If you’ve ever followed a vegan recipe and came across an unfamiliar ingredient, then this list is for you. This is a list of 10 vegan pantry essentials that you’ll always want to have on hand because they make cooking so much easier.

I’m not a fan of buying niche ingredients that can only be used for a very specific recipe, so all of these items are multipurpose and can be used daily.

A well-stocked pantry is essential for maintaining a healthy vegan diet, especially in the time of coronavirus when it’s so easy to order take out instead of cooking. That’s why all of these items can be purchased on Amazon so you don’t have to mentally prepare yourself before going into a grocery store to get these 10 vegan pantry essentials.

1. Hemp Hearts

Hemp hearts are the best and most versatile thing every vegan should have in their pantry, as they are an excellent source of iron, protein, and omega-3s. You can add them to smoothies, salads, toasts, and blend them into creamy, nutrient-dense sauces. 

2. Chia Seeds

Like hemp seeds, chia seeds are such an easy way to load up your smoothies with essential nutrients that are harder for vegans to get anywhere else. This chia seed pudding recipe uses three tablespoons of chia seeds per serving.

3. Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast, aka “nooch,” may sound strange, but it is a must-have for cooking vegan food. Nooch has a texture that’s almost like panko bread crumbs, but it has a cheesy flavor – to me, it tastes like Cheez-Its! And bonus – it’s fortified with vitamin B12. If you will be attempting any cheesy vegan recipes, you need nooch in your life. Add it to sauces, pastas…basically anywhere you would add cheese! My favorite thing to add it to is popcorn.

4. Cashews

Cashews are essential for making anything creamy in vegan cuisine. Blend them up to make alfredo sauce, dips, salad dressing, or creamy soups!

5. Better Than Bouillon

If you’re always cooking with veggie broth, then Better Than Bouillon is a must. Having a jar of concentrated bouillon is so much easier than stocking up on countless cartons of broth, and the best part is that you can control how much you put in each serving. This brand has a variety of vegan broths, including one that tastes like chicken broth!

6. Chickpea Pasta

Chickpea pasta is the best way to sneak in protein when you don’t feel like eating tofu or beans! This brand has 20g of protein per serving which is incredible, and yes, the taste and texture is exactly the same as regular pasta.

7. Beans and Lentils

It’s so important to have shelf-stable forms of protein in your kitchen at all times. Beans and lentils, whether you like to get them canned or dried, are clean sources of protein and iron, and they are so handy to add to bowls, soups, tacos, etc.

8. Rice

When people accuse veganism of being too expensive, just think about how cheap beans and rice is, which is traditionally considered “pauper” food.  It may be because I’m Asian, but I truly couldn’t live without rice. Rice is the base of almost all my meals, and I know I can never go hungry if I have it in my pantry. Rice = Life!

9. Apple Cider Vinegar

While some people swear by taking ACV shots daily to help with digestion and immunity, having ACV around is super helpful to use as an acid in place of fresh lemon juice for certain recipes. ACV is also important for soaking and washing your produce, especially in the age of COVID-19. Just pour a quarter cup of ACV in warm water and let your produce soak for 15 minutes when you bring them home from the grocery store.

10. Rolled Oats

Never, ever get instant oatmeal packets! Rolled oats are way cheaper, healthier, and more versatile than the instant packets. Oatmeal is of course a staple breakfast, but you can also use oats as gluten-free flour when you don’t have any other flour on hand. Just grind up oats into a fine powder in the blender and it works perfectly for pretty much anything you would need flour for!

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