10 Common Vegan Ingredients to Keep in Your Pantry

10 Common Vegan Ingredients to Keep in Your Pantry

What’s worse than coming home hungry to an empty fridge? Realising your cupboard is equally as bare.

To avoid a desperate Uber Eats order, plan ahead and make sure you keep these healthy, versatile (and pretty tasty) ingredients on hand.

Having a well-stocked pantry ensures that you can whip up a satisfying and nutritious meal anytime, even when faced with limited options. From staple grains to versatile canned goods, these essential ingredients will serve as the building blocks for countless creative recipes.

With a little bit of planning and the right items in stock, you’ll never have to settle for unhealthy or unsatisfying meals again. So, let’s dive into the must-have ingredients that will transform your empty cupboards into a pantry of possibilities.

Grains

Add bulk to your dishes with a variety of grains that can be treated as a meal in themselves. From rice and noodles to pasta and quinoa, grains make great fillers that will keep you feeling satisfied, particularly in their whole or ‘brown’ form. Oats make a particularly quick and wholesome breakfast option that can be jazzed up with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

Beans

Whether you prefer to store them tinned or dried, beans are arguably the best ingredient to keep on tap to add depth to dishes. Beans are a versatile and nutritious food that are a staple in many cuisines. Packed with protein and fibre, vitamins and minerals beans are an excellent choice for a vegan meal. Toss them in soups and salads, stir into stews or build into veggie burgers and pack in an extra punch of protein and fibre. Lentils, chickpeas and cannellini beans are a popular choice due to their versatility.

Nuts And Seeds

Nuts and seeds are nature’s nutritional powerhouses, offering a wide range of health benefits. From almonds and walnuts to chia seeds and flaxseeds, these tiny wonders are packed with heart-healthy fats, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They are a great source of plant-based protein. Aside from offering a healthy and satisfying snacking option, nuts and seeds make great additions to meals, sauces and desserts too. Whether you plan to turn your cashews into cheese, pine nuts into pesto or chia seeds into cookies, stocking up on a variety of nuts can transform a dish in an instant. They can be enjoyed on their own as a healthy snack, added to breakfast cereals, or used as toppings for smoothies, salads, and desserts. Including a variety of nuts and seeds in your diet can complement your meals with both flavour and nutrition.

Spices And Dried Herbs

Bring your meals to life by keeping a range of spices and fresh dried herbs close by. With their wide range of flavours and aromas, they enhance the taste and add complexity to various cuisines. From cinnamon and nutmeg to basil and cilantro, each spice or herb brings its own unique character to a recipe.

Apart from being culinary delights, many spices and herbs also offer health benefits. For example, turmeric contains curcumin, a compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Whether you’re making a curry, marinade, or soup, stocking up on spices and herbs in your kitchen will help you create flavourful and healthy dishes. Never underestimate the power of a good pinch of Himalayan salt too!

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is a versatile vegan ingredient that is popular for its cheesy, nutty flavour. It is a deactivated yeast that is often used as a topping for popcorn, salads, and pasta dishes. Besides adding a pleasant savoury taste to dishes, it is also a good source of vitamins, minerals, and protein, making it a favourite among vegans.

Vegetable Stock

If you don’t have the time to prepare stock from scratch, a good store-bought stock can help add depth and flavour to soups, stews and grains with minimal effort. A steaming mug of veggie broth with some packet noodles can often be a meal in itself. Vegetable stock is a staple ingredient in vegan cooking, serving as a flavourful base for soups, stews, sauces, and risottos. Made by simmering a medley of vegetables, herbs, and spices, it provides a rich and aromatic taste to dishes while keeping them entirely meat-free. Vegetable stock is a must-have for anyone looking to enhance their vegan culinary creations.

Canned Vegetables

Canned vegetables are convenient and versatile vegan ingredients that can be easily incorporated into various dishes. They provide a quick source of nutrients and can be used in salads, stir-fries, casseroles, and more. Opt for low-sodium varieties to minimise additives and retain the natural flavours and textures of the vegetables.

Dried Fruit

Satisfy your sweet tooth and jazz up your snacks and salads with an assortment of dried fruits in your cupboard. Dates, goji berries and coconut flakes are just some of our go to options, and you can even try drying out your own fruit!

Tahini

Transform sauces and dressings with a spoonful of this rich and nutty sesame paste, which is a key ingredient in creating a deliciously creamy hummus too. ‘Unhulled’ tahini, made from the whole seed, is darker and more bitter than its ‘hulled’ alternative.

Maple Syrup

What’s not to love about this natural sweetener? It is a popular alternative to honey in vegan recipes and adds a distinct sweet taste to dishes. Use in baking, stir-fry sauces, creating dressings and glazes, or simply smother pancakes and waffles in its sticky and sweet glory.

Coconut Oil

From roasting vegetables, frying tofu or making delicious desserts, coconut oil is a versatile ingredient that’s high in healthy saturated fats. Not a fan of its coconut flavour? You can even shop for neutral tasting varieties, or simply swap to another oil such as avocado, canola or olive oil.

Final Thoughts

By keeping your cupboards well stocked with these long-lasting foods, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll never be caught short of a healthy and wholesome meal or snack.

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LGV!