Vegan Pantry

Whole Grains

Whole grains and foods made from whole grains are richer in vitamins, minerals and fibre than their more processed counterparts. It is recommended that whole grains be eaten every day, so keep your pantry well stocked!

Whole Grains: Rice, Oats, Barley, Bulgar, Couscous, Quinoa

Flour: Whole wheat flour, Spelt flour, Cornmeal flour, Buckwheat flour, Rye flour, Rice flour, for baking, making sauces and more.

Bread: Wholegrain bread, Dark Rye bread, Sprouted Sourdough bread & other varieties for sandwiches, toast, jaffles.

Tofu & Tempeh

Both Tofu and Tempeh are a great source of protein and ideal to have on hand to put into stir-fries, or marinate and have in sandwiches, wraps or burgers. Depending on the type of tofu, if it’s the firm variety you can create scrambles for breakfast or anytime really, add it to soups, use it to make spreads and more. Soft or silken tofu is used for making creams as in vegan cheesecakes, and creating creamy cheeses like ricotta.

Beans & Lentils

Beans are packed with fibre, protein and iron, and low in fat; they are a great basis for healthy main meals.

Dry beans are very economical to use: soak overnight in water, rinse then boil until tender, rinse and drain, or if using a pressure cooker there is no need to soak.

Beans freeze well so you can cook up a big batch and freeze in meal-size portions for later use. Keep canned beans on hand to add to salads, soups, pasta dishes, buddha bowls, sandwiches and stews.

We always keep cans of chickpeas, red beans, black beans, refried beans and brown lentils handy!

Pasta, Noodles, Rice Paper & Nori Sheets

• Pasta: spaghetti and shapes. Wholemeal and gluten-free varieties made from corn, rice, quinoa, legumes, etc
• Rice and wheat noodles: for stir-fries, soups
• Rice paper and Nori sheets: we love to make sushi so we always have a supply of these at home, if we don’t have rice we still make great wraps with them

Nuts & Seeds

• Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds: Good to snack on, seeds add flavour and nutrients to smoothies, salads and hot dishes.
• Sesame seeds: Delicious fried, to top salads and savoury dishes with, or make your own gomashio.
• Flaxseed: Flaxseeds (also known as linseeds) are rich in omega-3 fats, these fats are important for healthy eyes, heart and brain. Flaxseeds are best consumed freshly ground as they are not digested when eaten whole. Once ground, flaxseeds should be used quickly or kept refrigerated. Flaxseeds can be added to cereals, smoothies, pancakes and used in baking.
• Chia seeds: Highly nutritious, also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and great to add to breakfast cereals, smoothies or even make your own breakfast pudding.
• Nuts: We like to keep a stash of almonds, walnuts, cashews and brazil nuts handy! As well as being a good snack, add nuts to salads, stir fries and other dishes for protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. They are best bought raw and unsalted and will keep fresh longer if kept in an airtight container in a cool place. Brazil nuts are a great source of selenium – just one a day is all that is needed.

Moo-free milks

There are an abundance of plant milks available these days. Common options, like soy and rice milk, are readily available in supermarkets, both in the fridge section and on the shelf. Other varieties such as almond, oat, quinoa and hemp milk can be found in health stores and increasingly in supermarkets.

We usually keep soy milk fortified with vitamin B12 in our fridge but you can give these other options a go too:

• Oat milk
• Coconut milk
• Rice milk
• Hemp milk
• Almond milk
• Cashew milk
• Flax milk
• Macadamia milk
• Hazelnut milk

Herbs & Spices

Herbs and spices bring food to life, adding flavour, colour and nutrients. Have a wide range stocked in your cupboard and get experimenting with different flavours!

Here is our basic list:

• Basil
• Cajun Seasoning
• Cayenne Pepper
• Chilli powder
• Cinnamon
• Coriander Powder
• Curry powder
• Cumin
• Garlic Powder
• Ground Cloves
• Mixed herbs
• Nutmeg
• Onion Powder
• Oregano
• Paprika
• Rosemary
• Thyme
• Turmeric

Sauces, Spreads & other Condiments!

• Kecap Manis: a sweet soy sauce
• Miso: Japanese savoury paste made from fermented soybeans
• Nutritional yeast: They can be used to sprinkle on salads, sandwiches or soups and can be used to make cheese-like sauces. They are a good source of B vitamins, including B12.
• Maple syrup: for sweetening drinks, pancakes, porridge or drizzle on toast
• Soy sauce
• Stock Cubes: Vegetable, chicken and beef style stock cubes (vegan varieties)
• Tahini: Used as a spread, added to dips or mixed with water to make a white sauce for vegetables or pasta. Unhulled tahini is healthier but the hulled has a more subtle flavour.
• Tamari sauce: thicker, less salty and generally wheat free
• Vegan Mayonnaise
• Vegan Butter/Margarine: Nuttelex, Tablelands, Flora Plant
• Worcestershire sauce (check it is vegan and that it doesn’t contain anchovies!)