Check out these plant-based recipe books for all your seasonal cooking needs!
Summer is in full swing and we’re getting creative in the kitchen with tasty seasonal recipes. While we all have our go-to meals that don’t require cracking a cookbook, it can be nice to get out of your comfort zone with thoughtful recipes created by vegan chefs. Even in the age of digital recipes that are a click away, there’s something so satisfying about popping open a fresh cookbook, and this summer, we know exactly which books we’re reaching for.
Vegan Summer Cooking
When it comes to cooking in the summer, chances are you’re loading up on all the vibrant produce from your local farmers market and focusing on refreshing dishes that require simple preparation and minimal kitchen equipment. Summer salads and air fryer favorites, anyone? And you’re likely reserving those casseroles and comfort foods for the cooler summer days when you have the windows cracked and you’re rocking a hoodie. We know we are! No matter what the weather brings, we have the recipe inspiration you need. Check out our favorite vegan cookbooks for summer!
The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook by Tess Challis
Trying to avoid the oven this summer to keep your house as cool as possible? Same! If you haven’t already, it’s time you embraced your trusty air fryer. For some major vegan recipe inspo, check out The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook: 75 Whole Food Recipes to Fry, Bake, and Roast by Tess Challis. Summer-friendly recipes include Sweet Miso-Glazed Brussels Sprouts, BBQ Jackfruit Nachos, and Cinnamon Crisps—yum!
Courtesy of The Essential Vegan Air Fryer Cookbook
PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking by Carleigh Bodrug
A spin-off of her popular social media series, Carleigh Bodrug is bringing her sustainable sass to her second cookbook. PlantYou: Scrappy Cooking: 140+ Plant-Based Zero-Waste Recipes That Are Good for You, Your Wallet, and the Planet will teach you how to transform radish tops into pesto, broccoli stems into summer rolls, and wilting greens into smoothie cubes. If you’re looking to live a low-waste summer, this is the cookbook for you!
Courtesy of PlantYou
Afro-Vegan by Bryant Terry
A favorite of ours, Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed by Bryant Terry has been a go-to vegan cookbook for over a decade. Packed with recipes that remain relevant to this day, the Black-authored cookbook is a great pick for all your upcoming summer gatherings. Your guests will love your rendition of Bryant Terry’s Creamy Coconut-Cashew Soup, Cinnamon-Soaked Wheat Berry Salad, and Caribbean-inspired Cocoa Spice Cake. Cheers to this vegan cookbook for summer!
Courtesy of Afro-Vegan
Plant Magic by Desiree Nielsen
Do you believe in magic? We sure do! Earlier this year, Plant Magic: A Celebration of Plant-Based Cooking for Everyone by Desiree Nielsen hit the shelves with a variety of summer recipes. This plant-based cookbook showcases the notion that plant-based cooking doesn’t have to be expensive, time-consuming, or restrictive. Delicious and refreshing recipes include Cumin Lime Black Bean Burgers, Sunshine Panzanella Salad, and Black Olive & Za’atar Focaccia. What more could we ask for?
Courtesy of Plant Magic
The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro
If you’ve been thinking about picking up a copy of Joanne Lee Molinaro’s book, The Korean Vegan Cookbook: Reflections and Recipes from Omma's Kitchen, now is the time! Korean Vegan is a great vegan cookbook for summer as the recipes are rich in fresh produce and bursting with flavor. On hot summer days, we’re spending our time in the book’s Kimchi and Salads section whipping up dishes like Cucumber Kimchi, Brussels Sprout Salad, and Korean Potato Salad with Scallion Aioli.
Courtesy of The Korean Vegan
JoyFull by Radhi Devlukia-Shetty
Radhi Devlukia-Shetty’s book JoyFull: Cook Effortlessly, Eat Freely, Live Radiantly is a must-try vegan cookbook for the summer. Containing practical, easy-to-approach recipes, JoyFull has a dish for every mood, meal, moment, and season of the year! Summer-approved recipe favorites include Chilled Soba Noodles, Crispy Sunchokes, Masala Chai, and Oatmeal Cookies. But there’s so much in between those covers, so you can easily find recipe go-tos of your own!
Courtesy of JoyFull
The 20-Minute Vegan by Calum Harris
Looks like we all got a little overzealous with our summer schedules and now we’re too busy to cook! Between beach days, road trips, and outdoor chores, we’re all faced with minimal time to prepare meals. Leave it to author Calum Harris and his vegan cookbook The 20-Minute Vegan: Quick, Easy Food (That Just So Happens to be Plant-Based). From simple pasta dishes to decadent desserts, these meals may be prepared in under 20 minutes but are loaded with feel-good flavor!
Courtesy of The 20-Minute Vegan
Sweet Potato Soul by Jenné Claiborne
An oldie, but a goodie, you can always find Sweet Potato Soul in our vegan cookbook rotation! Packed with summer-friendly recipes, consider Sweet Potato Soul: 100 Easy Vegan Recipes for the Southern Flavors of Smoke, Sugar, Spice, and Soul your next cookbook purchase. Must-try dishes include Coconut Collard Salad, Fried Cauliflower Chicken, Peach Date BBQ Jackfruit Sliders, and Sweet Potato-Tahini Cookies.
Courtesy of Sweet Potato Soul
One Pot, Pan, Planet by Anna Jones
So, you escaped the heat with enough time to prepare dinner. But, after spending hours in the sun, you’re looking for an easy and tasty vegan meal with minimal cleanup—that’s what we’re looking for, anyway. One Pot, Pan, Planet: A Greener Way to Cook for You, Your Family and the Planet is the cookbook you should reach for! From one-tray dinners to one-pot soups to one-pan fritters, Anna Jones’ recipes are the simple inspiration we’ve all been searching for this season.
Courtesy of One Pot, Pan, Planet
Peaceful Kitchen by Catherine Perez
After obsessing over Perez's vegan recipe inspo on social media for years, we’re having a major fan-girl moment with this plant-based dietitian’s new vegan cookbook! Trust us when we say you need to check out Peaceful Kitchen: More than 100 Cozy Plant-Based Recipes to Comfort the Body and Nourish the Soul. We can’t wait to recreate the Tofu Tinga Tacos, Spicy Peanut Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad, Date & Pistachio Cookies, and everything in between!
Courtesy of Peaceful Kitchen
Tapped in Wellness by Malcolm Regisford
Got stress? This book is for you! Designed to promote stress management, Tapped in Wellness: An Introduction into Performance, Health and Mindful Living through Plant-Based Eating (Holistic Mindfulness Book, Nutritious Plant-Based Recipes), encourages readers to live life to the fullest through a healthy mind, body, and spirit. With food playing a crucial role in our overall wellness, you can absolutely count on delicious plant-based recipes designed to boost energy and provide nourishment.
Courtesy of Tapped in Wellness
Big Vegan Flavor by Nisha Vora
Popular plant-based recipe expert, Nisha Vora just launched her newest cookbook Big Vegan Flavor: Techniques and 150 Recipes to Master Vegan Cooking and we are drooling already. Consider this your new kitchen resource! Featuring recipes that showcase the natural flavors of whole plant foods, this book allows home chefs to recreate recipes like Jammy Zucchini, Diner-Style Buttermilk Waffles, and Loaded Mushroom Shawarma Flatbreads. But let us not forget—there are 150 recipes to work through, so let’s get cooking.
Courtesy of Big Vegan Flavor
At VegOut, we curate the best of the best vegan products, so you don't have to. Our picks are all selected by our amazing team of writers and editorial staff. We may earn commission if you purchase one of these great products by clicking the links above.
