My favorite plant-based swaps!

Going vegan has never been easier with lots of delicious plant-based swaps on the market and plenty of new ones rapidly and constantly appearing on the scene. There are vegan alternatives for every animal-based food imaginable, and they are sustainable, cruelty free, and without cholesterol. Imagine that! Ditching dairy, meat, and eggs from your diet is not only healthier for you and your family, but is infinitely better for the environment, and of course, the animals. So why consume them, especially when they are replaceable with a bounty of great plant-based products?

Allow me to share with you my favorite vegan swaps of meat and dairy. Keep in mind, there are many more, but I’m only listing the brands which we’ve savored, with a few new ones we’re excited to try.

Meat-free swaps

I took my last bite of animal flesh ages ago and happily I don’t remember what meat tastes like. Furthermore, as many other vegans, I feel some reluctance towards foods that mimic meat. However, I do enjoy eating meat alternatives and can attest to how robustly flavorful they are.

Impossible Foods is a company that created a lot of media hype and tremendous interest, especially for its signature creation, that of the juicy meat-like burgers. The secret? They contain a plant-based heme, which plays a critical role in producing the smell and taste of meat. In our kitchen, their number one product is Impossible Beef which we use to make a wonderful meatloaf. Their Chicken Nuggets are absolutely addicting, and as one reviewer put it, “Impossible ‘Chicken’ Nuggets are better than the real thing.”

Beyond meat is another well-known brand with yummy, sustainable, and cruelty-free burgers, hot dogs, meat balls, crumbles, ground meat, jerky, and a variety of sausages. The protein value of these foods is like that of meat, better yet, they contain more iron and fiber (which is necessary for a healthy diet and is nonexistent in animal meat). Beyond Meat foods also have less saturated fat, and, more importantly, no cholesterol, so overall less calories. Their burgers are delectable and satisfying, and we eat them often. The word on the street is that they feel and taste like the real thing, and I trust their judgment…

Field Roast is another preferred brand of ours. The deli slices, hotdogs, frankfurters, and sausages all made from plant ingredients, are some of the best we’ve tried. They’re not only nutritious but possess such rich flavors and great textures, just read this Business Insider’s review. We also love Field Roast roasts such as the Hazelnut Cranberry Roast en croute. It’s made with grain protein, toasted hazelnuts, crystallized ginger, cranberries, and apples, and is encased in a savory puff pastry. It’s deliciously rich, has a sweet and savory flavor, very satisfying, and perfect as a Thanksgiving, Christmas (or any holiday) centerpiece!

Gardein has so many products, you really need to check out their website. I’ll mention one, Mini Cr’b Cakes, which I serve with a dip made of vegan mayo, Thai sweet chili sauce, and lemon juice–a real crowd pleaser.

The Herbivorous Butcher is a Minnesota-based vegan butcher shop. We’ve enjoyed many of their scrumptious creations, such as the Porterhouse steak, Korean BBQ Ribs, and the sweet and savory apple brats. I can’t help but quote their website: ”We have carefully crafted 100% vegan, cruelty-free meat and cheese alternatives that capture the best flavors, textures, and nutrients most people are used to without their negative impacts on health, animals, and the environment.”

Sweet Earth has an array of products, and I highly recommend the “bacon,” which is made from seitan. We mix it with Just-Egg for an omelet–a perfect combination.

Fortunately, there’s a rapid succession of new meat-like offerings entering the market. Juicy Marbles has recently launched its plant-based filet mignon in the U.S. in direct-to-consumer marketing. Beyond Meat has recently released Beyond Steak, its first whole-cut vegan meat. Israel-based Redefine Meat uses a revolutionary 3D technology that maps 70 sensorial parameters to create whole cuts of premium vegan meat that are available at selected restaurants in Israel and Europe.

Dairy-free swaps

Full disclosure: When I try new plant-based dairy products I’m not comparing their taste to that of animal-based dairy. My taste buds have changed considerably over time, and I’ve cultivated a different palate. I’m no longer shackled by old and passé traditions of foods I ate before becoming vegan. As the demand for dairy continues to decline, plant-based alternatives continue to gain market share, which is welcoming news, and there are so many delectable options from which to choose!

Milks and Creamers

By now everyone seems to be familiar with the countless types and brands of vegan milk. They are made from various plants such as soy, almonds, peas, oats, hemp, coconut, and cashews, and differ in their nutritional value, sweetness, flavor, and texture.

The one I prefer with my morning cereal and for baking and cooking is Ripple. It’s more nutritious than cow’s milk and boasts a nice, almost creamy taste. I’ve recently discovered the Ripple Kids milk and like it even more than the regular Ripple milk. It’s sweeter and has additional nutrients. Their chocolate milk is thick, rich in flavor, and not overly sweet (50% less sugar than dairy chocolate milk). I dare you to tell me it’s not tastier than any dairy chocolate milk!

