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The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook
When The Farm Vegetarian Cookbook was released in 1975, it was the first meat-, dairy-, and egg-free cookbook published in the United States. It also introduced good tasting nutritional yeast as a source of vitamin B12, and according to Bill Shurtleff, author of The Book of Tempeh was the first cookbook to introduce tempeh to North America. This edition provides more in-depth information on plant-based nutrition.
A compilation of recipes from some of the best cooks on The Farm, an intentional community in rural Tennessee, many of the over 250 cholesterol-free recipes are family favorites that showcase the versatility of soybeans. Many of the original recipes were adjusted to contain less fat and sugar. Detailed instructions are included on how to make soymilk, tofu, tempeh, yogurt and other soyfoods at home.
Even today, with plant-based alternatives mainstream and Google at your fingertips, this cookbook is a beloved part of vegan culinary history that gets passed down from generation to generation.
A compilation of recipes from some of the best cooks on The Farm, an intentional community in rural Tennessee, many of the over 250 cholesterol-free recipes are family favorites that showcase the versatility of soybeans. Many of the original recipes were adjusted to contain less fat and sugar. Detailed instructions are included on how to make soymilk, tofu, tempeh, yogurt and other soyfoods at home.
Even today, with plant-based alternatives mainstream and Google at your fingertips, this cookbook is a beloved part of vegan culinary history that gets passed down from generation to generation.
220 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
November 16, 2013
The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is, and has been, my favorite cookbook. I'm currently on my FOURTH copy, having used my others until the pages fell to the floor.
This is one of my books that I won't lend out; its just too useful. The title is misleading; the recipes are VEGAN. At the time it was written, however, the word "vegetarian" was fairly one-size-fits-all. "The Farm" is an intentional community established in 1971, when its original settlers followed Stephen Gatskin from San Francisco to rural Summertown, Tennessee in a caravan of painted schoolbusses, vans, and trucks stretching 60 vehicles long. At its peak, The Farm had somewhere in the area of 1,200-1,600 residents, and is still in existence today.
One of my favorite things about The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is that, unlike Oh, say… VEGETARIAN TIMES or THE MOOSELODGE COOKBOOKS, the recipes are both usable and affordable. Even if I could afford the fancy ingredients required for Veg Times “Vegan Galette des Rois” recipe, in no way could I justify pouring Kirsch brandy over tofu. I mean, really. Who does that?! With the hooplah regarding cultural awareness of vegetarianism, urban homesteading, and “living simply or simply living,” practical how-to’s on making soymilk, tortillas and tempeh are particularly applicable.
Nestled into the cookbook are photos of Farm residents and short stories, making it an interesting read on an important time in history. If you enjoy that aspect of New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook, you might also be interested in Ina May Gatskin’s book, Spiritual Midwifery, which is the story of how the Farm was born and the births that followed, or Arcadia, the fictionalized story of the Farm, written by Lauren Groff.
This is one of my books that I won't lend out; its just too useful. The title is misleading; the recipes are VEGAN. At the time it was written, however, the word "vegetarian" was fairly one-size-fits-all. "The Farm" is an intentional community established in 1971, when its original settlers followed Stephen Gatskin from San Francisco to rural Summertown, Tennessee in a caravan of painted schoolbusses, vans, and trucks stretching 60 vehicles long. At its peak, The Farm had somewhere in the area of 1,200-1,600 residents, and is still in existence today.
One of my favorite things about The New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook is that, unlike Oh, say… VEGETARIAN TIMES or THE MOOSELODGE COOKBOOKS, the recipes are both usable and affordable. Even if I could afford the fancy ingredients required for Veg Times “Vegan Galette des Rois” recipe, in no way could I justify pouring Kirsch brandy over tofu. I mean, really. Who does that?! With the hooplah regarding cultural awareness of vegetarianism, urban homesteading, and “living simply or simply living,” practical how-to’s on making soymilk, tortillas and tempeh are particularly applicable.
Nestled into the cookbook are photos of Farm residents and short stories, making it an interesting read on an important time in history. If you enjoy that aspect of New Farm Vegetarian Cookbook, you might also be interested in Ina May Gatskin’s book, Spiritual Midwifery, which is the story of how the Farm was born and the births that followed, or Arcadia, the fictionalized story of the Farm, written by Lauren Groff.
June 26, 2007
My edition is actually just "The Farm" not "The New Farm." It's worth it just for the melty mac & "cheese." My 2nd favorite cookbook after Soy Not Oi.
August 1, 2013
This is a classic vegetarian cookbook. Almost every recipe in this book is unpretentious yet delicious.
July 28, 2011
A very great resource book. Lots of things you never knew you could easily make from scratch. Like soymilk, tempeh, you name it. It might seem a little outdated to those that want something really modern and posh, but I just love it. It has timeless basic recipes and really really easy and great bread recipes. Excellent resource, I recommend it.
March 10, 2013
This was my go-to cookbook when I was vegan. Some of the recipes came out weird, though, like the fake cheese, but I forgive it for its sheer crunchy, vegetarian exhuberance!
