Cook Like Your Nonna With These Vegan Italian Cookbooks

Italian cuisine is one of the most beloved in the world—not just in the US, but globally. In fact, a YouGov study surveyed over 25,000 people across 24 countries, and Italian food came out on top as the favorite cuisine (with Chinese and Japanese close behind).

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While Italian restaurants are easy to find—there are reportedly more than 40,000 in the US alone—there’s something especially rewarding about cooking a hearty, comforting, and nourishing Italian meal from scratch. The good news? These vegan cookbooks will help you do exactly that.

Is Italian food vegan-friendly?

Italian classics like pizza and pasta often feature plenty of meat and dairy—but many dishes can easily be made vegan. Rich tomato-based sauces such as marinara, arrabbiata, and puttanesca (minus the anchovies) are naturally plant-based. And while traditional pizza typically includes cheese, it’s simple to make or order a version topped with vegetables and vegan mozzarella. In fact, the original Neapolitan pizza—the marinara—was completely cheese-less from the start.

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RELATED: The 20 Best Plant-Based Cookbooks for Summer Cooking

Cooking plant-based Italian food at home has never been easier, thanks to vegan mozzarella and creative recipes that capture all the beloved flavors of traditional Italian cuisine, using only plants. 

Vegan Italian cookbooks to help you perfect pizza, pasta, and more Italian favorites

Intrigued? Check out some of our favorite Italian vegan cookbooks below.

1Vegan Italiana

Nestled in the heart of West Hollywood, CA, vegan Italian restaurant Pura Vita has built a cult-following with its mouthwatering dishes—so much so, that it has been voted the Best Vegan Italian Restaurant in the US three years in a row by VegNews readers. And now, you can recreate the restaurant’s signature dishes with a little help from chef-owner Tara Punzone. In Vegan Italiana, Punzone walks readers through kitchen staples (think roasted garlic aioli and macadamia nut parmesan) to cacio e pepe, ravioli, tiramisu, and beyond.
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2 Chloe’s Vegan Italian Kitchen

If you thought indulging in Italian cuisine meant sacrificing nutrition, chef Chloe Coscarelli is here to change your mind. In this cookbook, the Italian American culinary star (and restaurateur) guides you through recipes for everything from eggplant parmesan to mint chip gelato sandwiches. As one review on Library Journal puts it, “Patrons looking for easy, unprocessed vegan versions of their creamy Italian favorites finally have the book they’ve been waiting for.”
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3 Vegan Italian Food

Vegan Italian Food by acclaimed vegan chef Shannon Martinez is set to become your go-to kitchen companion. Whether you’re whipping up a comforting midweek meal or planning a show-stopping dinner party, Martinez has you covered with everything from juicy meatballs in rich red sauce to vibrant antipasti.
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4The Plantpower Way: Italia

In 2015, Rich Roll and Julie Piatt released their popular cookbook The Plantpower Way, showcasing whole-food, plant-based recipes. Three years later, they followed up with The Plantpower Way: Italia—a vibrant celebration of Italian cuisine through the same nourishing, plant-based lens. Think pasta, bruschetta, and pizza, all crafted with health and flavor in mind. “The Plantpower Way: Italia is a great example of how we live life as Italians both here and in Italy,” said James Beard Award-winning chef Rocco DiSpirito. “These recipes are indulgent, but made with integrity and a healthful, plant-based twist.”
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5 Italian Cooking With Nonna

Giuseppe Federici learned to cook from his beloved nonna, and now he’s passing that cherished wisdom on to all of us. This cookbook is packed with authentically delicious recipes, from the Perfect Tomato Sauce to classic tiramisu. As one Amazon reviewer raves, “I can’t recommend it enough—such a well-shot, beautifully colored, tastefully designed cookbook.”
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6Veganissimo!

Hearty pastas, cheesy pizzas, and crusty bread—Italian cuisine is not exactly known for being gluten-free. Luckily, Veganissimo! makes Italian recipes accessible to those who follow gluten-free, vegan diets. “I love Italian food, but it can be difficult to cook something really nice that is gluten-free and vegan,” one Amazon reviewer said. “I love this book, the recipes are great.” Expect classics such as ragu bolognese alongside reimagined favorites like asparagus cacio e pepe.
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7 Vegan Pasta Night

Pasta lovers, you’re in for a treat. In this cookbook, chef Brianna Claxton guides you through all your favorites—think filled ravioli and creamy carbonara—alongside inventive twists like vegan squid ink pasta. “This is an excellent book and should be on everyone’s radar,” says one Amazon reviewer. Another adds, “I own over 100 vegan cookbooks. This is my hands-down favorite!”
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8 Vegano Italiano

If spaghetti with wild asparagus, crostini with marinated zucchini, and cherry strudel have your mouth watering, then Vegano Italiano by Italian food stylist Rosalba Gioffré belongs on your wish list. “The recipes in this book are extremely authentic, easy, and so yummy,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “I’m an Italian vegan, and I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves Italian food.”
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9Love Vegan: Italian Classics Made Easy

For a fuss-free Italian cookbook, reach for Love Vegan. Every recipe in this 113-page guide requires just 30 minutes (or less) of prep time. From crispy mushroom calamari to pesto pizza, butternut squash gnocchi, and chocolate hazelnut tarts, every recipe in this book will keep you coming back for more. 
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10 Accidentally Vegan Italian Soups

Sure, pizza and pasta are Italian staples—but the cuisine also boasts some truly delicious, hearty soups. If you’re eager to master dishes like Sicilian fava bean and fennel soup or comforting red lentil soup, this cookbook is for you. As one Amazon reviewer puts it, “If you, too, crave Italian soup, this cookbook is a yummy choice.”
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