Oatly is a very popular brand, for a very good reason. I find their milk ideal for smoothies and coffee. The Barista creamer, which has a creamy texture and froths nicely, is perfect for cappuccino.

Other creamers that I’m looking forward to trying include So Delicious Dairy-Free Creamer, Ripple Half & Half, Trader Joe’s Vegan Creamer, and many more. Try them all and find your own winners!

Cheese

Like milks, vegan cheese is widely available everywhere, and there are so many brands and types it’s hard to choose the best. I prefer the nut-cultured cheeses, which are not only extremely yummy but also more nutritious.

We love Kite Hill, an environmentally conscious company, which makes a wide range of artisanal almond-based cheese, as well as pasta, dips, sour cream and more. We discovered them years ago and keep trying their new products and are never disappointed. Their cheeses are fantastic on bread or crackers, and the ricotta can also be used in savory recipes such as quiche or lasagna.

Miyoko’s Creamery, compassionate to all beings’ company, offers a vast selection of wonderful creations such as Organic Cashew Milk Mozzarella and Fresh French Style Winter Truffle Cashew Milk Cheese, all are mouth-watering. Their latest product, Liquid Vegan Pizza Mozzarella I still must try.

Another highly regarded cultured-nut cheese brand is Treeline, which has a nice variety of probiotic cashew-based cheeses. My favorite is their tangy and flavorsome Scallion Soft French Style.

Recently we discovered The Uncreamery cheese on a visit to XMarket, the vegan supermarket in Chicago. Although not nut-based, the cheese is very velvety and flavorful.

We also enjoy various cheeses that are not nut-based. Those come in blocks, slices, or shreds, in a variety of flavors. I recommend the Smoked Provolone, Parmesan, Feta, and Cheddar made by Violife; Mozzarella, Blue Cheese, and Feta Crumbles made by Follow Your Heart; Smoked Gouda, Swiss, and Cheddar crafted by Daiya; and Chao Creamery’s Creamy Original.

I use the mozzarella-type cheese on pizza, blue cheese is great on salads, and all are marvelous melted, or not, in sandwiches, on crackers, vegan burgers or on Charcuterie boards.

French cheese brand Boursin, collaborating with the vegan brand Follow Your Heart, has launched its first vegan cheese. Boursin’s dairy-free cheese spread garlic & herbs is very smooth, spreadable, and yummy.

It’s no surprise that the classic Philadelphia Cream Cheese is launching a vegan version of its spread. For more about excellent vegan cheese brands, check out this link.

Butter

All the butters we enjoy are great for spreading on bread, melting, and baking. My number one choice is Miyoko’s cashew cultured vegan butter because of its delicate flavor. No surprise that Kite Hill, made with cultured almond milk, is another preferred butter of mine. And last but not least, Earth Balance, is one we use a lot. I like its saltiness and texture and their butter sticks wrapped in paper are easy to use for baking.

Yogurt

Yogurt is great for breakfast, and it can also be used in savory dishes such as Indian curry or drizzled on Mujadara (Middle Eastern rice and lentils dish), and in sweet ones, such as desserts and smoothies. There are quite a few kinds of vegan yogurts, all of which contain beneficial probiotic bacteria, various levels of protein, fiber, and other nutrients, and of course no cholesterol. The yogurts are very different in taste, creaminess, sweetness, and nutrients.

Kite Hill yogurts which are made from almonds, are very creamy and come in a wide selection: plain, fruit, Greek, Protein (plain or fruit), sweetened, and unsweetened. We like their yummy Greek yogurt which is thick and has a whopping 17 grams of protein among other nutritious ingredients. We mix it with homemade granola and fresh fruit for breakfast that lasts well into the afternoon. So Delicious yogurts are coconut-based, are high in fiber, vitamins, and come with many tasty and unique flavors.

I suggest to read about vegan yogurts and their different brands in this guide.

Ice creams

It’s the golden age for plant-based frozen desserts made by vegan and non-vegan companies. Oatly frozen desserts boast 10 flavors such as Raspberry Swirl and Fudge Brownie. So far, we tasted the classics, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla, which are very creamy, not too sweet and yummy. Cado’s Deep Dark Chocolate, so smooth and rich, is the best chocolate ice cream we’ve ever had. It’s made from avocados, and contain 50% less sugar and much less calories than other ice-creams. For more great options, check out this post.

This is merely a handful of store-bought plant-based swaps that we like, but there are so many more. We keep coming across new ones and add them to our never-ending selection. Keep in mind, there are also vegan options for everything, from eggs to seafood to mayo to chocolate. I recommend visiting any of the grocery stores near you, looking for plant-based creations, and trying them out.

Do you have any vegan swap recommendations? I’d love to hear!