by Anda Mtshemla
When I decided to become vegan, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Despite having been vegetarian for eight years prior to converting to veganism, like many, I wasn’t sure what the difference between the two was. However, after months of trial and error, spending hours reading gibberish-like food labels in between Pick n Pay aisles– I think I may have figured out the formula. You can, of course, tweak this list to better suit your taste but these are a few good staples to have and some of the basics you’ll need to create my delicious recipes with me!
VEGGIES:
Carrots
Baby Spinach
Large-leaf Spinach
Sweet Potato
Butternut
Beetroot
Cauliflower
Mushrooms
Frozen Vegetable Mix (McCain has an awesome selection)
Garlic
Onion
Potatoes
Aubergines
Buying fresh vegetables is very stressful for me since they manage to spoil before I can eat them so I cheat and get what I can frozen. You won’t miss out too much on flavour if you steam your veggies and this way, they’re easy to add to almost anything.
TIP: Only buy vegetables which you know you eat frequently, fresh e.g. I use baby spinach as a base for my salads and smoothies and large leaf spinach in almost everything else, so I always opt for fresh spinach. Also, don’t play yourself when it comes to carbohydrate-rich veggies like potatoes and butternut. These help you feel satiated and manage your caloric intake since when you make the switch to a lower calorie plant-based diet so, stock up!
FRUIT BASKET:
Bananas (lots and lots)
Avocados
Tomatoes
Apples
Pineapples
Lemons
Dates
Frozen Berry Mix (this one from Woolies🙌 )
As with veggies, the same goes for fruit, since it too spoils. So, most of the fruit I buy, I eat very regularly and these fruits are all very versatile and great to have in your vegan pantry!
TIP: Buys fruits and veggies that are in season to keep your spending low and achieve fresh, flavourful!
GRAINS, LEGUMES, SEEDS, NUTS & BOLTS:
Rice
CousCous (great for lazy chefs)
Pasta
Oats
Chickpeas
Kidney Beans
Butter Beans
Lentils
Chia Seeds (great for “chia eggs” and topping smoothies)
Black Beans
Quinoa
Pumpkin Seeds
Dried Currants/Raisins
Nut Mix (I love these from Woolies)
Dried Goji Berries
Dried Dates
Bread (Albany Ultima in “Rooibos & Rye” is my fave)
Tortilla Wraps
These are my favourite ingredients in my pantry because they all leave me feeling very satisfied and satiated after eating them. The legumes are great as you can use them in a variety of dishes and they’re high in protein!
The seeds, nuts and dried fruits are great in oats, smoothies and muesli, and are great for adding crunch and natural sweetness to different dishes.
Be mindful when selecting your pasta, however, as some variations do contain eggs.
SPREADS, SYRUPS & STUFF:
Agave Nectar/Maple Syrup (not to be confused with maple flavoured golden syrup)
Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Nut Butter (peanut, almond, cashew– whichever you like)!
Tahini (awesome for dressings and adding to sauces)
Sugar
Hummus
I had no idea at first but not all sugars are created vegan! Luckily, South African sugar brands have confirmed that no animal products are used in their sugar making processes, so keep a little in your pantry for baking or adding to your tea.
CONDIMENTS & SEASONING:
B-Well/Taysti Mayonnaise
Tomato Sauce/Ketchup
Dijon Mustard
Soy Sauce
Salt
Black Pepper
Curry Powder
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Curry Powder
Vegetable Stock Powder
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper
Nutritional Yeast
Cinnamon
Nutmeg
Turmeric
Some of the most important items in your pantry. Vegan food, like any food, can be bland which is why I love to transform the flavour of different foods with these ingredients!
TIP: Get the Steers or Nature’s Choice seasoning! It’s a super versatile spice and great for lazy days in the kitchen.
SNACK CUPBOARD:
Popcorn (many microwave variations are vegan-friendly too)
Oreos
Jelly Tots
Skittles
Chocolate (Lindt 70% upwards and Beacon dark chocolate are both fine for vegans)
Chips
My absolute favourite part of my pantry– and I thought I was going to have to let it go when I went vegan! There are a plethora of other vegan snacks that I have not included here that you can try out too, see them all on the Vegan SA blog.
FRIDGE:
Plant Milk of choice (Soy, Almond, Oat etc.)
Coconut Milk
Coconut Water
Sauerkraut
Iceberg Lettuce
Firm Tofu (get it here)
24Karrots 
Looking foward to more great recipes Anda. Thank you Anda. Your recipes are simple and easy to follow. Keep it simple.
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