Contrary to popular belief, being vegan doesn’t mean your diet has to be 100% carrot sticks and beans. There are plenty of ways to use a natural and delicious vegan substitute in your favorite recipes that taste so good you won’t notice any difference.
Flax seeds (swap in for eggs)
Flickr user Veganbaking.net
Flax seeds mixed with a bit of water make a great binding agent to use where you’d normally use eggs. A tablespoon of flax with 2.5 tablespoons of water is all it takes. Use it in all kinds of baking recipes and bask in your genius.
See firsthand how flax seeds make a delicious snack by trying the Peanut Butter & Jelly Bar by Kutoa.
Yeast (swap in for cheese)
Flickr user Vegan Feast Catering
One of the biggest issues vegans often find is dealing with the absence of real cheese. A lot of substitutes just don’t measure up. That’s where nutritional yeast swoops in. It actually tastes like cheese, and it can be used for things like sauces or anywhere you’d use Parmesan.
Canola oil (swap in for butter)
Flickr user moria
Butter’s one of those pesky things that pops up in almost every yummy baked good recipe. Try swapping in an equal amount of canola oil to your favorite cookie or cake recipes for butter, and be amazed!
Need inspiration? try using it in the recipe for the Organic Gluten Free Vanilla Baking Mix by Wholesome Chow.
Tempeh (swap in for meat)
Flickr user Brocco Lee
So, not every vegan is nuts about tofu. It’s okay. But that’s not the only substitute for those weak moments when you’re missing the taste of meat. Tempeh can be ground up like beef or even used in sandwiches like pork or chicken. Nom.
Quinoa (swap in for lots of stuff)
Flickr user SweetOnVeg
Ah, quinoa. We’ve already crafted a ode to quinoa, but it bears another mention because not only does it make a great substitute for the protein found in meat, but also gives you all the fiber and vitamins of grains.
Do you have another favorite vegan substitute? Let us know in the comments below!
