Vegan Diet: Chicken Alternatives For Your Palate

It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken is a website dedicated to easy vegan recipes using simple ingredients. The website is a great resource for anyone interested in veganism, whether they are long-time vegans or just starting out. The recipes are designed to be approachable and use easy-to-find ingredients, making plant-based cooking effortless and delicious. The website also offers free eCookbooks with fan-favourite recipes and online cooking classes for creating homemade vegan meat alternatives. In addition to recipes, the website also provides information on the benefits of veganism, including improved health, animal welfare, and environmental protection.

Vegan breakfast ideas

Breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day, and there are plenty of vegan options to choose from to start your day. Here are some delicious and nutritious vegan breakfast ideas to try:

Oats and Porridge

Oats are a versatile and healthy option for a vegan breakfast. They can be prepared in various ways, such as overnight oats, steel-cut oatmeal, or whole oat porridge. Top your oats with fresh fruit, nuts, nut butter, coconut flakes, or a dash of cinnamon for extra flavour and nutrition.

Pancakes and Waffles

Who doesn't love a stack of fluffy pancakes or crispy waffles in the morning? Vegan banana pancakes are a popular choice, made with a blend of oat flour and whole wheat pastry flour. You can also try coconut and banana pancakes, pumpkin pancakes, or carrot cake waffles. For a savoury option, try tomato and mushroom pancakes.

Smoothies and Bowls

Smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of nutrients into one meal. Try a classic strawberry-banana smoothie or mix it up with an avocado smoothie or a green breakfast smoothie. For something more filling, try a berry superfood smoothie bowl or a black forest breakfast bowl with oats, soy yoghurt, nuts, seeds, and berries.

Vegan Scrambles and Omelettes

If you're craving a savoury breakfast, try a tofu scramble or a vegan spinach omelette made with chickpea flour. Serve with tortillas, salsa, vegan bacon, and sautéed greens for a hearty brunch.

Granola and Yogurt

Make your own granola with almond butter and maple syrup, and serve it with fresh fruit and your choice of plant-based milk or yoghurt. For a special treat, try a vegan parfait with granola and berries, and plant-based milk.

Breads and Muffins

Vegan banana bread is a classic breakfast option, especially when served warm with a drizzle of peanut butter. You can also try healthy banana muffins, lemon muffins, or coconut mango muffins. For something savoury, bake some homemade bagels or sweet potato and sage breakfast biscuits.

With so many delicious options, you're sure to find a vegan breakfast that satisfies your taste buds and keeps you energised throughout the morning!

Vegan cheese recipes

Store-bought vegan cheese is often loaded with artery-clogging saturated fat. Homemade vegan cheese is a healthier alternative, and it's easy to make. Plus, it can save you a lot of money!

Ingredients

Making vegan cheese melt

To make vegan cheese meltable, ingredients like tapioca starch or agar-agar are often added for stretchiness and melt. These ingredients help vegan cheese achieve that gooey, creamy texture, especially when warmed.

Nut-free vegan cheese

Absolutely! Nut-free vegan cheeses can be made using ingredients like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, white beans, or tofu, making them allergy-friendly while still creamy and delicious.

