To want a vegan/veggie cookbook that isn't trying to substitute?

[Aroaringfire]

I'm trying to reduce the amount of meat I eat, for a few common reasons (health, cost, environmental) I was veggie for twenty years before I started eating meat but I seem to have lost/forgotten how to cook decent vegetarian or vegan food (struggling with ideas in this lockdown!)

I've bought a couple of vegetarian or vegan cookbooks so far that have had good reviews, but they're all about the substitutes and making fake versions of regular meat/fish meals. The last one I got was Jack Monroe and I really like her cooking usually but this was was really disappointing! I guess it's to appeal to people who might be hesitant about vegan/veggie cooking but it puts me off.

I want to eat vegan or vegetarian food that is good in its own right, not food that feels like a poor substitute of something else. I know what bacon and chicken taste like, so anything that sells itself as an sub just feels a bit flat.

Can anyone recommend any books/sites/chefs? I've got a Bosh! cookbook which has lovely recipes in it, but they're a bit time intensive for every cooking (large number of ingredients and often things I can't buy locally)

Sarah Brown has written a number of books, and the Cranks recipe book is also fab. Both are from the 80's so have cheap and easy to source ingredients. The most exotic thing will be an avocado.

I particularly love the Cranks nut roast, and Sarah Brown's lentil loaf. My meat-loving DS will devour both and the leftovers are good eaten cold in sandwiches.

I have the Cranks books but they are out of print, you may be able to find old copies.

I find the older ones are best as there wasn't much substitute stuff about in the 'old (pre Quorn' days) just dry TVP, I am going back to the 80's.

Another vote for Cranks - I’ve bought second hand online. The Cafe Paradiso books are also fab.

Deliciously Ellas books are plant based and super simple if you're looking for something tasty but easy to cook. There's no meat substitution, they're just delicious meals in their own right. (I like the everyday one best)

The Cranks Bible (Nadine Abensur) is fantastic
Also love Ottolenghi

I really like Bosh and enjoy their video recipes on YouTube.

Not cook book but Hello Fresh is pretty good for veggie recipes. We use it for inspiration, getting out of ruts and then keep the recipe cards and cook it ourselves again. Very little of there's are meat substitute type recipes. They use a lot of things like chickpeas, sweet potato and lentils.

The green roasting tin is great, and we're loving the quick and easy deliciously Ella book. My husband is veggie and I'm not, and we've found these to be the most consistent recipes that suit us both!

Would NOT recommend veg by Jamie Oliver. Usually like his books but every recipe we tried was disappointing. If anyone is interested in the book they can have it!!