Here I will show you how you can veganise basic non vegan recipes. I have only added a few recipe examples so you get the gist of how it works. For simplicity, I have used the most basic of recipes. The vegan version ingredients have been underlined. The thing to remember when cooking a vegan dish is that you don't have to search for vegan recipes all the time. You can do a search for almost any recipe and veganise it! I love watching cookery shows where the recipes are given a mark out of ten, and if I like the look of a particular dish, I will do my best to turn it into a vegan dish.
It is incredibly easy to veganise spaghetti bolognese and any other recipe using mincemeat. All you need to do is to use soya mince and vegetable cubes in place of the non vegan ingredients. If you are using worcestershire sauce, then just make sure it is the vegan version which doesn't contain anchovies.
Non Vegan Recipe 1kg / 2 lb beef mince 2 beef stock cubes 3 onions 6 cloves of garlic Worcestershire sauce 3 tins of chopped tomatoes Tomato paste Oregano Basil Olive oil |
Vegan Version 1kg / 2 lb soya mince 2 vegetable stock cubes 3 onions 6 cloves of garlic Worcestershire sauce 3 tins of chopped tomatoes Tomato paste Oregano Basil Olive oil |
With another classic dish using meat, the shepherds pie is also extremely easy to veganise. Just replace the butter with soya spread, the beef broth for vegetable broth, the mince for soya mince, and if using worcestershire sauce, make sure it is the vegan version.
Non Vegan Recipe 1kg / 2 lb beef mince 1 onion 1-2 cups vegetables - chopped carrots, corn, peas 1 1/2 - 2 lbs potatoes 8 Tbsps butter 1/2 cup beef broth 1 tsp worcestershire sauce Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice |
Vegan Version 1kg / 2 lb soya mince 1 onion 1-2 cups vegetables - chopped carrots, corn, peas 1 1/2 - 2 lbs potatoes 8 Tbsps soya spread 1/2 cup vegetable broth 1 tsp worcestershire sauce Salt, pepper, other seasonings of choice |
Non Vegan Recipe 1kg / 2 lb beef mince 1 onion 2 garlic cloves 2 Tbsps of chili powder 1/2 tsp salt Tin of tomatoes 1 tsp worcestershire sauce Tin of red kidney beans |
Vegan Version 1kg / 2 lb soya mince 1 onion 2 garlic cloves 2 Tbsps of chilli powder 1/2 tsp salt Tin of tomatoes 1 tsp worcestershire sauce Tin of red kidney beans |
Grab a moussaka recipe from somewhere and you will see there are quite a few ingredients. However, this recipe is also very easy to veganise. This recipe calls for cheese but vegan cheese is readily available. Nutritional yeast can also be used to make cheese sauces and is a staple in most vegan kitchens. Not all bechamel sauces call for eggs in the recipe so you can safely take them out.
Non Vegan Recipe 1kg / 2 lb beef mince 1 onion 2 garlic cloves 2 aubergines 1/2 tsp salt 3 plum tomatoes 1/2 pint of chicken stock Spices Bechamel Sauce 50g of butter 25g of flour 400ml of milk 150g grated cheese 50g grated parmesan cheese 2 eggs |
Vegan Version 1kg / 2 lb soya mince 1 onion 2 garlic cloves 2 aubergines 1/2 tsp salt 3 plum tomatoes 1/2 pint of vegetable stock Spices Bechamel sauce 50g of soya spread 25g of flour 400ml of soya milk 150g grated vegan cheese 50g grated vegan parmesan Egg replacer or omit |
Vegan chicken is easy to find. If you look at my vegan meat page, you will see that my favourite vegan chicken is the one you get from specialist chinese restaurants. You can make your own vegan sour cream or some health food shops sell it nowadays. The other things like stock cubes are easy to replace.
Non Vegan Recipe 4 British chicken skinless fillets 1 knob of butter 2 tsps oil 1 small onion 150g chestnut mushrooms 75ml white wine 75ml chicken stock 1 tsp whole grain mustard 1 x 150ml tub sour cream Bunch of fresh parsley or thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper |
Vegan Version Vegan chicken 1 knob of soya spread 2 tsps oil 1 small onion 150g chestnut mushrooms 75ml white wine 75ml vegetable stock 1 tsp whole grain mustard Vegan sour cream Bunch of fresh parsley or thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper |
Ready made pastry is usually vegan and if it's not, you can make delicious vegan pastry. The beef in this recipe can be replaced with your favourite vegan "beef".
Non Vegan Recipe 900g/2lb stewing steak 1 tbsp olive oil 2 onions 1 Tbsp fresh parsley 1 Tbsp fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper 570ml/1 pint beef stock 225g/8oz ready-rolled shortcrust pastry 1 egg |
Vegan Version 900g/2lb vegan "beef" strips 1 tbsp olive oil 2 onions 1 Tbsp fresh parsley 1 Tbsp fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper 570ml/1 pint veggie stock 225g/8oz ready-rolled shortcrust pastry Egg replacer or omit |
You can buy vegan fish fillets from specialist chinese restaurants, and vegan bacon is readily available as is vegan mayonnaise.
Non Vegan Recipe 4 x 200g white fish fillets 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary Zest and juice of 2 lemons Freshly ground black pepper 16 rashers of bacon Olive oil 4 Tbsps mayonnaise 2 large bunches of asparagus
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Vegan Version 4 x 200g vegan fish fillets 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary Zest and juice of 2 lemons Freshly ground black pepper 16 rashers of vegan bacon Olive oil 4 Tbsps vegan mayonnaise 2 large bunches of asparagus |
Easy peasy to veganise. Just replace the milk and the butter.
Non Vegan Recipe 4 oz of pudding rice 1 pint of whole milk 1 whole nutmeg 1 oz of butter |
Vegan Version 4 oz of pudding rice 1 pint of soya milk/cream 1 whole nutmeg 1 oz of soya spread |
A lot of non vegan bread and butter pudding recipes do not use eggs so they are safe to take out of this recipe or you can use a vegan egg replacer.
Non Vegan Recipe 25g/1oz butter, plus extra for greasing 8 thin slices bread 50g/2oz sultanas 2 tsps cinnamon powder 350ml/12fl oz whole milk 50ml/2fl oz double cream 2 free-range eggs 25g/1oz granulated sugar Nutmeg, grated, to taste |
Vegan Version 25g/1oz soya spread, plus extra for greasing 8 thin slices bread 50g/2oz sultanas 2 tsps cinnamon powder 350ml/12fl oz soya milk/cream 50ml/2fl oz soya cream Use egg replacer or take out of recipe 25g/1oz granulated sugar Nutmeg, grated, to taste |