• Vegan Parmesan Cheese by Jessica in the Kitchen: This simple recipe only requires five ingredients and five minutes to make. It's cheaper than traditional Parmesan yet will add just as much cheese flavour to your favourite pasta or salad.
• Vegan Stracchino by Plant Based School: Stracchino is a soft, fresh Italian cheese generally made with cow's milk. Plant Based School's vegan version is made with soy milk, soy yoghurt, and a couple of other ingredients that give it a tangy, cheesy flavour and melty, stretchy texture. Use it in pasta bakes, lasagne, or melted on bread or pizza!
• Easy Vegan Cheese Sauce by Ela Vegan: This simple nut-free vegan cheese recipe only requires coconut milk, tapioca flour, nutritional yeast flakes, water, and salt. It's very easy to make – just mix all the ingredients in a saucepan, heat up, and enjoy! This sauce is versatile and can be used for pizza, nachos, mac and cheese, burgers, toast, and more.
• Greek-Style Vegan Feta by Rainbow Plant Life: This vegan feta recipe is simple and fuss-free – just press a block of extra-firm tofu, dice it into cubes, then place it in a tangy vegan brine for a little bit, and you're set!
• Vegan Nut-Free Cheddar Cheese by Zardy Plants: This vegan nut-free cheddar slices and shreds like a dream. Zardy Plants used tofu as a base and added a variety of classic vegan cheese spices for a rich, cheesy flavour, as well as tapioca starch and kappa carrageenan.
• Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce by Hot for Food: This potato-based vegan cheese is a perfect allergy-friendly option. It's made with potatoes, carrots, pickled jalapeño, and a few other ingredients that make it taste like the real deal!
• Vegan Blue Cheese by Gourmet Vegetarian Kitchen: This impressive-looking vegan cheese recipe embraces the whole mouldy aesthetic and will make even dairy cheese aficionados take note. The worst part about this recipe is having to wait for the cheese to mature for four to six weeks (or more if you like sharper flavour). But the best part is knowing that you made this impressive cheese yourself!
• Easy Garlic & Herb Vegan Cheese by Minimalist Baker: This simple recipe only requires eight ingredients! The method is easy: soak cashews, blend with seasonings to flavour, wrap in cheesecloth to absorb liquid, and chill. This cheese does involve a bit of planning ahead, but the prep is quick and simple.
• Vegan Boursin Cheese: Boursin cheese is popular for its soft texture and punchy garlic and herb flavour. Thankfully, it's easy to make your own vegan version at home by swapping out dairy for cashews and coconut. This dairy-free cheese is made with roasted garlic to make the flavour pop.
• Vegan Aquafaba Mozzarella Sticks: These ooey-gooey vegan mozzarella sticks are perfect for dipping and sharing. They have a crispy exterior and a melting cheese centre. They are made with a blend of cashews and aquafaba, and this vegan mozzarella can be used in the same way as dairy-based mozzarella as it melts and browns beautifully.
• Smoked Paprika Vegan Cheddar Cheese Balls: Sultry smoked paprika makes the flavour of these vegan cheese balls pop! They are rolled in a coating of mixed seeds and dried cranberries, making them a popular addition to any party table. The pop of sweetness from the cranberries balances the savoury flavours of this festive vegan cheese beautifully. Cashews give it a smooth texture, while agar makes it easy to slice and serve with crackers.
• Vegan Crackers with Macadamia Cream Cheese: These delicious crackers are made by dehydrating tomatoes, nuts, and herbs to create a crispy, crunchy base for macadamia cream cheese. The vegan cream cheese in this recipe is simple and straightforward to make, without any added fats or artificial flavourings.
• Thyme & Rosemary 'Feta': Delightfully flavoured with thyme and rosemary, this mouth-watering vegan feta gets its crumbly feta-like texture from almonds. A dash of lemon juice and flaky

Vegan chicken alternatives

There are many alternatives to chicken for vegans, including substitutes for soups, casseroles, pasta dishes, and more.

Seitan

Seitan, also known as wheat meat, is a wheat-based protein with a chewy texture and savory taste similar to processed chicken products. It can be purchased from most major grocery stores or made at home. It is a good substitute for chicken in dishes such as vegan chicken pot pie, vegan chicken and dumplings, seitan gyros, and kebabs.

Soy Curls

Soy Curls are dehydrated soy protein that has a taste and texture similar to chicken when rehydrated in a vegan chicken-style broth. They are easy to use, gluten-free, and can be stored in the pantry. Soy Curls are a good substitute for chicken in dishes such as vegan fajitas, vegan chicken noodle soup, and vegan buffalo chicken sandwiches.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas have a neutral flavor that goes well with most sauces and spices and are a good source of protein and fiber. They can be used as a substitute for chicken in dishes such as curries, gyros, and butter chickpeas with jackfruit.

