Where to buy vegan ingredients?

[Panter]

Right, now well into phase II of my "regain my fitness" campaign and I've decided to dip a toe into the World of Veganism.

Got some cookbooks, but most of the recipes contain things that I can't pronounce, let alone have ever heard of and don't seem to be stocked by the usual supermarkets.
I've no doubt I can buy some of this stuff in the local health food shops, but they tend to be incredibly expensive.

Is there an online retailer that anybody can recommend?

 

[Drago]

Do you have a local greengrocer?

 

[Panter]

Do you have a local greengrocer?

Don't get me wrong, obviously I can pick up fruit/veg etc no problem. What I'm trying to find a source for is the more unusual nuts. seeds etc, Quinnoa for example.

 

[luckyfox]

Sainsburys tend to stock quite a lot (ideal for online shops, ) or Holland and Barrett. If you're just starting i can't recommend Turkish food enough (if thats your thing) it's full of flavour and almost all of it can be adapted for vegans.
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/653057-Personal fav!
Sainsbury's vegan fudge -nom nom-fab in cookies!

Depending on your previous diet I found eating vegan quite exciting because its almost like retraining my tastebuds.

I've an abundance of recipes if you need any.

 

[Goonerobes]

I've used TheHealthBay.com for various ingredients in the past.

 

[Panter]

Fantastic, thanks both
I didn't realise Sainsbury's did so much stuff, I think that's the only one I didn't look at last night.

Thanks for the offer of the recipes Luckyfox, I should be OK for recipes I think (I've got the whole foods thrive recipe book) although I will have a go at the aubergine one as well, that looks good!

 

[AndyRM]

http://www.alternativestores.com/vegan-vegetarian-shopping/ is where we head when we can't find stuff in the shops, though that's pretty rare to be honest - as said a decent sized supermarket should be able to get you just about everything you need. ASDA Superstores are very good.

Couple other books that are good are Veganomicon, Garden of Vegan and How it All Vegan. The last two are North American, but quantities are easily worked out and weird sounding ingredients have UK equivalents.

Also, this guy is excellent - http://veganblackmetalchef.com/

 

[Panter]

http://www.alternativestores.com/vegan-vegetarian-shopping/ is where we head when we can't find stuff in the shops, though that's pretty rare to be honest - as said a decent sized supermarket should be able to get you just about everything you need. ASDA Superstores are very good.

Couple other books that are good are Veganomicon, Garden of Vegan and How it All Vegan. The last two are North American, but quantities are easily worked out and weird sounding ingredients have UK equivalents.

Also, this guy is excellent - http://veganblackmetalchef.com/

Superb, thanks very much

 

[AndyRM]

No problem. Are you going cold turkey?

 

[Panter]

No problem. Are you going cold turkey?

No, I'm trying to avoid meat!
Sorry, I'll grab my coat...

Really just dipping a toe in at the moment. I read the book by Rich Roll which was inspiring, so ditched the meat for a week and feel really good for it so am going to venture a bit further into it.
It's not for moral reasons (although that's a bonus,) purely health, but it's all been very interesting reading so far.
I don't know if I'd end up as pure vegan, I think its more likely that I'll just cut out most meat products, but I'll see where I end up.
Like everything I try though, I need to give it a really good go, or not at all, so am trying to set myself up with healthy alternatives from the off.

 

[Beebo]

No problem. Are you going cold turkey?

Is that vegan?

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I find Morrison's and Tesco's to be very good for a lot of the less common, or more expensive ingredients - usually larger quantities of things can be bought much more cheaply in them where there is a large Asian community locally. I also shop a lot online and this varies depending on what I am after - a lot of the Asian stores have excellent supplies of the harder to get beans/pulses etc.

http://www.desime.co.uk/ is one I have recently used and have given me excellent service - though the use the term "lentil" to mean lentils, beans and pulses...

I also use a couple of websites for ideas -
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/
http://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/desserts/deep-dark-chocolate-blackberry-cheesecake/ - raw food site and hence vegan, but also very nice and full of ideas....
http://www.veganbaking.net/recipes - various vegan baking options (including chocolate cake )
http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/not-cheeze-pleaze.html - cashew nut cheese - which are excellent (and you don't need the Rejuvelac just use water)

http://www.veganoo.net/ - very useful source of information.... (like choc chip hobnobs are vegan, as are the original ones, but not the chocolate covered ones)...

