Cupboard Basics

Spice up your life – and your diet

with a judicious sprinkling of handy cupboard basics such as those listed below. You may have a few of these ingredients already, so there’s no need to rush out and buy them all at once. Have a good rummage at the back of the cupboard and fridge before heading for the shops. If your kitchen’s anything like mine, you’ll be amazed at what you find there… Those ingredients marked with an asterisk * are the things you’re likely to use a lot of. The rest can be bought as and when you need them.

Aminos

Braggs or Marigold brand – like soya sauce but less salty

Arrowroot Baking powder

Bicarbonate of soda

*Bouillon powder

(Marigold brand – vegan)

*Breakfast cereals

(ready-made) – sugar-free wheat biscuits (eg Biobix); sugar-free crunchy granola; (NB The Co-op’s own brand, and Tesco Value and Organic are all vegan)

Bulgur wheat Cocoa powder

preferably good quality such as Green & Blacks – not drinking chocolate

Cornflour

Couscous

*Cream

(non-dairy, such as Alpro Soya Dream)

Custard powder

and/or ready-made dairy-free custard in cartons

Garlic salt/powder

(kept in dark place)

Flour

Wholemeal plain and self-raising White plain and self-raising Gram (chick pea) flour Brown rice flour Spelt (good for cakes etc instead of wheat flour if you’re intolerant or allergic)

*Fruit

including frozen berries for freezer

*Margarine

eg vegan Pure or Suma

*Milks

non-dairy: Nut – eg almond Oat Rice Soya milk (different varieties, eg organic, vanilla…)

Millet

*Miso

an Oriental paste used for soups and stocks; some varieties are light, some darker. You can buy it at health or Oriental stores or online eg www.clearspring.co.uk or  www.goodnessdirect.co.uk

Mushroooms

dried, such as porcini and shiitake

*Nuts

buy in small quantities and keep in screw top jars in the fridge or a dark cupboard

*Nut butters

eg peanut; almond; Brazil

*Nutritional yeast flakes

such as Marigold Engevita brand (NOT brewer’s yeast)

*Oats

whole (jumbo) or porridge

*Oil

rapeseed oil, cold pressed; extra virgin olive oil

Onion salt

Parmesan-style ‘cheese’

eg Florentino Vegan Parmesan

*Pasta

fusilli (spirals); penne (quills); spaghetti; egg-free noodles; lasagne sheets. Use wholegrain pasta if you can

*Pulses, dried

all varieties of beans and lentils (eg chickpeas, red lentils…)

Quinoa

(a wholegrain)

*Rice

long grain brown (also red; wild)

*Salt

rock or sea – coarse or fine – cheaper to buy looseor in big bags if possible

Sauces

• tomato and brown
• vegetarian Worcester sauce
• Tabasco or Hot Pepper

Cooking sauces

vegan ‘fast’ sauces for Italian, Thai, Chinese and Indian (eg Meridian, Loyd Grossman)

*Soya sauce

(buy brands such as Kikkoman; Sanchi; Clearspring; Essential; Infinity; Suma)

Sugar

raw cane if possible

*Syrup

date and/or maple

Tinned

*Baked Beans and *Pulses eg kidney, haricot, flageolet, pinto beans, chick peas, lentils – brown, green, Puy

*Tomatoes

chopped or whole

*Tofu

silken long life (eg Morinu brand – available in soft or firm varieties). Fresh tofu doesn’t keep so long and should be stored in the fridge

*Tomato puree

*Vinegar

cider; balsamic; red wine

*Yeast extract

(Marmite or other brands such as supermarket own, Natex, Essential)

Herbs and Spices

These are at heart of all good food, but especially veggie food! Buy these as you need them – you’ll soon discover which are your favourites. Buy loose if possible, in small quantities – or share a pack with a friend! Store in a dark place and/or in dark jars (clean Marmite jars are particularly good). It keeps them fresher.

Herbs

• Marjoram
• *Mint
• *Oregano
• *Rosemary
• *Sage
• *Tarragon
• *Thyme

Spices

• Allspice
• *Black peppercorns –  if you have a pepper grinder (otherwise ground black pepper)
• *Chilli – powder (Cayenne also) or flakes
• Cinnamon – powder or sticks
• Cloves – powder or whole
• Coriander – powder or seeds
• *Cumin – powder or seeds
• Fennel
• Garam masala
• Ginger – powder (but use fresh ginger root for stir-fries, sauces etc)
• Mustard seeds
• Nutmeg – powder or whole (crack the outer shell and grate the inner nut)
• *Paprika – plain and smoked varieties
• Turmeric

The author
This post was written by VRC Team
Vegan Recipe Club is part of the UK’s leading vegan charity, Viva!. We have hundreds of delicious vegan recipes; from easy weeknight dinners to showstopper desserts, and everything in-between! Keep your eyes peeled for new recipes each month developed by our expert team of foodies and from guest chefs too.