World Vegetarian by Madhur Jaffrey

Chocked full of recipe gems.  If I had to pick a cookbook to eat out of for the rest of my life, it might just be this one.  It’s a little more thorough on Indian vegetarian (the author is Indian), but in a world usually focused on European culinary traditions, I’m not complaining.  

How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman

Thorough and unfussy, if those two qualities can go together.  I like Mark Bittman a lot.  For a long time I kept thinking some day I should pick up a copy of Joy of Cooking, but after owning this book I don’t feel the need.

The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg

Not a cookbook, but a book that invigorates your tired kitchen ideas and inspires.  Profiles of almost every ingredient imaginable, and lists of  complementary flavors.

The Improvisational Cook by Sally Schneider

Here’s a book where every recipe I try, I come back to and try again, maybe improvising, maybe not, but each idea always embeds itself in my kitchen.  Sometimes I claim I’ve created something new, only to realize it is a riff on a Sally Schneider suggestion.

The Essential Cuisines of Mexico by Diana Kennedy

Diana Kennedy is the woman I want to be.  When I plan a dinner around meat, I’m probably using a recipe from this book.  Not that it’s all meat. (disclosure: Mexican is my favorite ethnic food)

The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters

So simple that the recipes aren’t very forgiving.  I pull this book out when I have top quality ingredients that beg to shine.

Whole Grains Every Day Every Way by Lorna Sass

I can’t keep straight cooking methods for every grain in my head all the time, so I have this book.  Plus there are some delicious recipes if you need a place to start.

The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

Not a book that is light on animal products, but I can’t help but mentioning it.  If you are going to eat ice-cream, please don’t eat it any other way.  If you aren’t going to eat ice-cream, try the sorbets, please.  I know, it sounds like I am begging.  I guess I am.