I am usually in a rush to sort out my gift giving during the holiday season, but this year, I’m planning to start things sooner rather than later. Although drafting Christmas gift lists in October may seem a bit over-eager for even the holiday pros (or perhaps not?), a little brainstorming can’t hurt, right?
This holiday season, I’m considering going wild in the bookstore. Many of my friends have expressed interest in becoming vegan or just eating healthier but are often unsure where to start. Even as a more “veteran” vegan, I still find reading colorful and innovative cookbooks to be helpful and inspiring. I’m always recommending my favorite vegan cookbooks to my friends in hopes that these books will give them ideas, too.
As veganism becomes more mainstream (woohoo!), awesome vegan cookbooks are becoming more widely available. Here are just a few cool books published this year (including some that are only available for pre-order) that are on my vegan cookbook wishlist.
Lookbook Cookbook: Simple, Delicious, Gluten-free & Vegan Dishes for Fashion Loving Foodies by Jessica Milan.
I had a chance to flip through and pine over this cookbook a few days ago. The verdict: this cookbook would be perfect for a young foodie who’s just getting his or her bearings in the kitchen. The recipes feature healthy, whole-foods ingredients but are anything but stuffy. Milan’s recipes look sinfully simple and delectable. Who knew veggie pad thai could be so easy (and chic)?
The Rawsome Vegan Cookbook: A Balance of Raw and Lightly-Cooked, Gluten-Free Plant-Based Meals for Healthy Living, by Emily von Euw.
Emily von Euw is an inspiring voice in the raw food/vegan community. Her first two books, Rawsome Vegan Baking and 100 Best Juices, Smoothies, and Healthy Snacks get frequent use in my house, especially when I’m hosting company (even non-vegans love a good raw cheesecake!). I’m so excited to see how von Euw incorporates raw and lightly looks veggies in her latest mouthwatering book.
The Homemade Vegan Pantry: The Art of Making Your Own Staples, by Miyoko Schinner.
Finally, there’s a guide to creating pantry staples for vegans. We can kiss goodbye the days of buying packaged vegan goods. With Schinner’s help, whole-food loving vegans can join the homemade revolution (if we haven’t already) and whip up veganized goodies like ice cream, breakfast sausage, buttercream, and soup stock.
Street Vegan: Recipes and Dispatches from The Cinnamon Snail Food Truck, by Adam Sobel. Apparently, vegan food trucks are cropping up in cool cities. I haven’t personally witnessed this phenomenon (ahem, Corpus Christi), but vegan street food sounds amazing. Heck, vegan restaurant food sounds pretty amazing to me. The Cinnamon Snail Food Truck is a beloved fixture in New York City, but you can make the magic happen in your own kitchen with Sobel’s recipes for breakfasts, beverages, sides, desserts, and even doughnuts.
Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook, by Richa Hingle. I’ve had my eye on this book for a while. My husband adores authentic Indian food. Although he likes my version of Indian food (sweet potatoes + curry powder), I’ve longed to make something a little more complex. (Doesn’t avocado naan sound good?) Traditional Indian food can sometimes take a while to prepare, but Richa has simplified and adapted recipes to suit modern schedules and contemporary cookware.
What’s on your vegan cookbook wishlist?
Related: Vegan Cooking Tips – Creating Easy Side Dishes
How Batch Cooking Has Changed the Way I Eat
Get more like this–sign up for our newsletter for exclusive inspirational content!
Photos: Amazon
