals in the middle of Montana. People seem to think vegan always equates to emaciation and malnourishment, which is far from the reality of our lifestyle. As veganism is becoming a bit more mainstream, more and more authors are coming out from the underground to publish fabulous cookbooks filled with nutritious vegan-friendly recipes that prove once and for all that vegans do not live off of pine nuts and wilted lettuce. Personally, I own at least a dozen vegan cookbooks, and I frequent vegan cooking blogs for inspiration regularly. In my research, I have found five vegan cookbooks that stand out above the rest. These books are must-haves for any vegan, as they contain a wide variety of recipes that will appeal to even the pickiest of vegans as well as to any omnivore friends and family you may have.
Vegan Planet by Robin Robertson
This is my personal go-to cookbook for all things meat, dairy, egg and honey free. Vegan Planet should really have been named “The Bible of All Things Vegan” as this cookbook is nearly 600 pages long and contains over 400 vegan-friendly recipes. For new converts to veganism, I especially recommend this book as the first chapter is entirely devoted to the basics of the vegan lifestyle. In Vegan Planet you will learn about the health benefits veganism provides, the staple ingredients to keep in your kitchen and how you can modify nearly any recipe to make it suitable for your diet (did you know apple sauce can be used as a substitute for eggs in cakes and other baked good?). Some of my favorite recipes from Vegan Planet include Teriyaki Glazed Tempe, Three Seed Lemon Tea Bread and Indian Spiced Lentil Soup.
Vegan With a Vengeance by Isa Chandra Moskowitz
Don’t let the angry sounding name of this cookbook turn you off to the 150 fantastic recipes it contains. In the world of vegan cooking, few stars shine brighter than Isa Chandra Moskowitz, a true goddess of all animal-free foods. Moskowitz combines her love of the punk DIY scene with her love of vegan food, and its obvious how passionate she is about both as you read her writing. While Vegan With a Vengeance contains little information about getting started on the path to living vegan, it does contain lots of fun and interesting facts about the foods used in each recipe. The book has recipes suitable for any occasion, including tasty snacks and indulgent desserts. My favorite thing about Vegan With a Vengeance is the many modified recipes it contains. With the help of this book I have been able to continue eating many of my favorite foods, such as Vegan Mac N “Cheese,” French Toast and Pad Thai.
Students Go Vegan Cookbook by Carole Raymond
You don’t have to be a student to enjoy the recipes contained in the Students Go Vegan Cookbook, though this is definitely the book I recommend highest for anyone reading this who happens to be in college. This cookbook contains quick, easy and cheap recipes that are perfect for students on a budget. Like Vegan With a Vengeance and Vegan Planet, the Students Go Vegan Cookbook contains recipes for all three meals of the day as well as snacks and desserts. A few of my favorite recipes in this book are Pumpkin Scones, Ten-Minute Brownies and Raspberry Ripple Smoothies.
