I’m often asked what are my go-to items for creating recipes in a vegan kitchen, so I thought a great way to begin the year would be to share my essential vegan ingredients – for Veganuary* and beyond!
This being The Whole Ingredient my list is whole-food leaning for a healthy, well-balanced diet. But that means there are lots of items you’ll probably already have! Add to this a few ingredients that, if you’re new to a vegan diet, you might not be familiar with, and you’re all set to start making some delicious meals.
This list is intended as a starting point, something from which to pick and choose; a reference point that you can come back to again and again along your cooking journey. I’ve linked to some recipes for a few of the ingredients; I hope it’s helpful!
Grains & Pulses (dried or tinned)
- Lentils for salads and hearty dishes: Green (Puy, Vert), Brown and Beluga Lentils keep their shape and have a lovely nutty flavour
- Lentils for dals and soups: Red Lentils and Yellow Split Peas
- Beans: Kidney, Cannellini, Black, Butter, Black Eyed, Pinto, Chickpeas
- Rice: Brown, Wild
- Quinoa
- Buckwheat (gluten-free)
- Barley
- Bulgur
- Spelt
- Rolled Oats
- Flours made from any of the above, and Wholemeal/Whole Wheat flour
Seasoning
- Himalayan Pink Salt for its intense flavour and high mineral content; or a good Rock Salt
- A good Soy Sauce, Tamari (usually gluten-free), or Liquid Aminos for a soy-free alternative; try to buy organic if possible to ensure it’s GMO-free
- Marmite or other yeast extract
- Nutritional Yeast (a must for cheesy flavours!)
- Apple Cider Vinegar, Red Wine Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar. All great for dressings, marinades and baking
- Dried herbs and spices
Oils
- Raw Coconut Oil: for frying, baking and raw desserts
- Olive Oil or Rapeseed Oil: for roasting, baking, dressings and condiments
Nuts, Seeds & Butters
- Brazil Nuts, Pecans, Hazelnuts, Walnuts, Almonds and Cashews are great ingredients for sweet and savoury recipes, as well as for making flours, sauces, butters or just enjoyed as a healthy snack
- Pumpkin, Sunflower, Sesame, Poppy and Flax Seeds all feature regularly in my sweet and savoury recipes
- Chia Seeds: great as an alternative to eggs in baking, to create easy puddings or as an all-round nutritional booster in any recipe
- Nut and Seed Butters: where possible, choose a brand with no added oil, that’s sugar and palm oil-free
Sweeteners
- Dates and Apricots are great alternatives to refined sugar. Process with water to make your own liquid sweetener or caramel
- Maple Syrup or Agave (Maple Syrup is less refined and lower in fructose)
- Raw Coconut Sugar
- Raw Cacao or Cocoa Powder (Raw Cacao is less refined)
- Good-quality (raw or refined sugar-free where possible) Dark Chocolate
Egg alternatives
For one egg**:
- Flax: Mix 1 tbsp of ground Flax with 3 tbsp water. Leave for a few minutes to form a gel
- Chia Seeds: Mix 1 tbsp of Chia Seeds with 3 tbsp water. Leave for a few minutes to form a gel
- Banana: 1/2, mashed
- Peanut Butter, Nut Butter, Tahini: 2-3 tbsp
- Apple purée (or other high-pectin fruit purée), pumpkin purée or mashed potato: Approx. 60g
**This is approximate. Consider the most appropriate alternative for each recipe, and experiment with different methods and recipes to find your favourite!
Milk alternatives
- Organic, unsweetened Soy (my preference for tea!)
- Nut, Seed, Oat, Rice or Coconut Milk
Tofu & Tempeh
- Silken Tofu: for using in scrambles, quiches and cakes
- Firm Tofu: for curries, stir fries, salads, bowls, breakfasts, wraps and wings
- Tempeh: for curries, stir fries, bowls, sandwiches, and of course, for making Tempeh Bacon
- Pre-flavoured firm tofu: for sandwiches, salads etc.
*If you haven’t signed up to Veganuary this year, don’t worry! You can still follow all of the great advice, recipes and guidance here, and read my profile here.
This is a really useful post! I’m not vegan, but I am trying to incorporate more vegan ingredients and meals into my eating, so this is a good starting point for basic ingredients!
Hi Kate! I’m so glad it’s helpful. I think just knowing that you don’t need to find lots of unusual products, and that being vegan is fairly straightforward, can make all the difference! If you have any questions at all, just shout 🙂