The best Vegan & Vegetarian Cooking eBooks: Reddit reviews

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

Gifts for new vegans break down into 2 main categories;

1. Help her navigate the new vegan landscape in front of her. For this, cooking appliances, cookbooks, and grocery trips are the way to go. If you think it might appeal to her, my GF's favorite vegan cookbook is the Seitanic Spellbook. The style of it definitely isn't for everyone, but it's a great book with some great recipes and some great blog-entry style musings about veganism. One of my favorite joke-recipes in the book is a page that just says "Eat some fruit" (in so many words).

2. Satisfy her cravings for something that she enjoyed but can no longer have because it isn't vegan. When my GF first went vegan, we were at the grocery store checkout and she made a passing comment about how she was really craving the almond joy in the candy tray, but obviously she couldn't take one. So I went and found some small-scale vegan shop near us that had specially made vegan almond-joys. Was a great gift. If you don't have any local stores that can fit those needs, I've had good luck perusing Etsy for things like homemade vegan fudge, which also works great. Just keep an ear out for when the GF inevitably vents about something she misses. Then go find a vegan version somewhere.

You two are vegetarian? The flavored tofu should just be used like chicken, battered, shredded, sautéd, in stew. But obviously it doesn’t require actual cooking through like real chicken. The tea marinade is fun for Asian style.

I used to make a baked tofu falafel by mixing mashed tofu and ground cashews with chickpea flour as a binder. That is a good protien and can be used where you would use meatballs.

And for an occasional McFish sandwich I would have a frozen hash brown patty with nori or dulse and tarter sauce on a roll. Also not a protein but fishy I used to make vegan carrot lox which was good for sushi and bagels and lox.

In New York City at House of Vegetarian I had a totally convincing whole fish Chinese style made from turnips!

You should look up homemade seitan. Making it is very therapeutic. I first learned it from The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook. They just call it “gluten” in that book. I didn’t like the roast though. I always simmered it in broth (don’t let it boil or it gets bready) and then sauté it or use it in soup and stew with biang biang mein or Laghman noodles.

I am a lover of the America's Test Kitchen Vegetarian Cook Book. There are a ton of options without citrus or nuts. This book helped me to be a better cook and a healthier vegetarian. Link to Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UGBBWFK/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Read this book: https://www.amazon.com/Mycelium-Running-Mushrooms-Help-World-ebook/dp/B004GTLKEG

I just take some immune support blend you can find in any natural foods store (Mycommunity brand or something). I think Reishi, Turkey Tail, and Shiitake are known to be the best. My supplement includes those, and some more.

You can also try AHCC (shiitake mushroom derivative) which has great reviews for cancer patients (look at Amazon). It's in phase II clinical trials at the University of Texas for fighting HPV infection with promising results, though the sample size is still too small to be substantial evidence. They're taking 3 grams a day I think for the study, but do more research on it yourself, you can find primary study info here: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02405533?term=AHCC&rank=1

Could be quackery, but everything I've read about mushrooms' potential for fighting cancer is enough for me to try and feel good about it.

My go to tactic is emphasizing the fact that most people already agree with being vegan. Most people actually have the same morals. I've never spoken to anyone who can disagree with the statement that "hurting animals for pleasure/habit/convenience is wrong". Read Eat like you care. It will help you a lot in these conversations.

There is a small minority out there who do truly think that animals are here for them (often based on religious claims) or who honestly aren't bothered by the idea of animals being hurt. Ignore them. Focus on the other 99% of people who do have some moral concern and moral impulse towards animals. Get them to admit that they agree with the basic premise and that their actions do not agree with their own morals.

I love the book Eat like you care. It's actually more like a 'Not eating animals for dummies' style of writing than an in depth philosophical treatise, but if you enjoy logic and reason, I highly recommend it. What I like about the book is that once you finish it, it helps you to mentally distill all of the million and one different reasons to go vegan down into one very simple principle. Personally I have a supreme intolerance for logical fallacy based conversation (and this will account for 99% of the conversations directed at you), and this book really helps you to quickly identify them when people bring them up so you can have more productive conversations. Even if you don't plan on being some vegan advocate or even telling anyone, trust me people will notice, and when they do they will by golly want to let you know all about what they think.

Vegetables Unleashed by Jose Andres

Https://smile.amazon.com/Vegetables-Unleashed-Cookbook-Jose-Andres-ebook/dp/B07D6MSYJQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=TJETVLQ45Y8Q&keywords=cookbook+jose&qid=1638446026&sprefix=cookbook+jose+%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-4

I would HIGHLY recommend you try The Seitanic Spellbook: Recipes And Rantings Of The Vegan Black Metal Chef

Cheap, easy, interesting recipes following that same philosophy of cooking by feel and whatever seems right to you. The author describes the ingredient amounts without using exact measurements

Yup. I think it goes beyond belief though and has been tested.

Paul Stamets

Merlin Sheldrake

This is where I started my journey and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which my missus had bought me for Christmas. But the real deal is Paul Stammets, who Merlin Sheldrake quotes a lot in Entangled Life. Have a look out for a copy of Mycelium Running.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004GTLKEG/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

I found this book useful for simple familiar recipes https://www.amazon.com/New-Farm-Vegetarian-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B003HGQKDA You could look at the table of contents and see what you think. Maybe you can get it from the Public Library. Mine has lots of cookbooks to borrow online.

I love using lentils/beans/legumes in dishes.

