Keep Your Kitchen Stocked with These 7 Vegan Staples

Keeping your kitchen stocked with nutritious vegan staples is one of the most effective ways to lead a health-promoting plant-based lifestyle. So what should you keep on hand? The specifics will be a little bit different for everyone but here are the 7 essential healthy plant-based kitchen essentials that I can’t live without.

7 ESSENTIAL HEALTHY VEGAN STAPLES TO STOCK IN YOUR KITCHEN

1. Beans and other pulses (lentils, peas, chickpeas)

Guys, I seriously love beans.  Not only are they a good source of plant-based protein, fiber, and iron, but they’re also incredibly versatile, satisfying, and delicious too.  I love beans in chili, hummus, and salads.

Try these recipes:

Buffalo Roasted Chickpea Bowl with Honey Mustard Tahini Sauce

Mango Forbidden Rice and Beans

2.  Herbs and spices

In addition to being healthy, herbs and spices are the greatest way to add endless varieties of flavors that are sure to keep your tastebuds happy.  Each herb and spice provides its own unique composition of antioxidants and phytonutrients, so feel free to choose the ones that help your food taste the best to you.

Some of my favorites include cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne pepper, oregano, cumin, and chili powder.

Try these recipes:

Smoky and Spicy Chipotle Tofu Jerky

Roasted Eggplant Coconut Curry

3.  Green Tea

Nothing like a hot cup of tea (especially during the winter months) but I also love using matcha in lattes, smoothies, energy bars, and more for an extra helping of beneficial antioxidants from green tea.

Try these recipes:

Coconut Matcha Energy Bars

Energizing Tropical Green Tea Smoothies

4.  Nutritional yeast

This is truly one of my biggest must-have ingredients!  (I wrote an entire post about nooch here.)  I use it most sprinkled over pasta, soups, and pizza but it’s difficult to go wrong with nutritional yeast.  It’s completely versatile and you could use it in almost any savory dish.

Try these Recipes:

Vegan Grøstl (Austrian Potato Hash)

Grilled Curry Stuffed Avocados

 5. Whole grains

Whole grains, like barley, quinoa, oats, and brown rice, are some of my favorite ingredients for adding energizing carbohydrates and beneficial fiber.  Look for frozen versions or batch cook whole grains ahead of time if you’re short on time!

Try these recipes:

Chai Quinoa Breakfast Bowl

Vegan Deconstructed Sushi Salad Bowl

 6.  Vegetable broth

Of course, store-bought veggie stock will work, but if you happen to have a lazy weekend day around the house, try simmering leftover veggie scraps with water and herbs and spices to create a delicious and flavorful homemade vegetable broth for soups and sauces.

Try these recipes:

Vegan Freezer-Friendly Taco Soup

Homemade Savory Vegetarian Mushroom Broth

7. Nuts and Seeds

We need fats to absorb essential nutrients and give us long-lasting energy, so it’s important to include healthy fat sources throughout the day.  In the morning, I use nuts and seeds in oatmeal, smoothies, energy bars, and granola.  For lunch and dinner, I love sprinkling nuts and seeds over entrees and incorporating them into dressings and sauces for added creaminess and flavor.

Try these recipes:

Walnut Lentil Salad with Creamy Walnut Herb Dressing

Chocolate Nut and Seed Energy Bars

For more nutritious ideas, check out this post with 23 additional vegan pantry-stocking tips!

Which ingredients on this list can’t you live without?

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(updated 9/2/2016)