Depending on your nutritional needs, switching to a plant-based diet can be a great way to improve your health. While you might already be thinking about making the switch, once you do, you may need a few pointers to make the change easy and enjoyable. Keep scrolling to discover vegan cooking tips and techniques that will help you make the most out of your plant-based meals.
Use More Spices
Spices are an excellent way to add a boost of flavor to a dish without the extra calories and sugar. While nearly everyone knows what spices are, not that many people tend to use them while cooking. Adding spices to your next recipe can truly transform a dish from bland to flavorsome in just a pinch. By learning a few simple tips, like the ideal time to add spices to a meal, you can surprise the entire family with your cooking skills and start incorporating spices into your weekly menu.To ensure that you use spices to the best of your ability, follow these simple tips:
Store Your Spices in a Dark Place
To keep your spices as fresh and flavorful as possible, store them in the correct place. When storing spices, secure them in a dark, cool environment away from any heat or humidity. Doing so will ensure your spices stay fresh and undamaged. When choosing a spot in your house for your spices, it is best to steer clear from areas that produce heat, like the stove, oven and dishwasher.
Always Check the Expiration Date on Your Spices
Believe it or not, spices do expire! And they expire much quicker than you would think. While expired spices don't rot, they do lose their flavor, color and texture. Using expired spices in a dish like soup won't add much flavor, and instead could leave your soup tasting a bit dusty. Conversely, fresh spices are often overflowing with character, and only a little amount is needed to achieve the desired result. When possible, we recommend using fresh spices in your favorite recipes.
Invest in a Quality Microplane
Like with most foods, spices taste best when they're freshly grated. By purchasing a quality microplane grater, you can finely shred spices like nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon at home. Doing so will help make your meals more flavorful than ever!
Don't Be Afraid of Your Spice Rack
If you have a spice rack sitting on your counter and routinely reach for a few of your favorite spices, now is the time to try out some new ones. If you're unsure about which spices you might like, try placing a pinch of the spice on your tongue to try it out before adding it to your meal. This will help you determine if this is the right spice for you and the recipe!
Cook Your Favorite Dishes with Beans
Often, when deciding to eat plant-based meals, many vegans note that they don't feel full after eating. That's where beans come in! Beans, part of the legume family, are easy to make, flavorful and cheap. Plus, they come in an abundance of varieties, which means you can add beans to just about any dish without tiring of them. A terrific source of protein and nearly fat-free, they're an essential part of any healthy vegan diet.Not sure which beans to try out first? Here are a few of our favorites to help get you started:
Black Beans
Whether you choose to purchase these beans dried or in a can, they're a pantry staple in many vegan homes. Often used to make delicious dishes like salads, tacos, burgers and soups, the potential uses for black beans are endless. Using black beans to create some of your favorite recipes is a great way to add a boost of protein and fiber to the dish. Plus, black beans will help produce a more filling meal, which means that you'll feel satisfied for longer.Wondering how you can use black beans to create a tasty vegan dinner? Make these Easy Gluten Free Black Bean Burgers. Not only are these burgers gluten free, but they're also vegan! Made with black beans, Gluten Free Rolled Oats and Organic Quinoa, these burgers are a dish that even the kids will enjoy!
Garbanzo Beans
Garbanzo beans (a.k.a chickpeas) are a type of bean that is loved worldwide. Purchase them canned or dried. They're a legume that is chocked full of healthy protein and fiber. Use them to make traditional Indian recipes like masala, toast them for a crunchy treat, or blend them into a delicious hummus. No matter how you decide to use garbanzo beans, the outcome is bound to be delicious.For a delicious vegan garbanzo bean recipe, make this Instant Pot Chana Masala. A classic Indian dish, this meal features chickpeas that are simmered in a flavorful tomato gravy. Easy to make, you can add all ingredients to your instant pot at the same time. This one-pot meal is full of flavor and easy to clean up. Plus, it's packed with protein!
Pinto Beans
What's more delicious than freshly cooked pinto beans? From veggie burgers to salads, pinto beans are a nutritious and inexpensive way to create a filling meal. While pinto beans are not usually the first thing that comes to mind when searching for a vegan recipe, we're here to change that! Likely originating in South America, pinto beans are now grown in many parts of the world. They're easy to add to your Latin inspired meal or to make a healthy vegan dinner. Pinto beans are an excellent source of protein and the perfect ingredient to incorporate into your vegan dishes.Spice up your next dinner and make this Easy Enchilada Casserole. When baked to perfection, this dish is the perfect dinner to serve to a large group. Plus, it's naturally gluten free, which means that even individuals with gluten intolerance can dig into this mouthwatering dish.
Learn How to Cook Veggies
If you're just beginning your plant-based journey, then chances are you will be eating a lot of veggies, a lot more than you're used to. While veggies don't have the best reputation when it comes to tasty food, when cooked right, a plant-based meal can taste just as good, if not better, than the plates you're used to. There are countless ways for you to enjoy veggies. Follow these veggie-cooking tips to create a veggie-packed meal that is full of flavor.
Cook Each Vegetable Correctly
When cooking with vegetables, make it easier for yourself by cooking each correctly. There is not much worse than sitting down to a plate of mushy, flavorless veggies. Before making a recipe, get to know the vegetables that are in it. Read up on the cooking methods for each vegetable and make sure you season them properly. These two things alone will help assure that your veggies are full of flavor and texture.
Get Creative
The worst part about cooking veggies? They make it easy to get stuck in a cooking rut. Once you find a delicious way to cook a vegetable, you usually use the same method each time you cook it. While this may taste good the first, second and even third time, after a while, the familiar taste of the vegetable may begin to bore your tastebuds. When cooking a vegetable, be sure to cook it in a variety of ways. Boiling, steaming, baking, roasting, stir-frying and grilling are just a few of many ways you can prepare your veggies. And each method results in a different flavor and texture. Now, if you try boiling a veggie and find that you don't like the taste, don't give up on it just yet. Use a different method to cook that same vegetable. Who knows, you might end up loving it!Searching for a plant-based dish to test out your cooking skills? Try making these Spicy Veggie Burgers! Extrinsic spices like cumin and curry powder add an exotic flair to these burger patties, making it a fantastic dish to show off your seasoning skills. These burgers blend nutritious vegetables like carrots, potatoes and peas to create a delicious burger that is just as satisfying as traditional patties.Now that you're more prepared and understand how to cook vegan meals to perfection, it's time to put your skills to the test. Remember, following a plant-based diet can be just as fun and flavorful as the diet you're used to. Start by using one or two of these tips when making your next vegan meal. If you find that they work for you, keep using them! There are several tasty vegan cooking recipes out there just waiting to be made.Are you an expert at plant-based cooking? Share your favorite tips and tricks with us in the comments below!