Thai Curry Paste

A skilled Thai cook will concoct a sensational curry paste by accumulating a long list of aromatic vegetables, herbs and roasted whole spices, then grind them all together by hand with a mortar and pestle. I am not a Thai cook. I get my curry paste from a can, and it's delicious.

Some curry pastes might include seafood ingredients, but this has not been the case with any that I've looked at so far.

Brands We Use

• Maesri
• Thai Kitchen

Where to Find Thai Curry Paste

Thai curry paste can be found at Asian markets or in the international section of some conventional groceries and natural foods stores. 

Vegan Cream Cheese

Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese is currently the only vegan cream cheese we use, although there are some other brands on the market. It comes in two different versions, with and without hydrogenated oils. 

Vegan cream cheese can be found at natural foods stores. 

Vegan Mayonnaise

Vegans have lots of options in the mayonnaise department these days. I prefer the following brands for cooking:

• Earth Balance Mindful Mayo
• Follow Your Heart Reduced Fat Vegenaise

Other forms of Vegenaise tend to be too thin and runny for mayo-based salads and dressings. There is also an old school brand called "Nayonaise" which I am not a fan of. Most vegans I know steer clear of it, but some say it has a flavor reminiscent of Miracle Whip, if that's something you're into.  

Vegan mayonnaise can be found at natural food stores. 

Bacon Bits

Bacon Bits are vegan? Really??

Yep! Well, USUALLY. As long as the product isn't advertised as having real bacon, chances are it's made from soy protein. This is true of the ever popular brand, Bacos. 

What about preservatives and food coloring and other nasty stuff?

Good point. Frontier Bac'uns are an all natural product choice. There may be others that we're not aware of. Also, if you want to avoid buying bacon bits altogether, tempeh bacon that has been pan fried until crisp and then minced will work as a fine substitute in any of our recipes.

Agave Nectar

The nectar of the agave plant makes a great vegan alternative to honey. It can also be used as a sweetener in almost anything. It dissolves more quickly than sugar, which makes it a popular addition to cold beverages.

Agave nectar can be found at natural foods stores and some conventional grocery stores. It's usually stocked near other sweeteners and syrups. 

Vegan Yogurt

These days, there are many kinds of vegan yogurts available that are made from soy, almonds or coconut milk. They are occasionally found in conventional groceries but your best bet is a natural foods store.

Kombu

Kombu is a sea plant that is popular in Japanese cuisine and is often used for making broth. It can be found in Asian markets and natural food stores.

Kelp Powder

Kelp is a water plant that is traditionally used as a seasoning in Asian cuisine. It's also used as a dietary supplement because it provides many vitamins, phytonutrients, iodine and other health benefits. It can be found in natural food stores.

Vegan Bread

Although the marketplace has come a long way in catering to vegans, bread is still one of those products that will make you do the old school vegan shuffle. You know what I mean: slowly ambling down the aisle with your head hung low, brow knitted in concentration as you scan list after list of ingredients, taking an item off the shelf, staring at it, putting it back, taking another one, putting it back...

Actually, it's not all that bad, especially if you know what types of bread to look for. The following kinds of bread are USUALLY vegan:

• Baguettes
• Ciabatta and Foccacia
• Sourdough, Pumpernickel and Rye
• Bagels

Avoid brioche, challah, potato and "Hawaiian" breads. They're made with eggs. Obviously avoid anything advertised as having cheese, butter or honey.

If you're looking for traditional soft sandwich bread, buns or rolls, keep an eye out for these brands:

• Rudi's
• Arnold
• Natural food store brands like Whole Foods and Trader Joe's

Not ALL of the products made by the brands above are vegan, so you still need to read the labels before buying. Stay strong, good luck and keep shuffling! 

Vegan Worcestershire Sauce

Worcestershire sauce traditionally contains anchovies, making it neither vegan nor even vegetarian. So far, we have come across two brands that are made without anchovies: 

• Annie's Naturals
  
• The Wizard's

Both can be found at natural food stores. 

