Launching Our Online Store With Our Five Essential Products
It’s been fun deciding what to include in our Essential Plant-Based Starter Pack. We thought long and hard about which products were essential in our kitchens, which products can be a little tricky to find in the standard supermarket, and which products would be really helpful for anyone transitioning so they could try using some different ingredients, enjoy new flavours and try out new recipes.
These little beauties are our favourite pantry items to have on hand for your plant-based journey. These items are packed full of taste and nutrition and used in many plant-based recipes.
We feel these are the five ‘must-have’ products for your plant-based transition:
- Nutritional Yeast
- Raw Cacao Powder
- Hemp Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Liquid Smoke
Below is a quick rundown on each product and why you need it!
Nutritional Yeast (aka Nooch)
Nutritional Yeast is really yummy – it adds a cheesy taste to food and, in my home, is used daily!
The Bragg version in our online store has been fortified with Vitamin B so is a great source of B-Complex Vitamins (including natural vitamin B12). Just half a tablespoon daily is your RDI. It’s delicious sprinkled on most foods, especially salads, dips, soups, vegetables, potatoes, rice, pasta and even popcorn! The ‘cheese-like’ flavour is also perfect for making plant-based cheeses.
Try some of these recipes using Nooch:
Spinach & Tofu ‘Ricotta’ Rolls
Garlic & Rosemary Baked Vegan Camembert
Raw Cacao Powder
Chocolate – need I say more!
Cacao beans are the source of all chocolate and cocoa products. When cacao nibs are pulverised they separate into creamy cacao butter and raw cacao powder. The temperature never exceeds 40°C so the cacao powder is considered a ‘raw’ food which means all heat-sensitive vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants remain intact, thereby maximising digestion and absorption. The cacao we have in our online store has over 360% more antioxidants than regular cocoa!
Our raw cacao powder is certified Fair Trade and super rich in antioxidant levels – with 14 times more antioxidant flavonoids than red wine, 21 times more than green tea, and 7 times more than dark chocolate!
Try these chocolate-fuelled recipes:
Chocolate & Hazelnut ‘Ferrero’ Balls
Hemp Seeds
If you haven’t tried hemp seeds then I suggest you do.
Hemp is considered one of the most nutritious plants in the world. These seeds contain all 20 amino acids, including the 9 essential ones that our bodies cannot produce by itself. Hemp seeds are a rich source of essential minerals, including magnesium and phosphorus for bone health, zinc to help support the immune system, and iron for oxygenating the blood.
These little superstars pack a punch with a whooping 2000mg of omega-3 and 6400mg of ‘complete’ protein per spoonful. Plus omega-6 fatty acids in hemp seeds regulate metabolism, help brain function, maintain bone health, and stimulate skin and hair growth. As a natural appetite suppressant, adding hemp seed to your meals can reduce your food cravings and help you feel full longer.
Hemp seeds have a mild, nutty flavour and are ready to use raw or in low heat cooking. The seeds can be sprinkled on hot cereal, yogurt or salads, added to shakes and smoothies, blended for a creamy salad dressing, or added to breads, pancakes, granola bars and other baked desserts.
Chia Seeds
These seeds are so versatile.
They can be sprinkled on salads, muesli, cereal, or oatmeal, and added to smoothies, muffin or bread batter. You can easily use them to make delicious and nutritious chia pudding and overnight jars. They can also be used to thicken jams and chutneys, and when ground up they are the perfect egg replacement in baking.
Chia seeds are the highest known plant source of omega-3, with 8 times more than salmon! Unlike other sources of this important essential fatty acid (for example flax or fish oil), it is in a highly stable form due to its powerful naturally occurring antioxidants.
Get some chia seeds into your diet with these recipes:
Mango & Coconut Chia Overnight Jar
Chocolate Coconut Chia Oats Jar
Liquid Smoke
This is a bottle full of pure magic.
Just a few of drops of liquid smoke and you’ll enjoy a smoky meaty flavour similar to bacon. Marinate sliced tofu, rice paper, mushrooms, or thinly sliced seitan, then fry, and you’ll have ‘bacon-tasting’ deliciousness.
Check out our facebook live to see how we make a plant-based BLT with tofu ‘bacon’
Want these products?
If you are keen to try these products check out our online store!
