the
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook

125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, And Absolutely Never Boring Recipes For Every Meal Of The Day. You’ll find mostly brand NEW recipes, plus a handful of AK reader favorites that I created to take the guesswork out of cooking a meal that nourishes your body, fuels your soul, and helps you live your most ambitious life. This truly is a cookbook for everyone.

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Available at these amazing retailers

Amazon

Target

Walmart

Barnes & Noble

Hudson

Bookshop.org

The Book Cellar

Powell's

Indigo

Amazon Int'l

Created with your version
of balance and nourishment in mind.

You’re invited to discover your own definition of “ambitious” by loading up on nutrient-dense, flavor-packed recipes and joyfully practicing balance and flexibility in the kitchen.

puerto rican rice and beans from the Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook in bowls

cookies from the Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook on a plate

Most recipes include “Make It Your Way” and “Make It Nutrient Dense” tips to customize food to your tastes. As a bonus, most can be made gluten-free and/or dairy-free allowing you to tailor recipes to your own version of health. Above all, these everyday recipes showcase what food can add to, not take away from, your life.

monique from ambitious kitchen holding a muffin

Get a sneak peek

You’ll find a balanced approach to food, with over 125 comforting, vibrant recipes that are amped up with extra vegetables, protein, and fiber. Many of these recipes celebrate my Puerto Rican heritage – inspired by my mom and grandma who helped shape me into who I am today. Oh, and let’s not forget a few outrageously good, impressive desserts. Get ready for …

Magical Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas with Creamy Roasted Poblano Jalapeño Sauce

Avocado Grape Kale Salad with Peanut-Tahini Dressing

corn jalapeño pasta being lifted up with a fork

Caramelized Corn Brown Butter Pasta with Feta & Jalapeño

scoop ’em up mini pesto turkey meatballs with herb garlic butter toasts

everyone’s favorite baked chicken tacos (packed with veggies!)

if i’m eating chocolate cake, i’m eating one with cookies and cream espresso cream cheese frosting

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Exceeded my expectations.

As someone who has followed the Ambitious Kitchen Blog for a long time, I have been craving a book by Monique for years. Quite frankly, she's exceeded my expectations in her debut book. The recipes are bold yet approachable and are sure to ignite (or re-ignite) your culinary passion. From comforting family favorites like her Weeknight Chicken Picadillo to adventurous twists like her Chipotle Gouda Pumpkin Turkey Enchiladas, Monique effortlessly combines creativity with approachability, ensuring each dish a success. This book is an instant classic for me in my kitchen!

Alex Snodgrass, NYT Bestselling Author and Creator of The Defined Dish

Delightful,
beautiful,
healthy-ish food.

To say I'm excited for the world to see Monique's first cookbook is an understatement! Monique's zest for feeding herself and her family nourishing, colorful and delicious meals shines through on every single page. From the comforting portobello, poblano & pepper jack cheese enchilada skillet to the mini pesto turkey meatballs, these are recipes that you can incorporate into your everyday life! Nothing is overly complicated or fussy, just delightful, beautiful. healthy-ish food! It's exactly how I want to eat every single day!

Gaby Dalkin, NYT Bestselling Author and Creator of What's Gaby Cooking

Healthy,
delicious home cooking.

The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook is an invitation to make your meals more nutritious, more flavorful, and also... more fun! In addition to 130+ mouthwatering recipes (coffee baked oatmeal! corn brown butter pasta!), Monique shares tips (like how to freeze anything) and substitutions to help you fit healthy, delicious home cooking into your everyday life.

Jeanine Donofrio, author of Love & Lemons Simple Feel Good Food

Boldly flavored, anything but boring.

Monique’s enthusiasm for cooking will inspire you to cook through this whole book! Her recipes are boldly flavored and prove that healthy food can be anything but boring. There’s plenty for everyone in The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook, and I’m particularly excited about the vegetarian mains chapter. Every recipe features a vibrant photo and the book is beautifully designed, too—you’ll want to display it on your coffee table when it’s not in your kitchen!

Kathryn Taylor, author of Love Real Food and Creator of Cookie and Kate

Comfort,
warmth and ease.

Monique's heart and soul shines through these pages and jumps out in the form of easy weeknight meals, cookies for your family and smoothies for busy mornings (just to name a few). Monique shows us that ambitious food isn't about unnecessarily complicated food; instead it's about food that brings comfort, warmth and ease.

Adrianna Adarme, creator of A Cozy Kitchen and Author of The Year of Cozy.

An instant classic!

Monique's recipes have long been a staple in my kitchen, and her cookbook somehow takes it up even another level. These are the types of recipes that will get you excited about cooking— novel, flavor-packed, nutrient-forward, and easy enough to fit into our busy lives. An instant classic!

Liz Moody, author of 100 Ways To Change Your Life and host of The Liz Moody Podcast