This is a good question, but I don't work well with cookbooks. They tend to sit on my shelf closed. I learned by experimentation. I do know of one cookbook because I heard an interview with the author on the radio, called "Decolonize your diet" about traditional indigenous recipes from Mexico before the Spanish arrived and made everything about meat. The authors deserve support but for the curious it is also on library genesis.

But I do a combination of looking online at vegan recipes and experimenting with stuff on my own. I make a lentil sweet potato curry that is really filling and delicious. Here is my recipe copied from a tweet I made about it:

Large onion, chopped. ‘Sautee’ in water until partially clear. Add minced garlic and ginger paste. Sauté 2 more mins. Add curry powder, turmeric, any other spices, salt, pepper. Add can chopped tomatoes, 2-3 cups oat milk, 1.5 cup washed lentils, Add chopped large sweet potato, add a can of garbanzo beans, add a small can of chopped mushrooms (drained). Serve with brown rice. Can add raisins and nutritional yeast. Can get a sweet crunch adding candied nuts.

I also find this lecture helpful for thinking about foods to experiment with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpRrD58Ah3Q

You can also look for vegan or vegetarian restaurants in your area and try them, see what you like, and try to work with those foods. And look for different cultures like Indian food that focus on more vegetarian meals.

Bon appetit!

I'm not Vegan, but I do own The Veganomicon from which I've liked several dishes (I don't have it handy, but there are some great chickpea dishes in there).

Falafel with either pitas and tzatziki (its what I use) or turmeric garlic rice:

Falafel: https://youtu.be/2l9TyNV64Zo

Turmeric rice: https://youtu.be/tLiRpUmr8Cg

Big fan of Dr. Michael Greger's "The How Not To Die Cookbook" and "The How Not To Diet Cookbook". His focus is much more on the health aspects and emphasize a balanced whole food plant-based diet. My partner got the latter because she wanted to lose some weight. I was skeptical but the recipes also happen to just be really good and not overly complicated or time-consuming. My only complaint is that he tends to go a bit light on the spices; if you like spicy food, don't be afraid to just double them.

Otherwise, we really like "Isa Does it". Not quite as health focused, but overall tasty and simple.

Then, I like "Dirty Vegan" by Matt Pritchard because you can't be healthy all the time.

The Flavor Bible is an excellent book for pairing foods. They also have a vegetarian version.

Try Simple by Yotam Ottolenghi. He's known for complex, Middle eastern influenced cuisine, but this book has a lot of stripped down recipes that you can put together easily and quickly.