9 Must-Have Cookbooks for Summer Cooking

If you’re planning to spend your summer cooking and enjoying delicious, nutritious plant-based meals, we’ve got some exciting news for you. Over the past few months, there’s been an influx of new cookbooks from talented plant-based creators, each offering a fresh take on vibrant, flavor-packed recipes. Whether you’re looking for light and refreshing dishes to beat the heat or bold and satisfying meals to impress at summer gatherings, these cookbooks have something to inspire you.

RELATED: These Vegan Cookbooks Are Worth Every Penny—And They’re On Sale Right Now

With innovative twists on classic comfort foods, quick and easy weeknight dinners, and seasonal dishes that celebrate the best of summer produce, these new releases are guaranteed to keep you busy in the kitchen all season long. Get ready to explore new flavors and take your cooking game to the next level.

9 vegan cookbooks to stock up on before summer

Level up your summer cooking with these new vegan cookbooks. 

1 Sweet Potato Soul Vegan Vibes

In her new cookbook, Sweet Potato Soul founder Jenné Claiborne delivers 100 vibrant, globally inspired, seriously flavorful plant-based recipes. Drawing from her Atlanta roots, Claiborne reimagines comfort classics—think jerk-spiced air fryer sweet potatoes—with a multicultural twist. Carleigh Bodrug, fellow cookbook author and founder of PlantYou, says that Claiborne’s new book “transforms divine soul food favorites into nourishing, delicious, and approachable plant-based dishes you’ll want to make on repeat.”
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2 Island Vegan

Nothing captures the spirit of summer quite like Caribbean cuisine. In Island Vegan, Lloyd Rose shares 75 vibrant recipes inspired by the flavors of the Caribbean islands, from pulled jerk barbecue sliders to vegan salt fish and piña colada ice cream. One Amazon reviewer called the cookbook “an incredible work of art, work of passion, work of love”—and after one look (or taste), it’s easy to see why.
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3 Vegan Wholesome

Bodrug also has high praise for Vegan Wholesome, Brandi Doming’s latest cookbook. “Doming serves up nourishing, delicious protein-rich recipes in this flavor-packed book that will become a mainstay on your kitchen counter,” says the PlantYou blogger. And she’s not wrong. Craving Greek salad? Check. Cornbread waffles? Check. Hearty plant-based chili? Absolutely—check.
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4 Elly’s Plate

Elly Smart once made a career out of developing plant-based burgers, but now she’s bringing her culinary creativity to a wide range of dishes—from cozy lasagna to zesty lemon drizzle cookies. Don’t worry, there are still a few juicy, crave-worthy burger recipes in the mix. Fellow plant-based chef Gaz Oakley calls the recipes in Elly’s Plate “delicious and indulgent,” adding: “Elly is the queen of comfort food.”
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5 Soph’s Plant Kitchen

Looking to boost your protein intake? This is the cookbook for you. Personal trainer and recipe developer Sophie Waplington has crafted each recipe to be rich in plant-based protein and fiber—complete with detailed nutritional breakdowns. And yes, they’re loaded with flavor, too. We’ve got our eye on the satay chickpea and quinoa dish.
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6 Big Veg Energy

Vegetables deserve the spotlight—and Christina Soteriou makes sure they get it in Big Veg Energy. Inspired by the author’s Greek Cypriot roots, the 100 recipes in this vibrant cookbook are packed with bold, punchy flavor. Think spicy mushroom skewers with peanut lime sauce, sweet potatoes topped with tahini butter chickpeas, and pulled leeks served with pistachio cream. Soteriou proves that plants aren’t just a side dish—they’re the main event.
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7 Proper Healthy

In Proper Healthy, Calum Harris proves that eating well doesn’t mean giving up the food you love. This no-fuss, flavor-packed cookbook, which features recipes for everything from tempeh taco bowls to raspberry miso blondies, offers easy, dietitian-approved plant-based recipes tailored to support your health goals—whether you’re boosting energy, upping your protein, looking for lighter meals, or supporting gut health. One Amazon reviewer called the cookbook “vibrant and accessible,” while another praised the content as “lovely, warm-hearted, incredibly funny, and down to earth.”
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8 Call Me Vegan

Viral TikTok star Halle Burns brings her signature creativity and chill vibes to Call Me Vegan, a collection of easy, budget-friendly plant-based recipes. Born from college-life constraints (think: limited tools, tight budget, major cravings), Halle’s dishes are fast, fun, and totally foolproof. According to celebrity chef Nick DiGiovanni, “Call Me Vegan belongs on everyone’s shelf, regardless of your dietary preferences.” He adds: “Halle’s innovative approach to cooking shines through in every recipe, beautifully captured in a variety of mouthwatering photos. If you’re looking for a good guide to plant-based meals, look no further.”
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9 A Grain, a Green, a Bean

In this practical and approachable cookbook, Gena Hamshaw shares a simple, memorable formula for building balanced plant-based meals: a grain, a green, and a bean. But simple doesn’t mean boring. With this guiding philosophy, she serves up creative, flavorful dishes like gochujang pasta, spinach lasagna rolls, and even olive oil cake.
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