Top 10 Vegetarian Cookbooks
So if you're looking for some great vegetarian cookbooks, this top 10 list is full of tried and true recipes for different cuisines, occasions and family members - all vegetation or vegan.
No matter if you're new to trying some meat free meals or you've been a vegetarian for years, these books are highly rated for satisfaction. Check 'em out!
Holiday Vegetarian Cookbook:
Vegetarian Celebrations - Festive Menus for Holidays & Other Special Occasions
Contents at a Glance
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian
Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food
How to Cook Everything Vegetarian: Simple Meatless Recipes for Great Food
Amazon Price: $20.47 (as of 01/01/2010)
Marking how mainstream vegetarian cooking has become, the next must-have for the vegetarian cook's shelf comes from New York Times Minimalist chef Bittman, an avowed meat eater. And that ensures one of this massive compendium's many attractions: a wealth of recipes that don't scream vegetarian and plentiful guidelines to make cooking vegetarian as intuitive as cooking with meat. Like his now classic How to Cook Everything, this book opens with terrifically useful, straightforward discussions of essential ingredients, appliances and techniques, which Bittman builds on throughout in to-the-point sidebars and illustrated boxes. The recipes flow thick and fast in his theme-and-variations style: Green Tea with Udon Noodles is followed by concise instructions for making it 17 different ways, while Coconut Rice gets five additional takes and Kidney Beans with Apples and Sherry four; other lists (six Great Spreads for Bruschetta or Crostini, 10 Garnishes for Pozole with Mole) abound and inspire. New vegetarians and vegetarians cooking for omnivores will appreciate Bittman's avoidance of faux meat products in favor of flavorful high-protein dishes like Braised Tofu in Caramel Sauce and Bechamel Burgers with Nuts. Even owners of the original book will find much new to savor while benefiting from Bittman's remarkable ability to teach foundational skills and encourage innovation with them, which will help even longtime vegetarians freshen their repertory.
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I am not a vegetarian because I love animals; I am a vegetarian because I hate plants.
~A. Whitney Brown
Veganomicon
The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook
Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook
Amazon Price: $18.15 (as of 01/01/2010)
While most vegan cookbooks are anemic, underfed volumes-some no-brainer pasta recipes, a few things to do with tofu, maybe some oddball desserts-this slam-bang effort from vegan chefs Moskowitz and Romero (Vegan with a Vengeance) is thorough and robust, making admirable use of every fruit and vegetable under the sun, without once asking readers to make do with fake meat products and egg replacements. Instead, the eccentric authors offer dozens of novel, delicious ways to get excited about eating meat-, dairy- and egg-free. Take Southwestern Corn Pudding, a winning casserole rich with coconut milk and an unexpected dash of maple syrup-a likely MVP at your next Thanksgiving (whether it's centered around turkey or tofu). Almost as addictive are Rustic White Beans and Mushrooms, which get their bite from fresh herbs, and Lentils and Rice with Caramelized Onions and Spiced Pita Crisps, a transcendent Middle Eastern comfort food. Vegan breakfasts get overdue attention: sitting in front of a hot stack of velvety Blueberry Corn Pancakes and hearty Blue Flannel Hash, who's going to miss the bacon? Best of all is the wide selection of terrific desserts: everything from Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies to decadent Caramel-Apple-Spice Cupcakes boldy fill the space where most eggless, milkless and butterless cookbooks fear to tread.
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I won't eat anything that has intelligent life, but I'd gladly eat a network executive or a politician.
~Marty Feldman
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
Amazon Price: $26.40 (as of 01/01/2010)
The elegant simplicity and exquisite flavor of Deborah Madison's food make her one of America's leading cooks. In Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, she offers more than great food: her book includes comprehensive information about ingredients and techniques, plus more than 800 recipes. The recipes range from dishes as familiar as Guacamole to those as distinctive as Green Lentils with Roasted Beets and Preserved Lemons, and Cashew Curry. The 124-page chapter titled "Vegetables: The Heart of the Matter" is a virtual book of culinary revelations; you could use it as a manual on buying and preparing vegetables. Madison provides equally inspired recipes and guidance for everything from grains and soy to dairy foods and desserts.
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Vegetarian - that's an old Indian word meaning "lousy hunter."
~Andy Rooney
Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker
200 Recipes for Healthy and Hearty One-Pot Meals That Are Ready When You Are
Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker: 200 Recipes for Healthy and Hearty One-Pot Meals That Are Ready When You Are
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 01/01/2010)
Vegetarian cooking instructor Robertson (Vegan Planet) turns her attention to the growing number of slow cooker owners. Starting with Slow Cooker Basics, she takes the user through the ins and outs of the appliance from the size of machine suitable for good results to cooking times and 10 quick tips for cooking success. She also devotes a small section to those vegetarian ingredients, such as seitan, that nonvegetarians may not be familiar with. Branching out from the traditional casseroles and stews so popular in the early days of the slow cooker, she tackles appetizers, soups and desserts as well, using the appliance with great effect to produce vegetable stocks as well as flavorful offerings like the Indian-inspired Curried Cauliflower Soup with Chutney and Cashews as well as Asian-influenced Hot and Sour Soup. The fundamental chilis and stews are not forgotten, but beans and grains so essential to the vegetarian diet put the slow cooker to best use. Pastas and vegetables nicely round out the book.
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Do vegetarians eat animal crackers?
Student's Vegetarian Cookbook
Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
Student's Vegetarian Cookbook, Revised: Quick, Easy, Cheap, and Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
Amazon Price: $10.04 (as of 01/01/2010)
Perfect for students, but just as valuable for health-, time- and budget-conscious grown-ups, Raymond's updated cookbook offers 142 quick and easy recipes for all kinds of vegetarian delights, including breakfasts, salads, sandwiches, pastas and stirfries. With the knowledge of a nutritionist and the warmth of a mom, Raymond urges her readers to embrace meatless cooking for its ease, its economy and its benefits for both people and the environment. For those new to vegetarianism, she covers techniques for smart shopping and kitchen tricks; for the truly harried, her 10 "No-Time-to-Cook" recipes prove that a decent and healthy meal can be whipped up sooner than you can say "Pizza to go." The recipes draw on various cuisines-there's Greek-Style Scrambled Tofu, Black Bean and Yam Quesadillas, Pad Thai and Pasta Primavera-and are uniformly simple and delicious. Raymond also offers vegan recipes, drinks and desserts. With readily available ingredients, prep times that never exceed 20 minutes (and that are often in the single digits) and directions that rarely call for any appliance more complicated than a blender, this volume should be required reading for any student vegetarian.
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Vegetarian: A person who eats only side dishes.
~Gerald Lieberman
The Vegan Table
200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion
The Vegan Table: 200 Unforgettable Recipes for Entertaining Every Guest at Every Occasion
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 01/01/2010)
Entertain in Style-Vegan Style
The Vegan Table is your one-stop source for creating the perfect meal for your friends and family. Whether you're hosting an intimate gathering of friends or a large party with an open guest list, author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, crowned the "Vegan Martha Stewart" by VegNews magazine, will answer your every entertaining need.
Inside you'll be treated to practically limitless recipe and menu ideas, making it easy to satisfy any and all palates and preferences. From romantic meals for two to formal dinners, casual gatherings, children's parties, and holiday feasts, you can keep the party going through every occasion and season.
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I did not become a vegetarian for my health, I did it for the health of the chickens.
~Isaac Bashevis Singer
The Complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook
350 Essential Recipes for Inspired Everyday Eating
The Complete Italian Vegetarian Cookbook: 350 Essential Recipes for Inspired Everyday Eating
Amazon Price: $24.75 (as of 01/01/2010)
This uniquely accessible collection draws together the best vegetarian recipes of Italy-350 in all. 'Pasta and pizza may be Italy's most eye-catching exports, but it is the country's varied and sensible use of vegetables that provides the best inspiration for American cooks,' writes Jack Bishop. 'Asparagus spears coated with a little olive oil and roasted to intensify their flavor; thick slices of country bread grilled over an open fire and topped with diced tomatoes and shredded basil from the garden; or a fragrant stew with fennel and peas-Italians enjoy these dishes because of what they do contain, not what they don't.' Many of the recipes were gathered by Bishop during extensive travels throughout Italy. Some are family favorites, adapted from those of his Italian grandmother. All deliver perfect results with a minimum of effort. Serving suggestions for each recipe make planning vegetarian meals easy.
