Vegan Substitutes
Vegan substitute products are coming out all the time as more people turn to a vegan diet. I have been a vegan for a good few years now and I can definitely see an increase in the number and quality of vegan products coming onto the market. I don't think I'd have found it easy to be vegan twenty years ago, but now I just can't believe the products that are coming out.
Remember that vegan brands vary greatly so try different products to find which ones you like the best.
Butter - Soya spreads are readily available in most supermarkets and health food shops.
Buttermilk -
1 cup of soya milk
1/2 a tsp of cider vinegar or lemon juice
Mix and leave to stand for at least ten minutes.
OR
1/4 cup of silken tofu 1
1/2 a cup of water
1 tbsp lemon juice or cider vinegar and a pinch of salt
Blend together and leave to stand for around ten minutes or so before adding to your recipe.
Cheese - vegan cheese is sold in health food shops and some supermarkets may also sell it.
Parmezan grated cheese is available in health food shops and some supermarkets.
Cream cheese is also available in health food shops and occassionally in some supermarkets.
Chocolate - Vegan chocolate is sold in health food shops and most supermarkets. Dark cocoa chocolate is mostly vegan (check the lables). White vegan chocolate is available online.
Condensed Milk -
3 cups of soya or rice milk
1/2 a cup of unrefined white sugar
2-3 drops of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt
Add the milk and sugar to a saucepan and cook over a low-medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is reduced to 1 cup. Add the vanilla extract and the salt. Cool before using.
OR
3/4 of a cup of silken tofu
1/4 cup of honey substitute such as agave nectar
Place ingredients into a blender (or use a hand blender as I do) and blend until smooth. Cool before using.
Cream - Health food shops stock various vegan cream alternatives. In my experience, some taste not so good, but some taste like the real thing, such as Alpro single vegan cream which is available in the fridge section in most supermarkets.
Or you can make your own:
1 pound soft (silken) tofu
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup unrefined sugar
1/4 cup soya milk
Blend ingredients together in a blender until smooth and refrigerate.
OR
1 tin full fat coconut milk
Unrefined powdered sugar to taste
Chill the tin of coconut milk in the fridge overnight, along with the bowl and the whisk. Drain the milk out of the can and save the thick cream which sits on the top of the can. Place in chilled bowl and whisk for a good few seconds (do not overwhisk). Add the powdered sugar and whisk until fluffy.
Eggs - The most difficult vegan substitute, but it can be done.
Fudge - Dairy free fudge available from most health food shops.
Gelatin - Gelatin is used as a thickening agent for foods such as sweets and jellies and is made from animal waste such as bones, skin and organs. To replace gelatin in a recipe you can use agar agar (the most common gelatin vegan replacement product), or rice starch.
Honey - Agave nectar is available from health food shops and some well stocked supermarkets. Also, you can now buy
"Just like honey" rice nectar.
Ice-cream - Vegan versions available in health food shops and most supermarkets.
Mayonnaise - Vegan mayonnaise is sold in health food shops and most supermarkets.
Meat - Some supermarkets sell some mock meat. This will usually be quite basic stuff. Health food shops will sell a bigger variety and the more upmarket chinese restaurants will stock a bigger variety still. These should deliver to your door.
Milk - Soya and rice milk sold in supermarkets and health food shops.
Worcestershire sauce - This usually has anchovies in it but you can get the vegan version from health food shops and some supermarkets (usually in the special dietary needs section).
Yoghurt - Soya yoghurt sold in supermarkets and health food shops.
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