Best Vegetarian Cookbooks

Being a vegetarian, I know that it can sometimes be a challenge to find healthy meals and not get bored with the same old tofu and beans for protein. I am not vegan, meaning I do consume some animal products such as eggs and milk but I do not eat any red meat, poultry, pork or seafood. I am on a never-ending quest for healthy vegetarian cuisine. Here for you, I have compiled some of the best cookbooks to find great tasting, good for you, vegetarian recipes.

The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas is a great guide if you have children you are trying to raise on a vegetarian diet. This book has ordinary dishes that are created without meat. Some examples are alphabet soup, sandwiches for school lunches and even some tasty desserts. ( If you prefer a vegan diet there are alternatives for the eggs and dairy in the desserts.) You can purchase this book online at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0767913965/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg for only $12.89 and it is well worth the price.

Vegetarian Planet by Didi Emmons is the place to find traditional meals with a twist. She has her own version of lasagna and mexican food and there is an entire chapter dedicated to burgers. Not just those plain old tofu burgers but ones that actually taste good even to those who aren't vegetarian. ( My husband will even eat them.) You can purchase her book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1558321152/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg for $16.87.

The Vegetarian Cookbook:The Complete Guide to Vegetarian Food and Cooking from the editors of Reader's Digest is a great book that will explain everything you need to know about fruits, vegetables, dairy, grains and pastas and it has a brief introduction to proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and daily portions. Recipes are organized by the type of meal and there are even desserts. The recipes are simple and easy to follow and include full color photos. You can purchase this book online at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0762109009/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg for the very reasonable price of $15.56

The Saucy Vegetarian is a great book written by Joanne Stepaniak. She chooses to use a combination of no-cook sauces and dressings to give vegetarian food that extra flavor it sometimes lacks. She focuses alot on Italian dishes but also keeps it simple with dishes consisting of rice, beans, potatoes and veggies. The Saucy Vegetarian can be bought online for $10.85 at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1570670919/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg.

Venturesome Vegetarian Cooking is a book written by the great mother-son team of J.M. Hirsch and Michelle Hirsch. It contains over 150 vegan recipes and over 100 photos. The recipes are from many culinary backgrounds such as the spanakopita from Greece, crostini and pasta from Italy, pad thai and soups from Thailand, sushi and noodle dishes from Japan and even some great comfort foods such as mashed potatoes, biscuits, gravy and corn chowder. This book is available online at
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1572840641/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg for the great price of $14.93.

The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook by Robin Robertson is available for $11.17 from http://www.amazon.com/dp/1558322051/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg. This cookbook has 275 recipes aimed specifically at the meat lover. The recipes are quite simple and are made with common ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.

Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure by Lorna J. Sass is just what the title says. It is a great collection of vegetarian recipes that can be made in the pressure cooker. If you have never used a pressure cooker before, this is a great book to start with. Sass covers all the basics of pressure cooking and even gives a few extra tips and tricks. Her book is available online at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1558322051/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg for $24.28.

Although I haven't personally tried it The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook:Your Guide to the Best Foods on Earth by Diana Shaw is rumored to be a great book for the beginner vegetarian. This book does not contain any photos but it does have over 600 of the best vegetarian recipes on earth. Shaw also provides information on vegetarianism and instructions on how to personalize each dish. It is available for $16.47 from
http://www.amazon.com/dp/051788268X/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg.

The Peaceful Palate:Fine Vegetarian Cuisine is by Jennifer Raymond and it is available for $17.95 online at http://www.amazon.com/dp/1570670315/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg. Raymond provides everything you need to know about being vegetarian, including what kitchen supplies are essential and what to stock in your pantry. This book contains 130 pages of gourmet vegetarian cuisine.

For those of you who enjoy Thai food as much as I do, Buddha's Table:Thai Feasting Vegetarian Style is a must-have for the vegetarian kitchen. Chat Mingkwan brings you great recipes for all of your favorite Thai dishes. This book includes instructions on how to create you own curry pastes and sauces and how to use them to enhance the flavor of food. It is available from http://www.amazon.com/dp/1570671613/ref=nosim/?tag=happycowsglobalg at the great low price of only $10.17.