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For those taking part in Veganuary this year or anyone looking to take more of a plant-slant to their eating, it can be hard to know where to start and what staple food products to stash your pantry with. Our head honcho Shane gives us a sneak-peak into his food cupboard and shows us the plant-based essentials that he could not live without (besides fiid of course).
With somewhat of a cult following, nooch as it’s more commonly known is a true flavour bomb and is something I buy in bulk. Similar to the yeast used in making bread or beer but it has much more nutritional value, these little golden flakes are a really great source of vegan protein and are high in B12 (something which is quite tricky to get on a plant-based diet). So far, not-so-delicious sounding but trust me when I say that’s it’s icon status is not without warrant. Nooch brings a really nice cheesy, nutty taste and is excellent to add to any soup or pasta sauce. It’s one of the most versatile items in my kitchen.
I am totally nuts when it comes to peanut butter (sorry). For me, it has to be silky, gooey and made of actual peanuts. Irish company Nutshed make one of my favourites - 99.5% peanuts and 0.5% sea salt - and it’s an everyday staple on oats and toast or sometimes just eaten with a spoon.
It took me a while to find the right plant-based milk but you can’t get better than Oatly. Soy and almond milk are pretty great too but the taste and consistency are just not quite there for me. In our lockdown world, my carton of oat milk has been my saviour and meant that, in spite of my local cafes being closed, I could still enjoy my daily flat white at home.
I don’t want to live in a world without ice-cream, and thanks to Nobo, I never will. Using coconut milk, and avocados, they have managed to make the impossible possible - a creamy indulgent plant-based ice cream. My personal favourite flavour is the ‘Irish salted Caramel’ and it’s the perfect way to unwind on the couch after a hectic week, or day, or hour. Created by an Irish husband and wife duo, you’ll find this in most supermarkets across the country.
Trust me when I say you don’t want to see how much of this stuff I go through in a week. There’s a reason they call this crack-sauce. The usage occasions for this product are as endless as your imagination, I put it on salads, sandwiches and whatever else I can get my hands really. They have three flavours to pick from but my favourite is the classic Peanut Rayu flavour and is a non-negotiable on my shopping list because it adds excitement and spiciness to everything it touches and to be honest, that is exactly what we all need right now.
