Cookbooks worth making room for

I know, I know, you have too many cookbooks already. Same, same. I have cookbooks in the kitchen, cookbooks next to my bed, cookbooks in the spare room…

And yet here I am, shoving more under your nose and saying, ‘Lookey here, do you have this one yet?’

This is a roundup of my favourite plant-heavy (not necessarily vegan) cookbooks, new and old. Whether you want to reduce your meat consumption, introduce more variety into your weekly meals, or just get inspiration for feeding your Designated Awkward Vegan or Vegetarian, I hope this list will help.

These books are all about naturally vegetarian or vegan food, as opposed to food that tries to replicate meat dishes, or recipes with weird substitute ingredients. (Listen, I love plant burgers and seitan as much as the next Awkward Vegan but I understand that’s not everyone’s cup of turmeric latte.)

This isn’t meant to be a definitive list of all the classics, by the way – it’s just the books I happen to have and love. If you have other favourites, do comment or email to tell me about them. My shelves won’t thank you, but I will!

• Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi – I have most of Team Ottolenghi’s books, but if you’re looking for straight-up veg heaven, this is the place to start.

• Nistisima by Georgina Hayden – with a focus on Greek Lenten food, this is full of recipes that are naturally vegan. And who doesn’t want to be transported to Greece?

• East by Meera Sodha – a mixture of veggie and vegan Asian-inspired recipes. I think every Meera Sodha recipe I’ve ever made has been a winner. She’s a marvel.

• Fresh India also by Meera Sodha – for Indian vegetarian recipes.

• Chilli & Mint by Torie True – another reason why I love Indian cooking. Most of the recipes in here are vegetarian and several are vegan or easily veganised.

• One Pot, Pan, Planet by Anna Jones – I’ve had this book for years and still regularly find new, wonderful things that I haven’t yet made. It’s a triumph.

• Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon – this one is a new addition to my shelf, so I’m only a few recipes in. But so far, two emphatic thumbs up.

When it comes to baking…

• Simply Vegan Baking by Freya Cox

Whether you’re into vegan baking or not, I always think it’s handy to have some egg- and dairy-free recipes up your sleeve for loved ones with allergies. I like this one because the recipes are the sort of thing I would bake with Mum and Nan when I was young. Just good, simple cakes, biscuits and desserts. The sort of bake you could take to the local church fete without freaking anyone out.

Cookbooks that are on my wishlist

And finally, I have an ever-growing list of books that I’m keen to add to my kitchen shelf. (Or the pile next to the bed. Or the spare room bookshelf….)

Top priorities are:

• Sebze by Özlem Warren – I mean, I love Turkish food and want to make every vegetarian thing Özlem shares on her Instagram, so this is a no-brainer.

• Your Daily Veg by Joe Woodhouse – again, every time I see someone cook from this book on Instagram, I’m instantly hungry.

• From The Veg Patch by Kathy Slack – with a focus on 10 favourite vegetables from Kathy’s veg patch, this is right up my street.

• Big Vegan Flavor by Nisha Vora – Nisha (of Rainbow Plant Life) makes the most vibrant, rigorously tested, naturally vegan recipes. Several of her YouTube recipes are in regular rotation in our house.

What to eat this week

Anna Jones’s potato, leek and chickpea traybake with quick romesco (recipe is in One Pot, Pan, Planet, as well as on the Guardian).

Now that we’re edging into new potato season, this recipe has been taking up a lot of space in my brain. It’s a quick traybake – ready in 30 minutes – and the sauce is EVERYTHING.