So you’ve stocked your kitchen with the essentials—now let’s elevate your plant-based cooking with must-have spices, premium name-brand staples, and dead-simple 5-ingredient snacks using pantry items from our vegan food list for beginners.

🌶️ Next-Level Pantry Additions for Flavor & Convenience

Essential Spices & Seasonings

✔ Smoked paprika (for “bacon” flavors)
✔ Nutritional yeast (cheesy, umami boost)
✔ Liquid aminos (soy-free alternative to soy sauce)
✔ Black salt (kala namak) (egg-like sulfur taste for tofu scrambles)
✔ Miso paste (for depth in soups and dressings)

Name-Brand Vegan Staples

✔ Daiya (melty vegan cheese shreds)
✔ Just Egg (plant-based scramble)
✔ Field Roast (gourmet vegan sausages)
✔ Liquid Smoke (hickory or mesquite for BBQ flavors)
✔ Bobs Red Mill Egg Replacer (for baking)

Bonus Equipment

✔ Spiralizer (for zucchini noodles)
✔ Mason jars (meal prep storage)
✔ Silpat mat (for oil-free baking)

🍿 5-Ingredient Vegan Snacks (Using Pantry Staples)

1. Sweet & Spicy Roasted Chickpeas

Ingredients:

• 1 can chickpeas (drained)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp cayenne
• 1 tsp maple syrup

Method:

1. Toss chickpeas with oil and spices.
2. Roast at 400°F for 25 mins, stirring once.
3. Drizzle with syrup while warm.

Flavor Profile: Crunchy, smoky, with a sweet-heat finish

2. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Energy Balls

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• ½ cup peanut butter
• 2 tbsp maple syrup

Method:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Roll into balls, refrigerate 1 hour.

Hack: Add chia seeds for extra fiber

3. Smoky Almonds (Dehydrator or Oven)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups raw almonds
• 1 tbsp tamari
• 1 tsp liquid smoke

Method:

1. Toss almonds with tamari and smoke.
2. Dehydrate 6 hrs (or bake at 200°F for 1.5 hrs).

Pro Tip: Great for charcuterie boards

4. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Roasted Pepitas

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pepitas
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tbsp coconut sugar
• Pinch of salt

Method:

1. Toss ingredients together.
2. Roast at 350°F for 10 mins.

Flavor Profile: Sweet, crunchy, with warming spice

5. Salt & Vinegar Kale Chips

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch kale (stems removed)
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• ½ tsp salt

Method:

1. Massage kale with vinegar and salt.
2. Dehydrate 4 hrs (or bake at 275°F for 20 mins).

Pro Tip: Add nutritional yeast for “cheesy” flavor

Final Pro Tips

✔ Double snack recipes for grab-and-go ease.
✔ Store spices in mason jars to preserve freshness.
✔ Label homemade snacks with dates (they keep 1-2 weeks).

Which snack will you try first? Tag #VeganPantryHacks!

Sources:

1. Oh She Glows Cookbook (energy balls)
2. Thug Kitchen (roasted chickpeas)
3. Minimalist Baker (kale chips)

Want more? Check out our vegan food list for beginners (Part 1) for staples! 🌱