Cooking with Vegan Benefits
Incorporating more vegan dishes into your diet is easy, as long as you're stocked with the right ingredients. Try these switches to make your pantry more plant-friendly. But remember, subbing a plant product for an animal product means a different – though still tasty – flavor profile. Don't expect tempeh to taste like chicken; do, however, expect it to be a deliciously different kind of meal. There are many more proteins out there that you can experiment with, but this handy guide can get you started!
Instead of this... |
Try this... |
Why that? |
|
Chicken |
Eggplant |
The same way you sub eggplant for chicken in a chicken Parmesan! |
|
Beef |
Portobello Mushrooms |
Their meaty texture makes a good stand-in for burgers and more. |
|
Pork |
Jackfruit |
This slightly sweet fruit is a good sub for savory pulled pork dishes. |
|
Seafood |
Various |
For seafood, it can really come down to how you season your sub (try Old Bay, seaweed and lemon). |
|
Any Meat |
Faux Meats |
Tempeh, Seitan and Tofu are tasty, versatile protein-rich substitutes for any meat, depending on the desired texture and the dish. |
|
Any Meat |
Lentils, Beans, Legumes |
All high in protein, these options can be good in many dishes, from chili to burgers to vegan “tuna” salad. |
|
Butter |
Coconut Oil |
Full of healthy fats, slightly sweet and nutty with about the same smoke-point. |
|
Milk |
Almond Milk |
There are many great options for a milk substitute, but we have to admit we're loving almond. Slightly sweet with no chalkiness. |
|
Milk |
Cashew Milk |
Naturally sweet, good substitute when baking dessert. |
|
Egg |
Baking Soda |
When a recipe includes an egg as a leavening agent, replace it with 2 teaspoons baking soda mixed with 2 tablespoons warm water |
|
Egg |
Flaxseeds |
Great for use in recipes that call for eggs to be used as a binder. Replace 1 egg with 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water. |
|
Egg |
Applesauce |
Used to add moisture, replace 1 egg with ¼ cup applesauce in baked goods |