How to Navigate the Deliciously Ella Library
Unlike fictional novels with complex narrative arcs, the cookbooks of Ella Mills (Woodward)—famously known under her brand Deliciously Ella—do not require you to read them in a strict chronological sequence. Instead, the best way to read them is based on your current culinary goals, cooking skill level, and daily schedule. Over the decade since her first release, Ella's culinary philosophy has evolved from strict allergen-avoidance recipes to accessible, fast, and family-friendly plant-based meals.
The Recommended Starting Points
If you are new to the plant-based lifestyle or just starting out with Ella's recipes, we recommend choosing a starting point that matches your day-to-day needs:
1. The Absolute Beginner: Healthy Made Simple (2024)
If you want minimal prep, fuss-free ingredients, and meals that take less than 30 minutes, start with Healthy Made Simple. This book represents a shift in Ella's approach toward making healthy food as effortless as possible. Recipes focus on everyday ingredients without requiring expensive superfoods or complicated kitchen appliances.
2. The Transition Guide: How To Go Plant-Based (2022)
If you are looking to make a permanent transition to veganism or want to understand the nutritional science behind plant-based eating, start here. How To Go Plant-Based is half cookbook and half handbook. It contains expert advice from nutritionists and pediatricians alongside family-friendly recipes, making it the most educational book in her collection.
3. The Classic Experience: Deliciously Ella (2015)
To see where the global movement began, start with her self-titled debut. This book features the signature plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free recipes that made her food blog a viral sensation. If you love natural sweeteners, whole foods, and classic recipes like her famous sweet potato brownies, this is a must-have for your kitchen shelf.
Publication Order of Ella Woodward / Mills Cookbooks
For readers who want to follow Ella's personal and culinary growth chronologically, here is the complete list of her books in order of their original publication. Note that her early books were published under her maiden name, Ella Woodward, while books from 2018 onward carry her married name, Ella Mills.
- Deliciously Ella (2015) – The debut cookbook that broke UK publishing records for a first-time cookbook author.
- Deliciously Ella Every Day (2016) – Focused on quick prep, big-batch cooking, and portable meals for busy routines.
- Deliciously Ella: Smoothies & Juices (2016) – A bite-sized collection of drink recipes, perfect for quick morning breakfasts.
- Natural Feasts / Deliciously Ella with Friends (2017) – A guide focused on entertaining, hosting, and cooking plant-based feasts for groups. (Note: Deliciously Ella with Friends is the UK title, while Natural Feasts is the US edition of the exact same book).
- Deliciously Ella: The Plant-Based Cookbook (2018) – The first release under the name Ella Mills. This collection highlights the most popular dishes served at her London deli and requested by users of her app.
- Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy (2020) – Designed to debunk the myth that plant-based cooking is time-consuming. (Published in the US as Deliciously Ella Making Plant-Based Quick and Easy).
- Deliciously Ella How To Go Plant-Based: A Definitive Guide For You and Your Family (2022) – A comprehensive handbook combining nutritional science with easy recipes.
- Healthy Made Simple (2024) – A collection focusing on quick, low-prep recipes that take the stress out of daily healthy eating.
- Quick Wins: Healthy Cooking for Busy Lives (2025) – Ella's latest guide, packed with fast, vibrant recipes and kitchen hacks to help you get dinner on the table in record time.
Understanding the Tone and Recipe Caveats
Before buying your first Deliciously Ella book, it is helpful to understand how her style has evolved. This will help you choose the right book and avoid ingredient frustrations:
The Early Era (2015–2017)
In her early books, Ella's recipes were heavily shaped by her personal healing journey with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS). As a result, books like Deliciously Ella and Deliciously Ella Every Day are strictly gluten-free, dairy-free, and free of refined sugars. They rely heavily on ingredients like dates, maple syrup, brown rice flour, and nut butter. While delicious, some cooks find these ingredients expensive or hard to source if they do not live near a well-stocked supermarket.
The Modern Era (2018–Present)
Starting with The Plant-Based Cookbook, Ella transitioned to a broader, more inclusive plant-based approach. While still plant-based, the recipes are less restrictive. You will find ingredients like oats, rye, and pasta alongside accessible pantry staples. The focus has shifted from strict dietary exclusions to celebrating vibrant, flavor-forward whole foods that anyone can enjoy, regardless of dietary labels.
Which Cookbook is Right for You?
- If you want to host dinner parties: Get Natural Feasts / Deliciously Ella with Friends. It is specifically organized around social gatherings, with menus for brunch, casual suppers, and garden feasts.
- If you are always short on time: Opt for Deliciously Ella Quick & Easy or Quick Wins. They are designed for cooks who want healthy food without spending hours in the kitchen.
- If you want a mix of breakfast ideas and snacks: The original Deliciously Ella contains a wealth of baking recipes, porridge ideas, and homemade snacks that remain fan favorites.