Plant-Based Cookbooks You Need To Own

I know this isn't a recipe - but I felt this was the best section for this particular post.  These are my 12 favourite vegan and plant-based cookbooks that I think you should absolutely have in your kitchen.

Most of you know that I'm beauty and makeup obsessed (well I do blog about it fairly regularly), but something you might not know about me is that I'm obsessed with cookbooks.  I've got 100s - possibly 1000s - and yes it drives my husband a little crazy - we have books piled everywhere.  In our bookshelves there is only room for my beloved cookbooks.  Most people, I know, go to bed reading a novel .... but you'll often find me flicking through a cookery book - weird ?? Maybe !

I don't feel there is ever a wrong time to update your cookbook library .... so if you are in the market for a little new inspiration then here are a few of my absolute favourite plant-based and vegan cookbooks - some aren't that new .... but they are firm favourites when it comes to choosing recipes to cook at home.  

A Modern Way To Cook ~ Anna Jones
From the author of the of another one of my favourites: A Modern Way To Eat.  This book is packed full of delicious and inspiring recipes .... but please be warned this is vegetarian not vegan - but I have no problems in adapting the recipes to make them 100% plant-powered.  I think this book is fab for persuading your meat eating friends that plant food is absolutely yummy and the way forward.  Three of my favourite recipes from this book are: Buddha Bowls, Mung Bean Dahl and Sweet Potato Chilli.

​The World Of The Happy Pear ~ David and Stephen Flynn
I love these 2 Irish guys .... love their Youtube channel too.  They are showing the world that vegetarian food is endlessly varied, packed full of flavour and amazingly easy to prepare - basically they want to spread the love for fruit and veg!  These are great family friendly recipes and so easy to follow (although a couple have been a little time consuming to prepare).  

Kale and Caramel ~ Lily Diamond
I've been following this blog for a while so I was delighted when I found out that Lily published this amazing recipe and bodycare book! What I love about this book is not only will you learn a non-nonsense way to make homemade beauty products like face washes, masks and moisturisers infused with fresh herbs and flowers, but you'll also enjoy the author's candid storytelling about love, loss and the lessons learned along the way!! I literally read this book over the course of two days before I even started to dig into its food recipes just because the writing was so enthralling. Other than the great prose and all the skincare knowledge this book is packed full with dozens of drool-worthy recipes for healthful desserts, salads, beverages and tons of amazing vegetable dishes! 
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This Cheese is Nuts!: Delicious Vegan Cheese at Home ~ Julie Piatt
Cheese. We love it and when changing our diets, it’s often the one thing we say we couldn’t live without. Enter Julie’s awesome book! She teaches us how make our own dairy-free cheese right at home. It’s better cheese with no more belly aches and all the other rubbish side effects  that comes along with dairy. Welcome to the world of nut-based cheese-making!

On The Side ~Ed Smith
The premise of this book is that it will change the way you think about meals.  The idea is that the sides are the main event.  Seeing as I don't touch meat - the sides are always my main event!    I find that this book is packed full of recipes that I both want to cook and eat.

At Home In The Whole Food Kitchen ~ Amy Chaplin
This is a A sophisticated cookbook which is full of inspirational, healthy, sustainable and delicious - this is whole food cooking for everyone.  I find that Amy offers readers a very sensible and achievable approach to eating well without compromising on flavour or satisfaction.  Who says wholesome food can't be beautiful, too? Her food looks and tastes gorgeous! 

Minimalist Baker's Everyday Cooking ~ Dana Shultz
If you want to keep things simple, this really is a wonderful place to start. Each of the recipes only use one pot or pan, have ten ingredients or less, and take a maximum of 30 minutes to make. This is the ultimate book for starting slow and steady with high-quality simple plant-based recipes. If you’re a no-fuss and healthy kinda gal, this is perfect one for you!
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Deliciously Ella Every Day ~ Ella Woodward
I go through phases of loving Ella, then not loving her quite so much. I love that her health led to an awakening to a wellness revolution. If you’re looking for nutrition on the go, she’s created a wonderful collection of recipes to help you avoid getting hangry whilst you’re out and about. She delves into batch cooking, recipes you can make ahead of time, and yummy snacks to take with ya wherever you go!  One word of warning - her recipes can be very fattening - so tread lightly.

Happy Healthy Vegan Kitchen ~ Kathy Patalsky
Kathy is great cookbook author, plus her site has so many great free recipes too - so check them out before splurging on her book. Her cookbook is a staple for both the seasoned vegan and newbie, with loads of flavour-packed recipes and invaluable kitchen tips. And her vibe is infectious.  After all we all want cooking to be fun?! She’s definitely a cook to keep on your radar!

The Vegan Pantry ~ Dunja Gulin
A great starter book for someone recently turned vegan.  The book starts with plenty of clear, accessible information about key vegan ingredients, getting all the essential vitamins and minerals on a vegan diet, making clever substitutions, and how to make and buy pantry basics that form the foundations of many recipes in the book.  The recipes are fab and it contains my favourite recipe to Seitan out of all the vegan recipe books I possess.

Plum ~ Makini Howell
This book is from Plum Bistro, Seattle's wildly popular vegan restaurant, which is known for its delicious and innovative vegan recipes using local ingredients.  The recipes are easy to follow, but the time necessary is a luxury many  people don't have including me ..... but its great for those occasions when you have a little more time and want to make something truly delicious and indulgent.

Oh She Glows Cookbook ~ Angela Lidden
Coming from the popular Oh She Glows blog, this  book is packed with more than 100 recipes such as protein-packed snacks, go-to breakfast and some truly delicious desserts.  Angela shows us that plant-based eating doesn’t have to be complicated, and is absolutely delicious too.

What are your favourite vegan and vegetarian cookbooks .... I would love more recommendations to add to my collection !

​Emma x