Tempeh

Tempeh originated in Indonesia and has just recently become a staple in vegan cuisine. Like tofu, it's a fermented soy product, but the main difference is that it uses whole beans. This gives it a very different flavor and texture.

Tempeh has an inherent bitterness to it that can be removed through marinating, boiling or steaming.

Where do I find Tempeh? 

I've only once found Tempeh at a conventional grocery, so your best bet is a natural foods store. Look for it near the tofu.

Red Wine Vinegar

Red wine vinegar is simply vinegar that has been made from red wine instead of white. It can be found in any place with a decent selection of vinegars. 

Vegan Margarine

IS ALL MARGARINE VEGAN? 

Nope. A lot of margarine brands use whey (milk solids) and other dairy ingredients. Check the label to be sure. 

CAN I USE THE "SPREAD" KIND THAT COMES IN A TUB? 

Unless you're buttering your toast, it's not recommended. Spreads contain more water than the kind that comes in stick form, so it could throw off the chemistry of the recipe, particularly when baking.

WHERE DO I FIND VEGAN MARGARINE?

Some vegan margarines can be found in conventional grocery stores, but be sure to read the ingredients. Your best bet is a natural foods store. Earth Balance is a popular brand.

Soy Milk

Milk made from soybeans is a beverage with origins in ancient China. Today, it can be found at almost any grocery store, either refrigerated or in shelf-stable cartons.

Substitutions

Many people prefer to buy plant-based milks other than soy. Some alternatives are almond, coconut and hemp milk. It should be noted that we've only tested our recipes using soy milk. If you use something else, keep in mind that you are experimenting and your results may vary. I don't know how these alternatives will respond to heat or acidity.

Is soy milk bad for you because it has estrogen? 

There has been a lot of misinformation floating around lately about estrogen in soy products. Read more about it here.

Vegan Sour Cream

Yum! Vegan sour cream can be found in natural foods stores or, on rare occasions, at some conventional grocery stores. 

Vegetable Broth Powder

Rather than just using vegetable broth powder to make vegetable broth, you can also use it as a general seasoning. I find it works well in seitan.  Look for it near the bullion cubes and soup mixes.

Nutritional Yeast

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated form of yeast that is popular in vegan cuisine for a number of reasons. One, it's often fortified with B12 and other nutrients that are important to include in a vegan diet. It also has a nutty, savory flavor which is very helpful when veganizing cheese, eggs or meats in a recipe, and it's great when sprinkled over popcorn!

Where do I find nutritional yeast? 

Some conventional groceries may stock nutritional yeast in the seasoning aisle, or you may even be able to find it with the vitamins, but your bet bet is a natural foods store. Be sure you're getting the right type of yeast - it should look like a golden yellow powder, preferably with flakes.

Chickpea Flour

Also called garbanzo bean flour, gram flour or besan, chickpea flour can be found any place that has a wide selection of flours (Bob's Red Mill is a popular brand). It can also be found at Indian markets. 

Vital Wheat Gluten Flour

Vital wheat gluten flour is the main component to seitan. When you're looking for it, be careful not to pick up the wrong product. There are also flours labeled "high wheat gluten" or just "wheat gluten" which contain more protein than normal flour, but not enough to make seitan.

Where do I find vital wheat gluten flour?

Vital wheat gluten flour can be found at natural foods stores. 

Seitan

Seitan is believed to be an ancient food invented by vegetarian Buddhists. It's a meat substitute that consists primarily of wheat protein (gluten) and typically has more protein per pound than tofu. 

Although home made seitan is tastier and less expensive, it can also be time consuming. If you're looking for a shortcut when making seitan recipes, you always have the option of purchasing the pre-made kind. The amount of seitan my recipes call for is roughly equal to 1 pound of store bought seitan. 

Where do I find seitan?

Seitan can occasionally be found in some conventional grocery stores, but you're more likely to find it at a natural foods store near the tofu.  

There are also many different types of wheat gluten based vegetarian meat products at Asian markets. They're often labeled something like "Vegetarian Chicken" or "Mock Duck" and you can find them frozen, refrigerated or canned.