Peaceful Kitchen: More Than 100 Cozy Plant-Based Recipes to Comfort the Body and Nourish the Soul

Perez, the dietitian behind the @plantbasedrd Instagram account, went vegan “cold tofu” in 2009, and she encourages others to do the same in her personable if chaotic debut. Bookended between no-nonsense chapters on basics (“You aren’t going to wither away on a properly planned plant-based diet,” she promises) and a helpful section on meal planning are workable and simple vegan recipes. Some, like the tostadas in the breakfast chapter, tap into the author’s Dominican roots, but most are familiar comfort food, including kale salad, fried rice, faux tuna salad made with chickpeas, and roasted cauliflower served in a pita. Unfortunately, the organization feels arbitrary. It’s unclear, for example, what differentiates the tofu with four different marinades that are categorized as “nutrient packed mains” from the tofu with hoisin glaze that falls instead in a chapter on bowl meals. That chapter also includes a fiery peanut stew, while a section on “grab and go” dishes features multiple jarred soup options. Treats include no-bake cashew, date, and coconut balls; banana muffins; and a recipe that yields exactly two chocolate chip cookies. The author’s cheery demeanor adds some appeal, but given the current proliferation of vegan cookbooks with nuanced angles, there’s not enough of a through line here to make this stand out in a crowded field. (Aug.)