If you are new to plant-based cooking, or have just discovered that you will need to stop consuming anything gluten-based; this is the place for you. Although there are many restaurants and bakeries that have gluten-free options as well as vegan options, it isn’t always feasible for your pocket to buy from there. There should be a few essential ingredients in your pantry that would help you cook and bake everything you wish to make. It will help you substitute many ingredients and this list will help you in keeping yourself mindful over the nutrients you consume in your body. Keeping a pantry that is always full will ensure your ease of making any meal you want to.

Nut Butters

A plant-based diet must include nuts since they are an important source of vitamins, fiber, protein, healthy fats, and antioxidants. They have been connected to cardiovascular health, lower mortality rates, and longer lifespans. Cashew butter is popular for preparing sauces, while nut butters like peanut butter and almond butter are rich in protein and good fats. A guilty pleasure to eat on gluten-free bread is hazelnut butter, which tastes like Nutella when combined with chocolate. They are a great base for any vegan and gluten-free dish. Nut butters are tasty and may be added to sauces, baked goods, and other dishes. They can also be used as a spread for breakfast, lunch, or snacks. They provide not only a good taste but also a good texture for any dish. You can consider:

• Peanut Butter
• Almond Butter
• Cashew Butter
• Hazelnut Butter

Gluten-Free Flour

A common option for baking is using gluten-free flour which can be found in any of the big chains of the country. These flours can easily substitute for wheat flour in any of the recipes or desserts. There are different kinds of flours available that should always be stocked in your pantry for different purposes.

• Rice flours are a great substitute for making any kind of Asian dish. Brown rice flour is a key ingredient in a gluten-free flour blend while a smooth and creamy consistency can be achieved by thickening sauces, gravies, and soups with white rice flour. You can easily make white rice flour by grinding white rice.
• Foods that are fried are coated with white rice flour, which gives them a crispy, golden-brown appearance.
• Meat coatings, gravy, custard, and gluten-free flour blends can all be made with tapioca flour.
• Due to health concerns, potato starch has been phased out of both white rice flour blends and gluten-free flour blends so please try to avoid using potato starch if you can.
• Blends of gluten-free flour that don't contain nightshade employ arrowroot starch or flour.
• Although it is a popular grain-free flour, coconut flour is not frequently utilized.
• For baking, two types of almond flour are recommended.
• Many gluten-free baking recipes call for xanthan gum, which functions similarly to gluten in baked goods. Xanthan gum is necessary for gluten-free baking but is absent from the nightshade-free flour blend. Unless it is already included in a blend, xanthan gum should not be left out of baked goods since it functions similarly to gluten.

Spices

It all comes down to the preparation, and spices are essential for bringing simple items to life, even if tofu and veggies might appear uninteresting to you right now. Spices are the main character of every future dish you are going to make since it will enhance all the flavours of the other ingredients you might be using. Possessing a large spice collection is one of the best things you will ever do if you are a vegan and/or following a gluten-free lifestyle. It opens avenues to you in terms of making every dish more flavourful! Trying out several spice combinations in your favorite dishes might help you find what works best for you and produce interesting new flavours. A vegan and gluten-free pantry must contain the following essential spices:

• Cardamom
• Turmeric
• Cayenne Pepper
• Anise
• Carrom Seeds
• Cinnamon Stick
• Ground Cinnamon
• Garam Masala
• Curry Cube/ Curry Masala
• Nutmeg
• Cumin Seeds
• Smoked Paprika
• Bay Leaves
• Dried Herbs, like Thyme, Parsley or Oregano

Dairy-Free Milk

Another pantry essential that should definitely be available to you is dairy-free milk. Plant-based milk offers a significant taste and health boost with its diverse range of flavors and nutrients. Be it Thai Green Curry or a Chocolate Pudding; you will definitely need some dairy-free milk for many dishes and desserts. There are many kinds of plant-based milk available in the market. Be it soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or hemp milk. They offer different flavours and different textures for every dish and enhance the flavour of some dishes more than even dairy milk can.

• Unexpectedly, canned coconut milk can be used for a variety of purposes. It is ideal for curries, stews, baked goods, puddings, savory side dishes, and even homemade coconut whipped cream because of its rich, thick, and creamy consistency! The coconut milk that comes in a box is typically less viscous and nearly always contains chemicals or preservatives.
• Oat milk is great when used in any smoothie or shake. Compared to other plant-based milks, it is more appealing to consume straight since it is smooth and creamy. People have been enjoying it on its own or as a component of other drinks. Oat milk comes in a wide variety of flavors and brands due to its increasing popularity. Both sweetened and unsweetened are excellent places to start if you want to consume it and think of it as an alternative to dairy milk.
• Another alternative to oat milk is almond milk, that can usually be consumed as a beverage and used if you don’t personally prefer the taste of oat milk.
• Made from hemp seeds and water, another plant-based milk is hemp milk with a creamy texture and nutty, earthy flavor. Compared to full cow's milk, hemp milk has fewer calories, protein, and carbohydrates while still containing vital elements including protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is a complete protein since it includes all of the required amino acids. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are necessary for biological processes and can only be acquired through diet, make up the majority of the unsaturated fat in hemp milk. It is definitely a pantry essential if you are a vegan and on a gluten-free diet.