15 Vegan Staples to Add to Your Pantry

If you are just starting with veganism, or are just struggling a little bit, here are 15 staples that I always have on hand to make my meals!​

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These are things that I wouldn’t usually pick up in my weekly shopping, because I already have looooads at home.

This isn’t a list of the things I buy every week, although I might try to do a lil one of those shops soon (oooooh).

Anyways, here they are!

1. Rice​

​This is a staple vegan food item that you need to have in your cupboard!

Whether it be brown rice or boil in the bag instant rice, it will go with so many meals, from stir fries to burritos.

2. Pasta

The same as rice, it’s a staple. I have a big bag of pasta (I think like 10kg, but could be way off) that I bought from Tesco months ago for only a few euros that I keep in my kitchen.

I tend to also buy pasta throughout the month, so this one's always there for emergencies.

3. Lentils

My favourite lentil recipes are spaghetti bolognese or shepard's pie, but these can be used in so many vegan dishes, from curries to soups.

4. Tin of Tomatoes

Stock up on a few of these, to make those spaghetti and pie recipes above, but also so, so many others.

5. Coconut Milk​

​Curries! That’s the big one here. One of my favourite recipes to use coconut milk for is my leek and tofu curry, which I’ll be uploading a recipe for soon!

6. Oil

Something that should preferably be in your cupboard at all times.

Olive oil is lovely for things like sauces, but cheaper vegetable oils work too and can be used for baking as well!​

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7. Frozen Veg​

​Just like my big bag of pasta, I also always have frozen veg in my kitchen. I prefer to use fresh veg but on those days that I’ve been working all week and have no food in the house (and have already eaten chips too many times that week) these are great to make a simple stir fry or pasta dish.

8. Beans

I’ve put these down as one item, but realistically you should stock up on a few different types.​

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Kidney beans and mixed beans are the tins that I’d usually buy, and it’s very easy to find them cheap.

Use them for curries, burgers, wraps, pretty much any way you can think of to get that protein in!!

9. Spices

The same as above. You should definitely not just settle for one spice, but to get started you can buy ​

​mixed spices, for things specifically like pasta sauces etc.​

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My top picks for your first spices would be cumin, parsley, paprika and garlic powder, and when I first moved out of home I’d buy one new spice every week.

10. Flour

For baking, of course. I also use flour to make white sauce for pies and creamy pasta sauces. A staple for everyone’s press, not just vegans!

11. Oats

I don’t use oats too often, but do always have them in my cupboard for breakfasts if I have nothing else, and for baking if the recipe calls for them.

12. Nutritional Yeast

Life saver! Have you just made a really shitty pasta sauce?? Fuck a load of nooch on top and enjoy!

People say it tastes cheesy, and to be honest, personally I don’t agree, but it does taste amazing, give you vitamins and is super easy to use.

I also use this for those white sauces I was talking about above.

13. Frozen Burgers

I don’t just buy these for burgers (although I do eat more burgers than I would care to admit). They’re also so versatile for cooking! My personal favourite are the 'quorn' hot and spicy burgers. I slather a load of 'tesco free from' mayo on top with lettuce and enjoy them as fake ethical "McChickens", but more often than not I cut them into strips for sandwiches and wraps, or stir fries.​

​14. Vegetable Stock

Will make your dinners taste so much better, especially if you don’t have loads of spices yet.

Just be careful, because some have milk powder in them! Always read the label!

15. Soy Sauce

If you ever want to marinate tofu, this is a staple. Again, if you have nothing in the house but this and your reserve of frozen vegetables and rice, you are flying it.​

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Most of these things only cost a few euro, and you probably have them already, so even if you try to pick up one or two every time you go shopping, you’ll be stocked up in no time.

Enjoy, and happy eating!! xx

Úna

(Images Copyright Tesco Ireland)