I also follow another site which has been very interesting http://www.nomeatathlete.com/
and have posted quite a few recipes up on one of @Shaun's other sites http://www.goodfoodforum.com/search/13433/ don't know if that link will work with it being a search....
vegan black bean brownies can be found here and a lot of Indian dishes can easily be adapted to be vegan.
One of my favourite recipe books is currently £3 for the kindle version (called Mango Soup) and I have recently purchased a copy of Veggiestan which we are enjoying as well.. (more vegetarian than vegan, but easy to adapt).

But it sounds more like you are looking for veggie than vegan... from the recent update that happened whilst I was typing up this...

 

[Saluki]

Try Googling the Raw Food diet for ideas, I used to eat raw for days at a time when I needed to do a particular weight for a point to point. I felt full so I wasn't hungry the whole time, after the first week I was full of energy. The spinach, apple juice and banana shakes took a bit of getting used to but they don't half stick to your ribs.

We have a 'rainbow wholefoods' store here, have a look and see if you have something similar.

 

[Panter]

I find Morrison's and Tesco's to be very good for a lot of the less common, or more expensive ingredients - usually larger quantities of things can be bought much more cheaply in them where there is a large Asian community locally. I also shop a lot online and this varies depending on what I am after - a lot of the Asian stores have excellent supplies of the harder to get beans/pulses etc.

http://www.desime.co.uk/ is one I have recently used and have given me excellent service - though the use the term "lentil" to mean lentils, beans and pulses...

I also use a couple of websites for ideas -
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/
http://nouveauraw.com/raw-recipies/desserts/deep-dark-chocolate-blackberry-cheesecake/ - raw food site and hence vegan, but also very nice and full of ideas....
http://www.veganbaking.net/recipes - various vegan baking options (including chocolate cake )
http://thesunnyrawkitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/not-cheeze-pleaze.html - cashew nut cheese - which are excellent (and you don't need the Rejuvelac just use water)

http://www.veganoo.net/ - very useful source of information.... (like choc chip hobnobs are vegan, as are the original ones, but not the chocolate covered ones)...

I also follow another site which has been very interesting http://www.nomeatathlete.com/
and have posted quite a few recipes up on one of @Shaun's other sites http://www.goodfoodforum.com/search/13433/ don't know if that link will work with it being a search....
vegan black bean brownies can be found here and a lot of Indian dishes can easily be adapted to be vegan.
One of my favourite recipe books is currently £3 for the kindle version (called Mango Soup) and I have recently purchased a copy of Veggiestan which we are enjoying as well.. (more vegetarian than vegan, but easy to adapt).

But it sounds more like you are looking for veggie than vegan... from the recent update that happened whilst I was typing up this...

That's fantastic, thank you for all the links!
No, I am looking to venture into vegan rather than just vegetarian, but I'm just testing the water to see how I go. If it's not for me, then I don't want to pigeon hole myself and can just cut down but at the moment I really want to give a vegan diet a good go.
This morning's breakfast was oats topped with coconut milk, lunch was an avocado/lettuce/cress/tomato wrap and haven't got as far as dinner yet, but it will be a first dabble into tofu so the intention is very much to cut out all dairy as well as just meat.
I need to know that even if it isn't for me, that at least I've given it a really good go rather than just half-heartedly cutting bits out

 

[AndyRM]

That's fantastic, thank you for all the links!
No, I am looking to venture into vegan rather than just vegetarian, but I'm just testing the water to see how I go. If it's not for me, then I don't want to pigeon hole myself and can just cut down but at the moment I really want to give a vegan diet a good go.
This morning's breakfast was oats topped with coconut milk, lunch was an avocado/lettuce/cress/tomato wrap and haven't got as far as dinner yet, but it will be a first dabble into tofu so the intention is very much to cut out all dairy as well as just meat.
I need to know that even if it isn't for me, that at least I've given it a really good go rather than just half-heartedly cutting bits out

Going gradually is a good idea. If you want something a bit more exciting than plain oats, you can make your own granola really easily:

Mix oats with oil and syrup (can't remember exact quantities), stick em on a baking tray and heat in the oven for 20 mins on a medium heat. Mix in dried fruit and nuts of your choice. Lush.

One small drawback is that you do end up spending more time preparing food (only a drawback if you don't like cooking); if you're feeling lazy, Linda McCartney sausages are delicious and easy. And vegan, unlike those dicks at Quorn who use milk and egg in just about everything.