Vegan Kitchen Staples

To make my life easier in the kitchen, I typically have the following on hand at all times:

Brown Rice

TIP: Brown rice is a great source of fiber and has a rich nutty flavor. Yes, it takes longer to cook brown rice rather than white rice, but your body will appreciate the extra 20 minutes of cooking time. If you hate waiting for rice to cook, then cook a bunch at once. Cooked rice stores fine in the fridge for a few days. Whenever I incorporate rice with a meal, I always get the brown rice cooking first. By the time I'm done, so is the rice. 

Crushed Garlic
TIP: I buy this stuff in bulk too. Costco has a giant container for around 5 bucks. Trader Joes has a really creamy crushed garlic. You can always crush it yourself, but that takes extra time and effort. I use crushed garlic in nearly everything (except of course - desserts). 

Dried Mushrooms

Tip: All kinds of exotic mushrooms are available dried. They last forever and can be brought back to life with a little hot water. If the mushroom chunks are too large, break apart when they're dry, once they're rehydrated they're tougher to slice. Mushrooms can add flavor to soups, sauces, etc. I love shiitakes!! I picked up a giant bag of dried ones at Costco at a great deal. Also, Asian markets are another great place for dried mushrooms and you'll be able to find a wide variety. 

Flax Meal

Tip: You can buy flax meal in bulk, but it can lose its nutritional potency if left out for too long. I use Bob's Red Mill brand and I keep it in the refrigerator to extend its freshness. Flax meal works great as an egg replacer. I add it to cookies, pancakes, scones, bread, etc. I've even used it in mock-meatloaf. It has a wonderful rich nutty flavor and is a great source for fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids. If you have issues with wheat, this is a safe alternative as well. 

Kalamata Olives
TIP: I get these at Costco in a GIANT jar and the price for one jar is about what you'd pay for a tiny jar at Zupans. These little olives are great in hummus, sauces and as pizza toppings. 

Margarine (Vegan)

TIP: I use Earth Balance brand; which is available in tubs and sticks (which is great for baking). This product is the perfect substitute for butter in any recipe. The margarine works great for sauces, soups, scones, cookies, dumplings, breads, etc. 

Miso

Tip: The darker the miso paste the stronger and saltier the taste. This stuff is filled with all kinds of nutrients and can add a nice kick to soups, spreads, marinades, sautés, dips, dressing, etc. Keep in mind that if you boil miso, then you will lose a lot of its nutrients. Add to soups at the very end of the cooking process. You can dissolve it in a little bit of warm water and then add it to the soup broth. 

Nori Flakes

TIP: These dried flakes of seaweed are not only nutritious but they are filled with a wonderful flavor. You can buy these at an asian market such as Uwajimaya. I love to use these flakes as a topping for soups (such as miso or wonton) or as part of a marinade for tofu and tempeh. 

Olive Oil
TIP: Never buy olive oil that comes in a plastic container; not only does it ruin the flavor but it can potentially be bad for you. I get the cold-press extra virgin olive oil from Trader Joes; around 10 bucks for a tall bottle.

Oyster Sauce (Vegan)

TIP: You can buy this through Food Fight or an Asian Grocery (my favorite is Uwajimaya - I LOVE this supermarket and they have an online store too). This is my newest secret ingredient. This stuff tastes amazing on kale, beet greens, collard greens and swiss chard. Just saute the greens with olive oil, then add a nice size dash or two the oyster sauce (you can add a couple of dashes of mushroom soy sauce for a saltier flavor). 

Paprika 

TIP: You can get a giant container at Costco or you can even buy it in bulk; either way is cheaper than the grocery store spice aisle. Paprika is rich in flavor and gives a nice zip to soups, stroganoffs, sauces, tacos, dips, dal, etc. 

Sea Salt
TIP: No need to buy an expensive salt grinder, you can buy sea salt in a container that has a twist top that grinds the salt. I've gotten them at both Costco and Trader Joes. 

Soy Milk

TIP: If you hate the taste of soy milk, try starting off with vanilla. However, if you plan on cooking with it, use plain unless you're making a dessert. Other milk substitutes such as rice and almond are wonderful as well. I get mine in bulk at Costco (they sell the organic type), but you can also get a great deal at Trader Joes. Silk makes an incredibly yummy soy milk too. Use soy milk in place of cow's milk (a.k.a cow puss) in any recipe. 

Sun Dried Tomatoes
TIP: I get these at Costco in a GIANT jar for approximately 7 bucks. They don't carry them year round, so stock up when they have them. Sun dried tomatoes are packed with flavor and can add zip to hummus, spreads, dips, sauces, etc.

Tamari

TIP: Tamari has a salty, nutty flavor that can be used in a variety of dishes/recipes. It's not the same as soy sauce and is similar to Bragg's Amino Acid. Although I use both, I typically lean more towards Tamari because it tastes less salty (at least to me).  Tamari can add flavor to stir fries, sautés, soups, dips, sauces, etc. If your soup broth tastes a little bland, add a few shakes of tamari to bring out the flavor. 


Teriyaki Sauce
TIP: I like the one from Trader Joes that contains sesame seeds. Asian markets are another great place for tasty, inexpensive teriyaki sauce. Just a little can add a lot of flavor to mock meat loaf, marinades and veggies. 

I'll keep adding to this list....more to come.