10 Ingredients All Vegans Should Know About

Plus delicious recipes to make with them. Vegan chefs rock!

1. Nutritional Yeast Flakes

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Usually sold in the bulk section of grocery stores these deactivated yeast flakes are a great way too create a cheesy flavor in dishes, without actually using any dairy.

Recipe: Vegan Nacho Cheese Dip

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With this easy recipe all you need is nutritional yeast, potatoes, carrots, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt to create an amazing, vegan nacho cheese sauce.

2. TVP (Texturized Vegetable Protein)

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Made from defatted soy flour, TVP is easy to cook, and has a protein content equal to that of meat. It doesn't have much of it's own flavor though, so you'll need plenty of seasoning in whatever dish your make with TVP.

Recipe: TVP Burgers On Vegan Corn And Parsley Buns

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Combine TVP with blended beans, dates, quinoa, herbs, and seasonings. Let rest, then bake/broil. Serve on vegan buns with homemade pickle relish. TVP burger patty recipe here.

3. Canned Coconut Cream

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Not coconut milk, or boxed coconut milk beverages. In order to create a vegan whipped topping you need to start with a can that says "coconut cream" on it. The only store I can ever find coconut cream at is Trader Joe's. It's usually around a dollar or two per can.

Recipe: Black Bean Brownie Bites Topped With Coconut Whipped Cream

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Delicious chewy gluten free brownies, made from black beans, an apple, flax seeds, cocoa powder, and a few other ingredients. Topped with yummy vegan cream, made from canned coconut cream. Recipe and instructions here.

4. Soaked Cashews

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By soaking cashews in water (or another liquid), then pureeing them in a powerful blender you can create a non dairy cream that is great for frostings, faux cheese cake filling, and a ton of other sweet and savory dishes.

Recipe: Cashew Curry Ranch Dressing

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This dairy-free ranch dressing is creamy and delicious! Super easy to make, just throw all the ingredients into a Vita Mix and blend until smooth. Recipe here.

5. Flax Seed

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Need a vegan egg replacer? Combine freshly ground flaxseeds with warm water and let sit for 10 minutes. It will become a sticky, thick, egg like mixture that will work well as a leavening egg replacer in baked goods.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Banana Corn Muffins

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Made with flax seed "eggs," banana, corn meal, agave, and a few gluten-free baking essentials. Recipe here.

6. Liquid Smoke

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Liquid smoke is produced smoke from wood chips and liquid. It's a great way to add a mesquite like, bacony almost flavor instantly to pretty much anything. Great in chills, BBQ sauce, or any homemade meat substitution.

Recipe: Coconut Bacon

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These delicious little guys are made from coconut flakes, liquid smoke, tamari, and maple syrup, but taste just like crunchy bacon! Recipe here.

7. Dates

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When pureed, dates form a super sticky paste that acts as a great binder in a ton of dishes. They also add a natural sweetness, and are great to use in baked desserts like brownies and cakes. Looking for an easy no bake pie crust? Just pulse dates and walnuts in a good processor, then press the mixture into a pie tin.

Recipe: Chocolate Cupcakes With Salted Caramel Frosting

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To make vegan salted carmel, combine 10 pitted dates, coconut milk, vanilla, and salt in a food processor. You can use the carmel in this cupcake and frosting recipe, or eat it directly on top of a scoop or two of coconut ice cream.

8. Vital Wheat Gluten

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Vital wheat gluten is a natural protein found in wheat. It is used by commercial bakers to improve the texture of breads, and by vegans worldwide to make homemade seitan, a delicious vegan meat substitute.

Recipe: Homemade Seitan

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Follow this step-by-step guide to making your own seitan. Then roast it with vegetables and gravy for a brisket style seitan plate. Recipe here.

9. Agar Agar Powder

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Agar agar is a flavorless, vegan gelling agent made from pressed seaweed. It can be used to create all kinds of candies, baked goods, creams, jellies, etc. It can also be combined with water and whipped to create an egg white replacer.

Recipe: Mozzarella Caprese Skewers

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Use coconut milk, agar powder, potato starch, tapioca starch (or flour), xantham gum, oil, and vinegar to create a vegan mozzarella replacement. Serve with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and balsamic. Recipe here.

10. Coconut Oil

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Because it solidifies when cooled, and melts when warmed, coconut oil is a great vegan replacement for butter when baking. Plus, it's crazy good for you. According to Dr. Oz, coconut oil helps our bodies mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria that can cause illness. It can also help us fight off yeast, fungus, and candida.

Recipe: Soft Pretzel Challahs

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These vegan pretzel challahs are made from coconut oil, a combination of all purpose, whole wheat, and rice flours, as well as a couple of other baking ingredients (yeast, sugar, salt). You could also use the dough recipe and shape it into six traditional pretzels.

Bonus tip! Use a mixture of coconut milk, agave, and baking soda as a vegan alternative to a traditional egg wash. Brush your dough lightly with the mixture right before baking.