I have spent a considerable number of years in India and India opened my eyes to a lot of things. I truly believe that is is absolutely easy and possible to be a vegan in India. I discovered foods and methods of cooking that I never knew existed before. I learnt how to stock the vegan pantry in India and I even managed to stay away from meat and dairy products for months together. Eating Indian food in India is way different from the so called 'Indian' foods in America. Here it is more flavorful and you guessed it; spicier. So, I'm going to tell you all that I know about stocking the vegan pantry, but it is going to have an Indian influence to it.

If you are planning to completely revamp your kitchen to a vegan one, I suggest you to first discard most of the commonly used items in your kitchen and fridge.

Spices, Spice Blends, Herbs, Seeds

Becoming a vegan does not mean having to eat really bland food for the rest of your life. Nobody asked you to stay away from the spices. Dried ginger, dried garlic, ginger garlic blended paste, black pepper, white pepper, chilli flakes, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, turmeric, oregano, thyme, sage, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, dill, all spice, star anise, 5 spice powder, desicated coconut powder, dried bay leaves, mustard seed, poppy seeds, nigella seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, etc. The list goes on but this should give you a fair idea.

Oils and Dairy Substitutes:

Oils like virgin olive oil, cannola oil, grapeseed oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil,rice bran oil can stored in cans. Dairy substitutes like almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, non dairy cream, non dairy cheese must be included.

Grains, Nuts and Beans

What do we do without them any way? Whole grains like, brown rice, white rice, wild rice, maize, bulghur wheat, couscous, millet, rye and oats are a some of the extensive list. Buy the brands with which you are familiar or the ones that have been recommended to you buy your friends. This is because the varieties of grains are extensive. Nuts like cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, pistachios, chestnuts must stored in air tight, moisture free containers. Beans like kidney beans, lima beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, edamame beans must be stored in sealable plastic bags or containers.

Fresh Produce

Stock up fresh vegetables and fruits of your choice like tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic cloves, eggplants, celery, apples, melons, strawberries, berries, oranges, grapes, plums, cherries etc in the fridge.

Sauces, Vinegars and Preserves

Stock up your kitchen with cooking sauces like the soy sauce, chili sauce, teriyaki glaze, salsas etc as long as it is vegan. Add a list of vinegars like the balsamic vinegar, malt vinegar, apple cider vinegar and fruit and vegetable preserves of your choice.

I think I have given you a decent idea as to how to stock up your brand new vegan pantry. It is not difficult to be a vegan but it will take a couple of days to stock up your pantry.

Image courtesy: food-advisor.blogspot.com