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We don't need to eat anyone who would run, swim, or fly away if he could.
~James Cromwell
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant
Ethnic and Regional Recipes from the Cooks at the Legendary Restaurant
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant: Ethnic and Regional Recipes from the Cooks at the Legendary Restaurant (Cookery)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 01/01/2010)
In Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant, 18 of the Moosewood Collective's chefs each contribute a chapter of vegetarian recipes from a different regional cuisine. Recipes are straightforward, and sources (and substitutes!) are given for hard-to-find ingredients. In addition to the Asian cuisine one might expect to find in an international vegetarian cookbook, there are some surprising and tasty options from Eastern Europe, Armenia, and the Middle East, as well as both Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish recipes. The suggested menus encourage mixing; tomorrow's dinner could include Sopa de Ajo (garlic soup) from Chile, Spinach Nori Rolls from Japan, and Mango with Yogurt from India. The main dishes are so hearty that your guests may not notice they're meatless.
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If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?
Cookin' Southern Vegetarian Style
Cookin' Southern Vegetarian Style
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 01/01/2010)
For a taste of life in the south, this cookbook captures all the hominess of Southern cuisine with a dose of healthful eating in recipes that are vegetarian versions of standard favorites. Included are the sumptuous vegetable and fruit dishes and baked goods that have graced Southern tables for ages. Plus recipes handed down through generations showcasing other well loved combinations of favorite foods: tomatoes and green beans, biscuits and piping gravy, watermelon and pecan pies. You'll go back to a time and place where the pace is slow and friendly, close to the earth, and full of good food.
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To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body.
~Mahatma Gandhi
Better Than Peanut Butter & Jelly
Quick Vegetarian Meals Your Kids Will Love!
Better Than Peanut Butter & Jelly: Quick Vegetarian Meals Your Kids Will Love! Revised Edition
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 01/01/2010)
Better Than Peanut Butter and Jelly: Revised Edition, includes the latest information on nutrition, health food, and organic products. Packed with tasty new kid-tested recipes and informative tips to make healthy cooking easier than ever, this new edition has everything adults need to create fun meals kids will enjoy.
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Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
~Albert Einstein
What's your favorite meat free meal?
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- JoyfulPamela JoyfulPamela Dec 16, 2009 @ 12:33 pm
- I love all of the quotes you have on the page between interesting looking books!
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- almawad almawad Dec 2, 2009 @ 1:10 am
- My mum can make wonderful traditional Hungarian dishes with paprika like stuffed cabbage or stuffed bell peppers ....I used to be vegetarian but I gave up because I heard that soy is not as good as it was told ...
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- Heather426 Heather426 Oct 7, 2009 @ 4:19 pm
- Great resource lens! and beautiful as well.
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- oztoo oztoo Oct 7, 2009 @ 3:05 pm
- I'm not a vegetarian but I do like my veggies. Unfortunately my hubbie doesn't. It's a bit like trying to get kids to eat their veggies. Any of these books would be a great addition to my small collection of cookbooks. Maybe I can find something to tempt him.
Thanks for a great lens.
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- seashell2 seashell2 Oct 6, 2009 @ 10:18 am
- Awesome... some great cookbooks, I like the Vegetarian Slow Cooker Recipe book... :-)
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- hlkljgk hlkljgk Oct 6, 2009 @ 8:25 am | in reply to KarateKatGraphics
- i really like this moosewood volume; i use it for family brunches - vegetarians and omnivores love it.
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- BarbRad BarbRad Oct 6, 2009 @ 4:45 am
- They do look good. I'm surprised I don't have any of them in my vast cookbook collection yet. Good job. I like the quotes.
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- KarateKatGraphics KarateKatGraphics Oct 5, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
- I use the Moosewood Sundays book several times a year and love it. Nice choices! Rolling this to Summer in a Blender.
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Lensmaster hlkljgk has been a member since July 21 2008, has rated 1,427 lenses, favorited 210, and has created 119 lenses from scratch. Heather Katsoulis donates their royalties to ASPCA. This member's top-ranked page is "How to Make Origami". See all my lenses
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