Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Help! I can't decide which of Isa's cookbooks to buy as my first Vegan cookbook! Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

My first vegan cookbook was Vegan with a Vengeance and I loved it. These days I have all Isa's books, and I'd recommend Veganomicon as your first since it's so extremely complete. Some people find the size a bit daunting though, so if big cooking bibles scare you, go for VWAV first, it has most of the essentials.

ETA: I like AFR too, but it has no dessert recipes etc. Only lunch/dinner type of stuff. Also, it's a very 'healthy' book (obviously), which is great, but when I started cooking vegan, I found it very comforting to have some rich recipes too.

Vegan with a Vengeance is good, I got Appetite for Reduction really early on (after Vegan With a Vengeance, possibly before Veganomicon, definitely in the first couple months of being vegan) and it was the most helpful for me in learning how to cook as a vegan.

How exciting! VWAV was my first vegan cookbook and still one of my most-used. But I would recommend Veganomicon as it is such a massive resource. There are sections at the beginning for how to cook a bean, how to cook a veg, and how to cook a grain, and those alone make it so worth it- not to mention the hundreds of tried and true, awesome recipes.

Thanks! I was thinking Veganomicon as well, but VWAV and AFR look great as well! Hopefully one day I will have all three!

Veganomicon is definitely more comprehensive, a good mix of difficult and easy recipes, and a wide variety of types of meals. I like VWAV for certain recipes, but I think most people recommend that one because it was their first and has sentimental value, whereas, I got the two very close to the same time and prefer Veganomicon (and Isa's other books as well) over VWAV.

Veganomicon!!! If you read the whole thing you will be prepared to make any vegetable, grain, or legume that you find! Plus it has my favorite mac and cheese recipe and my favorite sandwich.

AFR is my most favorite and most used.

ive had veganomicon since xmas and used it maybe twice as it is very intimidating

Vegan with a Vengeance was my very first vegan cookbook and i love it! Its quite beat up nowadays, but just Saturday i made the Orange Glazed Scones out of it for my craft brunch. Appetite for Reduction i will admit has gotten a BUNCH of use also, especially the 2nd Avenue Korma, its my go-to recipe when i'm making dinner for company.

Vegan with a Vengeance was my first cookbook from Isa but I use Appetite for Reduction the most.

Same. I also love VCon as it has so much variety.

I feel the same way. I also feel like I can always find something new and interesting-sounding in Vcon, even though I've had it for years. I don't really get the whole 'intimidating' factor, but maybe that's because I like mixing and matching components to make a dish. But of course, there are a lot of 'one pot'-style dishes in there, too.

Thanks for all the recommendations! I think I am going to get Veganomicon and then maybe get Appetite for Reduction down the road.

Vegan with a Vengeance was my first and I love it! I might get Veganomicon since it covers so much stuff, and has a ton of general information. You really couldn't go wrong with either though.

I ordered Veganomicon from Amazon. Can't wait!

My copy of Veganomicon arrived in the mail today!!

Vegan Brunch is my favorite, but I always suggest Veganomicon for a first cookbook. You'll get a lot of mileage out of it.

I waited forever to make the leek and bean cassoulet. Don't make the same mistake I made. The directions break it down and make it really easy and it's so tasty. The biscuits on top rule.

i would go definitely for Veganomicon: The Ultimate Vegan Cookbook