The UK and Vegan Foods

[Sam Hillyer]

Living in the UK what are the vegan brands I should look out for.

 

I'm not talking ready meals or anything, I love to cook myself. It's substitutes for your dairy and egg products, are there any.

Which if any of the supermarkets stock them, or is it health food, and specialist shops I need to visit?

 

Also are there any restaurant chains anyone is aware of that possibly cater for vegans? I am aware there are plenty of specialist little restaurants and cafés depending on where you live, I was just curious if anybody had come across a better-known restaurant that surprised them a vegan option, considering most places offer vegetarian now.

[Sam Hillyer]

Thank you again Roger, I guess that would have been the logical thing to do, but at least it's here now as a future reference. :)

[Lisa V]

Sam,

 

You don't need anything special.

 

1 egg = 1/4 cup applesauce or 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed

 

Almond and rice milks are really good, and soy milk is, too. All those can be easily purchased at most groceries. You can also easily make your own almond or rice milk.

 

Rice Milk Recipe

 

1 cup cooked brown rice (no oil or anything else added)

4 cups water

2 tablespoons sweetener (maple syrup, agave, sugar, whatever you like)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

Put all ingredients in blender and puree for several minutes. Then strain through a nut milk bag, a few layers of cheese cloth, or a wire mesh strainer. It will yield about 5 cups rice milk at a cost of about $1 or less for the whole batch. Taste test as you go and adjust the sweetener and salt to your own liking.

 

Almond Milk Recipe

 

1 cup almonds (almost any nut will work for this)

4 cups water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sweetener

1/2 teaspoon salt

 

This is made the same way as rice milk is made, although will be slightly more expensive because the ingredients are more expensive. Just put everything in a blender and puree for several minutes. Strain. Adjust the flavor however you like.

 

[Sam Hillyer]

Oh Lisa, you are popping up everywhere offering help, I love it!

 

This applesauce or flaxseed will it give the same properties that the egg provides when baking?

 

Soy milk is readily available everywhere, but would you say rice or almond milk are nicer?

 

Are there any other base ingredients upon which you can build meals?

 

Thanks again? 

[Lorraine haines]

Hi Sam.
As you've said, most supermarkets (Sainsburys, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose etc.) have soy milk - many of them also sell rice, oat, coconut and almond milk, and even vegan cheese. Tofu is readily available in these stores - along with many other vegan options. Sainsburys and The Coop clearly label items that are suitable for vegans. If you can't find what you need, there are many of the health food, and specialist shops that you mentioned (Holland and Barrett sell lots of vegan baking and food items - including egg replacers, if you want a ready made one for quickness :-)).

Re:restaurant chains: 'Wetherspoon' is in most towns and cities, and they offer at least one vegan main dish: http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/food/dietary-requirements - and if you visit Pizza Express, their bases are suitable for vegans - so you just need to choose vegan toppings - of which there are plenty (I've heard that if you take along your own vegan cheese they will be happy to put it on any pizza you choose, though I've not tested this out myself...I've even heard that some branches offer vegan cheese themselves, off the record as it were - but again, I've not personally tested this!).

I hope some of this is of help. Good luck!

[emma dilemma]

Wow how had i never heard that about pizza express before??? I`ll be heading in with me wee block of sheese first chance i get :)

[Sam Hillyer]

I've heard it too, in fact most pizza parlours would, would they not if they are making it from scratch. Which you would hope in a restaurant. I did not know that about Wetherspoons, I can head back in there again :D

Sainsbury's is brilliant, as is Waitrose. I got some vegan fudge from Sainsburys, something I never thought I'd be able to have again.

I will check out Holland & Barrett, I had a feeling they would offer that.

 

Thanks Lorraine

[Lorraine haines]

Ooh - good luck, Emma! I'll be taking my soy free Cheezly though - as whenever I've tried to melt Sheese it hasn't worked, and has just turned into tough, rubbery stuff. Maybe it's just me! :-( 

(Shame we don't have Daiya in the UK!). 

[Lorraine haines]

It was my pleasure, Sam.

[Sam Hillyer]

I don't like soy milk, so I'm gonna work my way through the others.
Rice, Almond, Oat, Hemp & Coconut. Are there any others?

[emma dilemma]

Yeah its crap at melting right enough  but i`ve never really been a cheezly fan...am thinking if the sheese was put on the bottom with all the other ingredients ontop then done in an oven, it might not go all weird :)

[Lorraine haines]

I managed to get some hazelnut milk once - and that was lovely. I've not found it since...but I'm sure it wasn't a dream! :-)

Have you tried lots of different brands of soy milk? I find they differ greatly. Some I dislike, and others I love. Fair enough if you really hate them all though. :-)

[Lorraine haines]

Hey - that's a good idea. You'll just get the flavour. Let us know how it goes! :-)