A vegan diet can eliminate many traditional ingredients used in cooking. Fortunately, many substitute products exist so you don't have to give up your favorite flavors or tastes.
"Vegan Dishes 365" host Daniela has shared great vegan recipes with Headlines & Global News over the past year, and always keeps at least 10 essential ingredients stocked in her kitchen. Now, in this year-end special she reveals which ingredients you should keep on hand to enjoy a healthy vegan diet.
Top 10 Essential Ingredients for Vegan Cooking
Earth Balance! Vegan Buttery Sticks
- Great for baking and cooking
- Easy tablespoon measurements
Nutritional Yeast Seasoning
- Great source of Vitamin B, especially B12
- Used in rice, pasta stews and vegan hollandaise sauce
Sweet Mesquite Seasoning
- Malt barbecue flavor and robust texture
- Gives a smoked barbecue flavor to country dishes
- Delicious with potatoes and beans
Magic Vegan Bacon Grease
- Smokey flavor
- Made from coconut oil
- Used with Brussels sprouts and other roasted vegetables
Mole Sauce
- Made from peppers, roasted tahini, garlic, onion powder, tomato paste
Beyond Meat
- Grilled chicken strips
- Incorporate in salads, wraps and more
Chia Seeds
- Mix with coconut meal, chill in the fridge overnight, and enjoy with papaya fruit for breakfast
- Excellent for savory dishes and sweet treats
Dry Fruits and Seeds
Bee Free Honee
- Made from apples
- Delicious and gluten-free
- Great substitute for honey
Kombucha Live Probiotic
- Drink it or cook with it!
- Substitute for vinegar
About Daniela
Follow her on Twitter @vegandishes365 and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vegandishes365
Daniela was born and raised in Timisoara, Romania, where she spent her teenage years working as a fashion model for Elite. She has appeared in print ads and numerous television commercials in Romania and modeled for various brands in Germany and the U.S. These days, she's working behind the lens as a photographer's assistant and videographer. And when she's not hosting dinner parties for her vegan friends, Daniela dedicates her time to donating and participating in various fundraising events to benefit animals, in particular Last Chance For Animals (LCA).
Daniela is proud to be living and working in America, which in the years following the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescu's Communist regime seemed like only a dream. Despite living through such a difficult socioeconomic transition, Daniela recalls her childhood years spent with family in her grandmother's garden and kitchen as among the happiest of her life.
Long before "farm to table" was revived in America, Daniela was enjoying the culinary practice with her grandmother on a daily basis - growing, harvesting and cooking her own healthy and nutritious plant-based dishes. After moving to Los Angeles in 2010 and discovering the Hollywood vegan lifestyle, Daniela incorporated much of what she learned back home into dishes she cooks for her vegan friends.
Now, she's thrilled to be sharing her vegan re
