No one is disputing the health benefits of working meatless meals into the weekly rotation.
A diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils and nuts is rich in fiber, vitamins and a host of other nutrients. But what can get lost amid all the nutritional chatter is that it’s also a delicious way of eating.
Recipes and tips abound for living a more plant-based lifestyle, and we found inspiration in a recent batch of cookbooks that offer tasty options, from quick and easy to low and slow.
We devoured “The Monday Pasta Club,” by Ed Barrow, a former pastry chef who made a name for himself with weekly recipe pages dedicated to all things pasta. Pasta is already a source of protein, fiber and iron, according to the USDA, while adding nuts and vegetables can raise its value even further. Barrow’s recipe for Shredded Sprout Orecchiette was tops on our list. The book strikes a balance between meat- and vegetable-forward dishes, satisfying everyone’s tastes.
Chef Jamie Oliver has carved a niche for himself in simplifying home cooking. His latest, “Simply Jamie,” is no exception. While not quite as drilled down as his handy “5 Ingredients” series, it does excel at helping cooks quickly get quality meals on the table. Many of the 130 achievable recipes, which include Upside-Down Noodle Rice Bowl and Crispy Broccoli Panzanella, are vegetarian-friendly. And if his recipes inspire you to cook, that’s the point: Oliver’s mission is to teach 1 million people to cook by 2030.
Winter is also the time when we make the most of slow cookers. While best known for giving soups, chilis and roasts the laid-back treatment, meatless meals are fair game here, too. The new “Poppy Cooks: The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook” has an entire chapter dedicated to vegetable-forward dishes, including veggie tacos and a sweet potato-topped cottage pie. Chef and author Poppy O’Toole rose to fame during the pandemic with her cooking videos (her viral 15-hour potato recipe may ring a bell). And there’s no false advertising here, as the recipes are actually delicious.
As we continue to work more vegetables into our meals, here are five great recipes to try — they just happen to be meatless.

Crispy Broccoli Panzanella
Serves 2.