Tofu

Tofu can be used as a chicken substitute in dishes such as mock chicken nuggets.

Jackfruit

Jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit common in Southeast Asian cooking. Its soft-yet-chewy texture works well in recipes that call for pulled chicken, like nachos, stews, or sandwiches. It can be used to make pulled "chicken" tacos, crispy "chicken" nuggets, or Kentucky-fried jackfruit.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms can be used to make lighter versions of chicken dishes without sacrificing taste and texture. Portobello mushrooms can be used in place of grilled chicken breast, while cremini and shiitake mushrooms are great for stir-fries and creamy pastas. Oyster mushrooms can be breaded and fried.

Store-bought vegan chicken

There are several brands of store-bought vegan chicken available, including Beyond Meat Chicken Strips and Gardein Chick'n Scallopini. These products are often gluten-free and soy-free and can be used in a variety of recipes.

Vegan diet health benefits

A vegan diet, when done right, can have numerous health benefits. Firstly, it can help with weight loss. Observational studies suggest that vegans tend to have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than non-vegans, and several controlled studies report that vegan diets are more effective for weight loss compared to other diets.

Adopting a vegan diet can also improve your heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of heart disease by as much as 46%. Additionally, vegans tend to have lower blood sugar levels and higher insulin sensitivity, which may lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A vegan diet may also help manage diabetes by lowering A1C levels.

Vegan diets are also linked to a reduced risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon cancer. This is because vegans generally consume more legumes, fruits, and vegetables, which are rich in cancer-protective nutrients like fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

Furthermore, a vegan diet can be a good source of protein, vitamin B12, essential fatty acids, iron, and vitamin D. For example, soy products like tofu and edamame are packed with protein. Fortified cereals, rice, and soy drinks can provide vitamin B12, while whole grains and leafy green vegetables are good sources of essential fatty acids.

However, it is important to note that not all vegan diets are equal. Poorly planned vegan diets may not provide sufficient amounts of certain nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Therefore, it is essential to choose whole plant foods and fortified foods, and consider taking supplements for any nutrients that may be lacking.

Vegan diet environmental benefits

A vegan diet has a significantly positive impact on the environment. Here are some of the benefits of veganism for the planet:

Water Conservation

Adopting a vegan diet is the most efficient way of saving water. Plant-based foods require far less water to produce than animal products. Agricultural production accounts for 93% of the world's water supply, with meat and dairy production being the biggest culprit. Research shows that one person going vegan can save over 200,000 gallons of water a year.

Keeping the Soil Clean

Animal agriculture weakens and depletes fertile soils, as it is one of the main causes of worldwide deforestation. In contrast, planting and raising a variety of plants and trees can reverse the effects of nutrient depletion, nourishing and cleaning the soil for more sustainable agriculture.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The high levels of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases produced by animal agriculture generate over 14% of global emissions, greater than all transportation emissions. Studies show that adopting a vegan diet can cut agricultural greenhouse gases by half and, if everyone went vegan, emissions contributing to global warming would be cut by 70%.

Preventing Species Extinction

Animal agriculture uses wild land for soy and maize crops, the primary livestock feed. The increasing use of land has led to a number of native species being threatened, including monkeys, elephants, bears, tigers, alligators, lions, wolves, and parrots. Choosing a vegan diet will go a long way in preventing species extinction by eliminating the need for livestock and their feed crops.

Combating World Hunger

It is estimated that 36% of the calories produced by the world's crops are used for animal feed, while only 12% of those feed calories end up contributing to the human diet. Veganism combats world hunger by cutting out the middleman, making it more practical and calorie-efficient to use our planet's resources for crops that feed humans directly.

Reducing Energy Consumption

Livestock requires enormous fossil energy consumption for activities such as feed production, breeding, and the production and spread of fertilizers. In contrast, plant-based proteins are estimated to require eight times less energy to produce than meat-based proteins.

Frequently asked questions