With warmer days and the promise of spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to refresh our daily routines and embrace the vibrant plant-based flavors of the season. As we shed the heaviness of winter, lighter, veggie-forward meals are a great way to reconnect with nature and fuel us for the months ahead. Beyond simply nourishing the body, these dishes invite us to rethink what it means to eat responsibly, cooking meals that not only support our health but also reduce our carbon footprint. To help you embrace the change in season, we've handpicked some of our favorite vegetarian and plant-based cookbooks–ranging from classics to recent favorites–that will inspire fresh and flavorful meals to add to your cooking repertoire. 

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1. Plant You: Scrappy Cooking

Scrappy Cooking by Carleigh Bodrug is a practical and innovative cookbook designed to help readers reduce food waste and eat healthier. Focusing on whole-food and plant-based recipes, it offers creative ways to use every part of your produce, from transforming radish tops into pesto to repurposing broccoli stems into summer rolls. This book also emphasizes the importance of using leftovers and scraps in delicious and nutritious dishes, making it an ideal guide for anyone looking to minimize food waste. With nearly all recipes being oil-free and vegan, Scrappy Cooking is a fantastic resource for both health and eco-conscious and home cooks.

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2. Love Vegetables

Anna Shepherd’s Love Vegetables is a vibrant collection of recipes that reimagines vegetables as the centerpiece of every meal. Drawing from her professional cooking experience and work with growers and farmers, Shepherd demonstrates how to create vegetable-based dishes that are as hearty and flavorful as those with meat or fish. Organized by vegetable type, the book includes inspiring recipes like her Five Spiced Mushroom & Walnut Ragu and Eggplant Chips with Chopped Salad & Tender Halloumi, alongside tips and insights that will inspire you to make vegetables your new culinary obsession.

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3. Justine Cooks: A Cookbook: Recipes (Mostly Plants) for Finding Your Way in the Kitchen

Known for her approachable storytelling and innovative flavors, internet favorite Justine Doiron invites readers to explore and refine their cooking style with approachable, plant-forward recipes in Justine Cooks. From hearty dishes like Baked Kale Salad with Chili Quinoa to indulgent treats like Tiny Salted Tiramisu Cookies, the book encourages both seasoned chefs and home cooks to experiment with daring flavor pairings and new techniques. With tips, kitchen wisdom, and a touch of humor, Justine Cooks is a great guide for anyone looking to expand their culinary creativity while enjoying plant-forward meals.

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‍4. The Korean Vegan Cookbook

The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro, the creator behind the popular online platform @thekoreanvegan, is a cookbook that beautifully blends traditional Korean dishes with plant-based adaptations. Molinaro offers a collection of her favorite recipes—some rooted in her childhood and others reimagined—while sharing personal stories of love and resilience. She highlights the plant-based ingredients that define Korean cuisine, such as doenjang, gochujang, and dashima while providing her take on traditional dishes like Jjajangmyun and Gamja Guk. This NYT bestseller and James Beard Award winning cookbook is a heartfelt exploration of the immigrant experience and the power of food to connect us all.

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5. Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes: 100 Soulful Plant-Based Recipes for Healthy Everyday Meals; A Cookbook

Vegan Vibes by Jenné Claiborne offers a range of vibrant and flavorful plant-based recipes that celebrate the diversity of vegetables in everyday meals. Known for her soul food-inspired vegan dishes, Claiborne brings her unique flair to the table with easy-to-make, whole food-based recipes. From the multicultural influences of her hometown of Atlanta, she creates crowd-pleasing meals like collard green soup with miso and air-fried sweet potatoes with jerk seasoning. The cookbook features everything from hearty breakfasts and comforting soups to delicious entrees and desserts. Vegan Vibes is a fun and inspiring guide for anyone looking to incorporate more plants into their diet, whether they’re vegan or not.

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6. Love and Lemons Simple Feel Good Food: 125 Plant-Focused Meals to Enjoy Now or Make Ahead

Love and Lemons: Simple Feel-Good Food by Jeanine Donofrio is a cookbook designed for busy home cooks who crave simple and flavorful vegetarian meals. With over 100 vegan recipes that also include many gluten free options, Donofrio's latest offering caters to both the spontaneous cook and the planner. The book is divided into chapters based on the type of meal and features two types of recipes: dishes that you can whip up instantly and those that can be prepped ahead. Whether it's a packable salad or a versatile lasagna, the book includes tips, flow charts, and ideas for mixing and matching ingredients to keep meals exciting. 

