4 vegan alternatives you’ll actually use

The vegan movement has exploded into the mainstream over the last few years with more people transitioning to a plant-based diet every day. Veganism often gets a bad rap amongst meat-eaters, who often worry that they’d be stuck eating lettuce and ice cubes every day. But this couldn’t be further from the truth.

There’s a world of flavour to discover with vegan food. Here are some genuinely tasty and useful vegan ingredients you can use is you’re planning to give Veganuary a go this year and want to try your hand at cooking some animal-friendly recipes.

Ground flaxseed – egg replacement

Those who love baking often worry about transitioning to a vegan diet because of how important eggs are to so many recipes. However, mixing 1 tbs of ground flaxseed with 3 tbs of water and leaving it for five minutes creates a perfect replacement binder for all of your favourite recipes.

Seitan – meat replacement

Seitan is a tough-textured miracle ingredient that is made from wheat gluten and can be combined with all kinds of spices and flavourings. It’s been used for centuries in Asian cooking but has recently become a go-to ingredient for chefs, taking the form of fried chicken, steaks, kebabs and all kinds of meat alternatives.

Banana blossom – fish replacement

One of the biggest hurdles for meat-eaters to get over when moving to a vegan diet is the lack of texture when it comes to meat alternatives. Fish, in particular, is one of the hardest to imitate. Fortunately, nature has provided yet again with banana blossom. The texture is indistinguishable from fish and with the right flavouring, you won’t tell the difference.

Dairy-free milk

Cow milk is another thing that many people struggle to transition away from. Fortunately, there are plenty of tasty dairy-free options available. Soya milk is the usual go-to option and is a great all-rounder. But if you’re not a fan of that, there’s almond milk (which goes great in hot drinks) rice milk, coconut milk and hemp milk. Give each of them a go and see which you prefer.

Don’t forget to visit your local True North venue throughout Veganuary to try some incredible vegan dishes and see what kind of food you can make with plant-based ingredients.