Vegan Diet: Tips

There are many reasons to choose to adopt a vegan diet and opt for a cruelty-free lifestyle. To do this, one must eliminate all animal-derived foods from their diet. However, the vegan diet is also full of various and healthy foods, rich in nutrients that our body needs. Let’s discover together what they are.

Many Good and Tasty Foods in the Vegan Diet

The vegan lifestyle brings many benefits not only to animals and the planet but also to our bodies. There are many healthy and tasty recipes to prepare instead of animal-derived foods. For those who have decided not to eat meat, ideal vegan options to simulate its texture are seitan, tofu, or tempeh. These can be used to prepare many recipes.

Tofu, Tempeh, and Seitan

Seitan is a high-protein product, widely used in the vegan diet, made by cooking wheat gluten in a vegetable broth based on aromatic herbs, soy, and seaweed. For those allergic to gluten, gluten-free seitan can also be made. This can be cooked to achieve the texture of a steak, the tenderness of grilled meat, or the chewiness of ribs.

Tofu, on the other hand, recreates chicken-based dishes. It is a Chinese and Japanese specialty made by curdling a gelatinous liquid derived from soy. It is almost tasteless and absorbs the aroma of other ingredients or spices it is paired with.

Tempeh is an Asian specialty made by cooking yellow soybeans. It is then fermented through the action of a specific fungus. It is preserved in salted water and can be stewed, steamed, or fried. Tempeh has a texture that perfectly mimics minced meat and is ideal for making delicious burgers. It can also be used to create tasty “fish” fillets.

Many Vegetables as Meat Substitutes

Vegetables are essential for providing proteins and vitamins in the vegan diet and brilliantly replacing meat. Mushrooms, for example, can be prepared in many ways. Alternatively, lentils, beans, and eggplants can be worthy substitutes for meat. With large Portobello mushrooms, you can prepare French Dip Sandwiches and Philly Cheesesteaks.

Seasonings: Essential for Making Any Dish Tasty

Meat, chicken, fish, or vegetables usually need to be seasoned to make them more appetising and flavourful. For this reason, the same spice mixes that we usually use to season meat can also be used in the vegan diet. These blends of herbs and spices serve to make the meat truly delicious.

The mix of sage, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, celery seeds, allspice, and black pepper is essential for seasoning poultry. Mixing chili powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, coriander, mustard powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper creates a great blend for flavouring seitan steaks.

Vegan Broth and Sauces

In a traditional diet, chicken broth is usually used as it helps to flavour many dishes. But this type of broth also contains meat, and for this reason, those who have committed to a vegan or vegetarian diet cannot eat it.

There are vegan broth cubes or chicken or beef-flavoured vegan broths available on the market that are excellent substitutes for traditional ones. Just prepare vegetable broth and add a bit of these seasonings to obtain a truly exquisite consommé. Sauces added to preparations also help to make them delicious. Vegan Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, or tamari are perfect allies for creating broths with a “meaty” but vegan flavour.