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7. Vegetable Simple: A Cookbook by Eric Ripert

Vegetable Simple by Eric Ripert, the renowned chef of Le Bernardin, celebrates the beauty and simplicity of seasonal vegetables. In this cookbook, Ripert applies his culinary expertise to create elegant and straightforward recipes that highlight the natural flavors and hearty qualities of vegetables. With dishes like Sweet Pea Soup, Fava Bean and Mint Salad, and Mushroom Bolognese, the book offers vibrant, accessible meals that allow the vegetables to shine without complicated techniques or ingredients. Vegetable Simple is a vital guide for anyone looking to embrace the elegance of plant-based cooking.

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8. Zaytinya: Delicious Mediterranean Dishes from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon by José Andrés

Zaytinya by José Andrés is a vibrant celebration of Mediterranean cuisine, blending the flavors of Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon in both creative and accessible ways. The cookbook features a range of irresistible dishes—crispy fried vegetables, spiced seafood, tender kebabs, and fluffy pita—designed for sharing with friends and family. This collection is a tribute to the communal nature of food, showcasing how Mediterranean dishes and traditions continue to shape modern eating habits. Renowned for his humanitarian efforts, Andrés has been recognized as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People and has earned widespread acclaim not only for his culinary talents but also for his dedication to feeding communities through his World Central Kitchen organization.

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9. Plenty: Vibrant Vegetable Recipes from London's Ottolenghi

Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi is the cookbook that catapulted him to international fame, offering innovative vegetarian recipes filled with exciting flavors and fresh combinations. Drawing on his Mediterranean background and love for bold ingredients, Ottolenghi’s approach to vegetables is anything but traditional. His creative, seasonally-driven dishes defy the typical uniformity of French cooking, incorporating spices, herbs, and unexpected ingredients to surprise and delight. Plenty features restaurant-quality recipes that are accessible for home cooks, with vibrant photos accompanying each dish. 

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10. Island Vegan: 75 Flavorful Recipes from the Caribbean: Jamaica, Trinidad, Haiti, Dominican Republic & More

Lloyd Rose, the author of Crazy Good Vegan and creator of the popular Instagram account @plantcrazii, brings the bold flavors of Caribbean cuisine to plant-based cooking. A regular contributor to Best of Vegan, Lloyd’s recipes celebrate the rich culture and traditions of the Caribbean without sacrificing authenticity or flavor. In his cookbook, he shares a variety of classic and innovative dishes, including Pulled Jerk BBQ Sliders, Loaded Dal Puri Roti, Haitian Légume, and Island Flair Sweet Plantains, alongside staple sauces like Green Seasoning and Jerk Marinade. Whether you're following a plant-based lifestyle or simply seeking fresh, creative ways to cook with vegetables, Crazy Good Vegan offers wholesome, island-inspired meals. 

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11. The Moosewood Cookbook: 40th Anniversary Edition

The Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen is a true classic in the world of vegetarian cooking, inspiring generations to embrace simple, healthy, and seasonal plant-based meals. First published in 1974, this cookbook started as a hand-written, illustrated collection of recipes from Katzen's small restaurant in Ithaca, NY. Its unique approach to vegetarian cuisine—focusing on fresh, wholesome ingredients—quickly resonated with home cooks, and has become one of the most influential cookbooks in the genre. In its 40th-anniversary edition, this beloved cookbook continues to be an essential resource for those seeking to create delicious vegetarian dishes with its timeless possibilities.

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12. Eat More Plants: A Chef’s Journal

Unlike traditional cookbooks, Eat More Plants: A Chef’s Journal offers an intimate look at Chef Daniel Humm’s creative process as he transformed Eleven Madison Park into a wholly plant-based, Michelin three-star restaurant in 2021. Through handwritten sketches and reflections, Humm documents the creative and philosophical evolution behind this transformation, revealing how breaking from tradition unlocked new possibilities. Structured around the four seasons to reflect the natural rhythms of plant-based cooking, the book offers a visually striking exploration of fine dining’s evolution—capturing both the artistry and uncertainty of reinvention while serving as a stylish addition to any coffee table.

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The cookbooks featured here represent a diverse range of culinary perspectives, each inviting readers to explore vegetables in their most creative and compelling forms. From the waste-reducing ingenuity of Scrappy Cooking to the bold, cross-cultural flavors of Island Vegan, these collections provide more than just recipes as they offer a new way to engage with the food we eat. More than just guides to plant-based cooking, they reflect a broader shift toward sustainability and well-being, making them essential resources for anyone looking to elevate their kitchen skills while simultaneously sustaining their body and the planet. 

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