If you’re a beginner, you might feel confused at first about what vegan cooking entails. Let us reassure you that it’s much easier than you think! Whether you’re newly vegan, thinking about making the switch, or just trying to eat more plant based foods, these helpful vegan tips will save you a lot of time and worry.
Here are TeamCow’s vegan tips for beginners, just to make life easier for you!
1. Stock your pantry right
Stocking your pantry with the following staples will go a long way!
1. Canned tomato sauce: Quickly throw into pasta sauces, soups, or curries.
2. Tahini (aka sesame paste): Super healthy and versatile ingredient that adds creaminess to anything.
3. Nutritional yeast: A healthy, cheesy flavor enhancer that you can sprinkle on any dish.
4. Canned coconut milk: Use in place of milk in any recipe.
5. Natural peanut butter: Perfect for snacking with bananas, adding to smoothies, or for a quick toast.
6. Canned legumes like beans and chickpeas: Saves you the time it takes to prepare them from scratch. Add to curries, stir-fries, or salads for that protein boost!
7. Whole grains (brown rice or quinoa): Perfect with stir-fries and buddha bowls.
8. Tortilla wraps: Quickly reheat and use for wraps, or bake to make chips!
However, make sure not to over-stock or you’ll end up wasting a lot! To learn more about smart, budget-friendly grocery shopping, head over to this article.
2 . Spend time now to save time later
It’s really worth spending an hour or two over the weekend prepping ahead for the week to come. There are a few things you can do:
1. Chop vegetables and freeze: You can freeze almost any veggie! Make sure to blanch and shock first. Once frozen and stored, it’s just a matter of picking what you like and using as and when you like.
2. Make-ahead spreads and dips: You can keep these ready for any time of the week and pair with snacks, sandwiches, or wraps!
3. Get a good non-stick frying pan
The secret to a lot of great dishes (vegan omelettes, pancakes, dosas) is a flat, non-stick frying pan! Trust us, it’s a worthwhile investment.
4. Keep a couple of high-quality staples handy
Stock up on good quality staples like extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and miso. Some of these might be just a bit more expensive than their counterparts but they really pack a punch when it comes to flavoring even the most basic pastas, salads, and soups.
5. Use creamy vegan substitutes for dairy
Don’t we all love our cheesy, creamy dishes? It’s easy to make them vegan! Whenever needed, swap dairy yogurt for vegan yogurt (here are some great brands!), explore the world of vegan cheese, try out oat milk or almond milk, and discover the wonders coconut cream can do! If creamy vegan pasta is your thing, don’t forget to check out these recipes. And make sure to check out our article on 10 Easy Vegan Recipes for Homemade Dairy Alternatives!
6. Find the right online resources to help you out!
To get started with vegan cooking and build a collection of go-to recipes, learn from others! Join online groups where you can get vegan tips from others and save all the exciting recipes you want to try! Google, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook are some of the best places to search for recipes.
We hope this makes you feel more comfortable and confident when it comes to exploring plant-based cooking as a beginner. For more content on veganism, check out the rest of the HappyCow blog. To find vegan food near you, at any time and place, get the HappyCow app. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for more vegan tips, guides, and recipes!