Lentils are great for stews, dals, and soups. Beans are great for chili, soups, or even a simple bean salad (white beans, lemon, herbs, olive oil, salt). Chickpeas for hummus, soups, pasta dishes. Ottolenghi's book Plenty really opened my eyes into vegetarian cuisine, highly recommend: https://www.amazon.com/Plenty-Vibrant-Vegetable-Recipes-Ottolenghi-ebook/dp/B005CRY2O6/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ottolenghi+plenty&qid=1602016535&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Weeeelllll... Not technically. There are laws that discourage and punish the acts leading up to and surrounding it, but a lot of places don't have laws specifically targeting cannibalism. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e6l6k76cFqM

Brings to mind all of the women who give birth then eat the placenta to replenish nutrients. There are even published cookbooks for that. https://www.amazon.com/25-Placenta-Recipes-Delicious-placenta-ebook/dp/B00BN2JP78

Humans and what are basically double standards, am I right?

Oh! I see, you are making a strawman argument. Nobody here thinks what you claim they think.

Why don't you read a book on animal agriculture if you are interested in learning the truth?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SSBD6W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_-TsrAbQM6Z3YG

Edit: wow, I had no idea the vegan argument was "humans shouldn't breed". That's insane.

What kinds of cooking methods do you have access to? Slow cooker? Oven?

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough, to vegetarians and meat eaters alike. There are a few recipes in there that are naturally lower calorie - the rest are very easy to make low-cal (by swapping ingredients, bulking up with veg, or cutting portion size) For example, there are Corn and Poblano Hand pies in there that I have made in the past week - its a homemade pastry filled with corn, poblano peppers, pinto beans, and cheese. Following the recipe with my ingredients- each hand pie (about 6inch across) is about 315 calories, though this could easily be lessened by using less oil, more veg, less or no cheese, etc.

Without a microwave, there are many recipes (in this book and online) for quinoa salads and rice salads that have cooked veg, beans, and even dried fruit in them that are served cold and delicious!

Some more details. Link 1 Link 2

I expect an apology

Edit: Before the guy responds, I should make it clear I am officially being sarcastic at this point .

https://www.amazon.com/25-Placenta-Recipes-Delicious-placenta-ebook/dp/B00BN2JP78

Bonus cookbook if you aren't willing to wait for it:

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Harvest-Paul-Photenhauer-ebook/dp/B00ANT5X82/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1491291644&sr=1-1&keywords=semen+cookbook

I personally like Daiya mozzarella shreds, but you may be better off making your own. There are some great recipes for vegan mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan. It seems people get amazing results from Miyoko's recipes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUV8CZI/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3H0F5ZMG8R561&coliid=I32OQY1IJFAZEP

For a special treat, order anything from Miyoko's Creamery. It's pricey, so not an every day thing, but it's pretty incredible. Or if you're feeling experimental, you can even try to make it yourself.

Kite Hill makes a similar product. Both are actually cultured, just like dairy cheese.

Yogurt cheese is more like a mild spreadable cheese. You can add dried basil, for example, to add some flavor. I also add salt.

As far as using "store bought" plain yogurt, I've yet to find one that is really plain. They add thickeners and sweeteners, for example. And they don't taste as good as homemade. I'm not sure how they would work for yogurt cheese. Here's a web site on making yogurt cheese I use a muslin cloth to strain the yogurt.

You can go a step further and make a "Meltable Monterey Jack" by adding some more ingredients. See Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Skinner. Again, a rather mild tasting cheese but melts nicely for a grilled cheese sandwich.

Not a movie, but a book. "Eating Animals" by Jonathan Safran Foer is hands-down the BEST book on the subject by far, and while there is upsetting content, I recommend it before watching Earthlings. I've watched Earthlings and it wounded me beyond repair. I think Earthlings is best reserved for people who can't be convinced otherwise and continue to eat meat. If a meat-eater HAS watched Earthlings and has continued to eat meat, they get re-categorized as "sociopath" in my mind and I make sure to give them a wide-berth in my life. If you or your wife are sensitive people (and I assume from this post you ARE) then save yourself a lot of horror and stay away, but always keep the knowledge that Earthlings is available for free on youtube in your back pocket for when you need to convince stubborn people...

Look for older vegan cook books from the 70s and 80s before such items were as available. My favorite (with the most delicious white cake, brownies, and pancake recipes I know) is:
http://www.amazon.com/New-Farm-Vegetarian-Cookbook-ebook/dp/B003HGQKDA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1439763682&sr=8-8&keywords=Farm+cookbook

Please just remember, that you are not wrong. To go against the tide like this means that it is some fundamental truth that you have recognized from the very core of your being about such a simple thing - not wanting to hurt others. That cannot be wrong. And hopefully you and your mom can find some understanding, but also keep in mind that to go vegan, you will always encounter this resistance. If she comes around, there will always be extended family members, friends, etc so in the long term, you must be able to accept it to some degree as well. Best of luck, and come back for support anytime! I like to think of everyone I know as potential vegans. After all I was just like them not so long ago.

Also, I highly recommend this book to help when responding to others. It's very short, takes only an hour or two to read, but is an excellent resource for learning how to have productive conversations with people about veganism. Digital download is also available.

From the book description: "The authors explore the 30+ excuses they have heard as long-time vegans and address each one, showing why these excuses don’t work. Packed with clear, commonsense thinking on animal ethics, without jargon or complicated theory, this book will change the way you think about what you eat."