Most Common Non-Vegan Ingredients and What to Use Instead (With Easy Vegan Swaps!)

Dairy Replacements

• Milk → Oat, Almond, Soy, or Coconut Milk

  • Best for:

    • Oat milk: coffee, cereal, creamy sauces

    • Soy milk: baking, savory dishes, high-protein recipes

    • Almond milk: smoothies, light baking, pancakes

    • Coconut milk: curries, desserts, tropical flavors

• Butter → Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil

  • Best for:

    • Vegan butter: baking cookies, sautéing, spreading on toast

    • Coconut oil: greasing pans, flaky pie crusts, vegan brownies

• Heavy Cream → Coconut Cream or Cashew Cream

  • Best for:

    • Coconut cream: whipped toppings, curries, ice cream

    • Cashew cream: creamy pasta, soups, vegan Alfredo

• Cheese → Nutritional Yeast, Vegan Cheese or Ground Cashews + Nutritional Yeast

  • Best for:

    • Nutritional yeast: cheesy popcorn, sauces, pasta

    • Vegan cheese: melting on pizza, grilled cheese

    • Cashew “parm” (Ground Cashews + Nutritional Yeast): pasta, roasted veggies, garlic bread

• Yogurt → Coconut, Almond, or Soy-Based Yogurt

  • Best for:

    • Coconut yogurt: parfaits, fruit bowls, tangy dips

    • Soy yogurt: smoothies, dressings, baking

    • Almond yogurt: snacking, light desserts

• Buttermilk → Plant Milk + Apple Cider Vinegar

  • Best for:

    • This mix: pancakes, scones, cornbread

• Sweetened Condensed Milk → Coconut Condensed Milk

  • Best for:

    • Coconut condensed milk: fudge, key lime pie, magic bars

Egg Replacements

• Eggs (binding) → Flax Egg or Chia Egg

  • Best for:

    • Flax egg: brownies, muffins, veggie burgers

    • Chia egg: pancakes, cookies, quick breads

• Eggs (leavening) → Baking Soda + Vinegar

  • Best for:

    • Combo: cupcakes, cakes, light muffins

• Eggs (moisture) → Mashed Banana or Applesauce

  • Best for:

    • Banana: banana bread, chocolate cake, muffins

    • Applesauce: spice cake, sugar cookies, brownies

• Egg Whites (foaming) → Aquafaba (Chickpea Brine)

  • Best for:

    • Aquafaba: macarons, meringue, whipped cream, mousse

• Egg Wash → Plant Milk + Maple Syrup or Oil

  • Best for:

    • Plant milk + syrup: pastries, sweet breads

    • Plant milk + oil: savory pies, crusty loaves

Meat & Broth Replacements

• Ground Meat → Lentils, Mushrooms, or TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein)

  • Best for:

    • Lentils: taco filling, shepherd’s pie, meat sauce

    • Mushrooms: burgers, stir-fries, lasagna

    • TVP: sloppy joes, chili, meatloaf

• Chicken → Jackfruit, Tofu, or Soy Curls

  • Best for:

    • Jackfruit: pulled “chicken” sandwiches, BBQ wraps

    • Tofu: stir-fries, kebabs, casseroles

    • Soy curls: pasta dishes, noodle bowls, fried “chicken”

• Bacon → Coconut Bacon or Tempeh Bacon

  • Best for:

    • Coconut bacon: salads, sandwiches, baked potatoes

    • Tempeh bacon: breakfast plates, BLTs, wraps

• Beef Broth → Mushroom Broth or Miso + Tamari

  • Best for:

    • Mushroom broth: hearty soups, risotto, stews

    • Miso + tamari: gravies, ramen, braises

• Gelatin → Agar-Agar

  • Best for:

    • Agar-agar: fruit jellies, puddings, gummy candies

Other Animal Products

• Honey → Maple Syrup, Agave, or Date Syrup

  • Best for:

    • Maple syrup: pancakes, roasted veggies, baking

    • Agave: sweetening drinks, light desserts

    • Date syrup: sauces, granola bars, energy bites

• Worcestershire Sauce → Vegan Worcestershire or Soy Sauce + Vinegar

  • Best for:

    • Vegan Worcestershire: dressings, stews, marinades

    • Soy sauce + vinegar: burgers, meatloaf, dipping sauces

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