If you’re vegan than you know the importance of seasonings. In fact, there are some vegan seasonings that you literally need to have in your pantry. When it comes to vegan meals, seasonings can be a game changer. They can totally transform the entire plant based experience.
The right seasonings can take your vegan dish from blah to unbelievably mouthwatering. Many of these may be the classic seasonings that you already have on hand. Meanwhile, there may be others that you may not know of, but that are crucial to making delicious plant based meals.
Here are some important seasonings that every vegan pantry should have.
Nutritional Yeast
Nutritional yeast gets the top spot because it is everything in a vegan pantry. It literally brings everything to life. Besides that, it is one of the few plant based sources of Vitamin B-12 that is essential in a vegan diet. Nutritional yeast has a savory, cheesy, yet nutty sort of flavor. It pairs well with popcorn, scrambled tofu, macaroni and cheese and more.
Turmeric
Turmeric is a popular Indian spice and another essential seasoning. Besides making your food taste amazing, turmeric has several health benefits. It’s slightly bitter taste pairs well with cumin, ginger and garlic. I tend to sprinkle a little turmeric on just about all of my dishes. It also gives smoothies a nice kick.
Coriander
Coriander is another popular Indian favorite. It has a pleasant earthy, peppery flavor that really gives vegan dishes a nice boost. It pairs well with turmeric, cumin, mustard seeds, chili powder and cinnamon. Add it to a curry, soup or chili dish and be amazed.
Cumin
Cumin is yet another among popular Indian dish fav. With it’s earthy, smokey, nutty flavor it is amazing in curries. It is commonly used in Spanish, Mexican, Indian, Caribbean and Asian cuisine. Cumin pairs well with coriander, chili powder, cinnamon, oregano, ginger, turmeric, and garlic. It’s the perfect addition to a curry, soup, chili, flavored rice, stew, or tacos dish.
Curry Powder
There’s nothing quite like a good curry powder. While curry is composed of many of the seasonings on this list, having one pre-made also comes in handy. Besides that, curry powder is divine on popcorn.
Jerk Seasoning
Jerk seasoning primarily consists of allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers. It may also include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, brown sugar, ginger, and salt. Jerk seasoning is good to have on hand for those times when you’re in the mood for a spicy kick. I love it on tofu and cauliflower wings.
Vegetable Broth
Vegetable broth may just be the backbone of plant based eating. It is commonly the foundation of nearly every vegan dish. You can use it as the base for rice, quinoa, couscous or other grain in it for some added flavor. You also make soups with it as well as sauces. It’s also good on sautéed veggies.
Soy Sauce, Tamari or Liquid Aminos
Soy sauce is always a good thing. To give your plant based dish a savory boost, soy sauce comes in handy. If you’re gluten free than tamari is a good alternative. Otherwise, if you’re cutting back o the soy then liquid aminos may work best for you, particularly coconut aminos.
Kala Namak (aka Black Salt)
Kala Namak is the go to for that egg taste. It literally tastes like compressed egg. It offers a very unique flavor to dishes and is particularly delicious in scrambled tofu.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is perfect for when you want the spice minus the textural grit of black pepper. Commonly used in Italian, Spanish, Mexican and Southwestern cuisines, cayenne pepper is a household staple that taste great on just about anything. It pairs well with cumin, coriander, paprika, oregano and cinnamon.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon offers a unique earthy, slightly sweet, spicy flavor. Whether it’s used on fruits or veggies, cinnamon really brings a dish to life. It’s most impressive because of it’s versatile use on sweet and salty dishes.
Garlic
The unique taste of garlic isn’t comparable to anything on this list. It offers a delicious, savory flavor that will easily make garlic an essential part of your everyday life. It pairs well with oregano, cumin, coriander and turmeric. Use it in sauces, stir-fries, soups, gravies, and pasta dishes. It is definitely a game changer.
Smoked Paprika
The warm, slightly sweet flavor of paprika will quickly become your go-to for nearly all of your vegan dishes. You’ll find it useful that smoked paprika, specifically, mimics the savory taste of meat.
Red Pepper Flakes
Red pepper flakes aren’t something that I find myself using everyday. However, they do come in handy so for that reason I keep them on hand. Use for tofu, buffalo cauliflower, roasted veggies and more.
Fresh Herbs
Fresh herbs are like the matrix of plant based dishes. You truly have to try it for yourself to witness it’s power to totally transform your plant based life. I can’t stress enough how important fresh herbs are to plant based cooking. They bump flavor up to the next level. Ones to keep on hand are basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, cilantro, parsley, chives, dill, sage, and tarragon.
These are the most essential vegan seasonings that you need to have on hand. They will make all the difference in your journey.
What are your go-to vegan seasonings?