July 6, 2024
Great variety of recipes using vegan proteins but heavily dependent on soy products.
November 9, 2024
Old school veg cookbook.
May 15, 2025
A classic. The one staple in every punk kitchen for decades. The ribs recipe made me very popular.
April 13, 2026
A vegan cookbook before vegan was a word. Came from a commune/cult formed by Stephen Gaskin in Tennessee. Fabulous simple recipes. Especially the tofu cream pies, delicious and people enjoy them until you tell them they are made with tofu, I'll never understand that reaction.
January 2, 2016
This was my very first vegan cookbook (from when there were only a few vegan cookbooks out there). It is simple and sort of from "another time" in vegan history. That said, we use the pancake recipe all the time (I've added more baking powder and less oil) and often make it with gluten-free flour. What's so fun about owning this book is that years after I bought it, I became good friends with a woman who was born on The Farm and her mom had helped to edit the book. Veganism may have evolved since this time, but it's a great foundation.
August 29, 2007
This book makes me feel very nostalgic. I don't know that I've ever actually cooked anything from it, but I like to look at the pictures of the hippies making tofu and feeding babies and such. And the nutrition references in the back are good. And, someday I might want to make my own tofu.
I'm not a huge fan of the "soy based lifestyle" sort of vegetarianism, but if you are looking for more vegan standby recipes, this is a good basic book to have.
I'm not a huge fan of the "soy based lifestyle" sort of vegetarianism, but if you are looking for more vegan standby recipes, this is a good basic book to have.
October 26, 2007
I love this book! The recipes are easy, healthy, cheap to make, tasty and all vegan! What more could one ask for? I love the basic recipes (the biscuits are great!) and the enchilada sauce and nut yeast cheezy sauce are both awesome. I have never had better enchiladas, and they go over well at communes!
May 28, 2009
For some reason a lot of the dessert type recipes in this book just did not turn out right for me, Especially the cake recipes. However, I really enjoyed the information and recipes for the tempeh, soymilk, soy yogurt, Yuba, gluten roasts and tofu .It is definitely worth picking up and reading if you’re interested in making tofu or any of the above at home.
December 10, 2013
My mother, who was not vegan, had and used an older copy of this book. I bought this book probably 25 or more years ago, and it has been a trusted favorite in our household for all of these years. The pizza cheese recipe is the one that stands out to me the most, but I have loved and used this cookbook for so many years. It's a classic.
July 3, 2007
I got this cookbook because I coveted Jessica Ratchliff's copy. I've cooked some things out of it. These recipes are highly based on soy, so if you need to figure out what to do with tofu or tempeh (or how to make your own!) this book is for you.
October 7, 2007
Well this book has a lot of great crazy hippie vegetarian/vegan recipes in it. It has some simple dishes like lentil loaf and enchiladas with a nutritional yeast "cheese" sauce which are memorable favorites. If you are so motivated to you can learn how to make your own tempeh.
April 22, 2008
great vegan cookbook with lots of staples and comfort food. worth it just to learn how to make the nutritional yeast sauce--the basis for the "Famous Yeasty Casserole" many of my friends are familiar with. YUM!
July 21, 2008
Very good beginner vegan book. Explains common ingredients, and the recipes are simple and straight-forward. Inspired my love of nutritional yeast... the mac and cheeze recipe is classic and perfect.
March 26, 2014
I LOVE this book.. It is my absolute favorite vegetarian cookbook.. it's old, it's hippie and I find myself going back to it time and time again to revisit recipes. If you are a vegetarian or vegan this is a must have on your cookbook shelf
November 29, 2016
Nifty Old-School Veg cookbook. This was the first one we got, a billion years ago. Pretty simple recipes, nothing fancy. Hippie veg cuisine- TVP, tofu, nutritional yeast, miso.....nothing exotic or processed. I still turn to it every once in a while.
July 5, 2020
The vegan mac and cheese! It is the best!
January 11, 2008
A good all around basic vegan cookbook. Yeah sure, a lot of the recipes in here need to be added to or adjusted, but still quite helpful. Thanks to Uncle Bill and all the Tennessee hippies.
January 31, 2008
This is, hands-down, the BEST, and most used cookbook I own. There's nothing fancy in here, just good basic recipes to build from. It's all vegan.
May 21, 2008
The best banana bread and chocolate cake recipes I have found!
May 21, 2008
mmm... pancakes!
June 23, 2008
This book is amazing! I enjoy all the simple wisdom contained in it. The recipes are simple and the pictures entertaining. Basicly inspirational!
July 22, 2008
Great vegan recipes that aren't expensive to make or that use too many hard-to-find ingredients. I highly recommend it!
December 8, 2008
Excellent stuff here. My only real gripe with this book, (aside from the hippies, of course) is the proportions are to feed a small army. That's it. Otherwise, this is solid!
January 19, 2009
If you like margarine, you'll love the new farm cookbook
October 19, 2009
This is one of the best cookbooks-EVER!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews