Vegan and WFPB Food/Cooking Vocabulary
Here are some common words you will come across when ordering, purchasing or making plant-based recipes and foods.
Agar Agar Powder | Also known as just agar in culinary circles, is a plant-based gelatin derived from seaweed. The white and semi-translucent vegetable gelatin that can be used in recipes as a stabilizing and thickening agent. It can also be found in flake, bar, and strand form.
Aquafaba | The thick liquid in a can of chickpeas. Often saved to be used in recipes, sometimes as an egg replacement.
Baba Ganoush | A creamy dip consisting of finely chopped roasted eggplant, lemon juice, various seasonings, and tahini. It can be used with crackers, vegetables or as a spread.
Bounty Bowl | My term for a big bowl of rice, greens, beans and tons of roasted and/or steamed vegetables. I usually top off mine with some sauerkraut, pickled veggies and a sauce or dressing. This is commonly referred to as a Buddha Bowl in restaurants as a plant-based option but may not always be vegan.
Coconut Aminos | A dark thin sauce made from the fermented coconut nectar (sap). This is not made from coconuts, rather the unopened young blossoms of a coconut tree are tapped and the nectar is collected. The nectar is then fermented with salt. Can be used interchangeably with soy sauce and tamari as they are all three used straight from the bottle for dipping or adding saltiness and umami flavor to dishes.
Cheeze Sauce | My own recipe for a creamy, cheezy sauce that can be added over pasta, included in a vegetable bake or drizzled over tacos.
Egg Replacer | Something that is used in a recipe to replace eggs. The term can be referring to numerous things including a flax-egg, agar agar, Egg Replacer and aquafaba.
Flax Seeds | Also known as linseed. Flax seeds are one of the healthiest foods you can add to your diet. They contain omega-3 fats, lignans, and fiber. Flax seeds are not specific to a vegan diet, but many of the healthier vegan diets make prominent use of flax seeds. Often they are ground up and can be added to baked goods, sprinkled on oatmeal or cereal, and so forth.
Faux-meat | Any of the various vegan alternatives to meat products. Often, these are soy-based or wheat protein-based. They include vegan hot dogs, vegan burgers, vegan sausages, and more. Also known as mock meat.
Hemp Seeds | Small, brown seeds that are rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fatty acids, including omega-3s and omega-6s. Hemp seeds can be added to a high speed blender when making a dressing to make it creamy.
Hummus | A creamy dip for vegetables, chips, crackers, and more. Hummus is made from chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic and various seasonings. Various versions can be made using different roasted vegetables. Hummus is made with chickpeas whereas baba ganoush is made with eggplant.
Jackfruit | A gigantic piece of fruit that when picked young, the fruit actually has a tender stringy texture. Ripe jackfruit is naturally sweet, while young Jackfruit has a mild flavor making it perfect for a substitute to pulled pork or chicken.
Legumes | A whole food plant-based category that includes beans, peas, and lentils (pulses). These are a major source of protein and fiber in the vegan diet.
Nutritional Yeast | This yellow flaky substance is considered a condiment and used by vegans to add a cheese-like flavor to many dishes. You can purchase it fortified with vitamin B12 or unfortified. Nutritional yeast has a cheesy, nutty flavor. Referred to lovingly by the vegan community as “nooch.”
Seitan | A plant-based meat substitute made from wheat gluten that mimics the flavor and texture of chicken. It is commonly used as the main ingredient in mock meats.
SOS-free | The elimination of any added salt, oil, and sugar in cooking and purchased foods from your diet.
Soy Curls | A soy based meat alternative, made from boiling and dehydrating soybeans, with a texture similar to chicken. Soy curls are prepared by boiling, baking or frying.
Soy Sauce | A Chinese dipping sauce made from fermented soybeans.
Tamari | A Japanese sauce made from fermented soybeans. It is thicker and tastes less salty than it’s cousin, the Chinese soy sauce. This is the preferred sauce for those with a gluten intolerance as it contains no wheat. Can be used interchangeably with soy sauce and coconut aminos as they are all three used straight from the bottle for dipping or adding saltiness and umami flavor to dishes.
Tempeh | A food made from fermented soy beans. Unlike tofu, tempeh is made from the whole soybean giving it a firmer texture and a higher content of protein and fiber. Similar to tofu it can be flavored many different ways.
Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) | TVP is a defatted soy flour product, a by-product of extracting soybean oil. It is commonly used as an alternative to ground meat in tacos, chili, sloppy joe’s and more.
Image credit Tofupedia
Tofu | Also known as bean curd, tofu is made from coagulated soy milk that is compressed into a block of varying degrees of softness; it can be silken, soft, firm, extra firm or super firm. There is a myriad amount of ways tofu can be seasoned and prepared because the only flavor tofu has is the one you give it.
Tofurky | A plant-based alternative to turkey made from soy, seitan or other non-animal sources. This would be considered a faux or mock meat.
Veganaise | Veganized mayonnaise or a replacement for mayo.
Veganuary | The promotion each January to bring about the awareness of veganism and to encourage new people to try a vegan diet.
Water Saute | A preferred method of sauteing vegetables for plant-based cooking instead of using oil.