Dairy Substitution Guide

It's hard enough being South African at times - with our bad economy, soaring unemployment rates, corrupt governance BUT being a vegan, in South Africa... is such a painful experience because there is just not enough product in-stores that cater for the lifestyle. Yes, I've just compared SA's economy and politics that affect thousands of people on a daily basis, to my shopping inconvenience as a vegan. Who am I? You are most welcome to roll your eyes here, I don't even know who I am anymore:(

Anyway, what is this post about? Dairy substitutions. If you’re new to plant-based cooking or in desperate need for dairy alternatives, then you're in luck because this post is exactly that.

I will share my favourite vegan substitutions to swap into traditionally, non-vegan recipes. Thankfully in this category, there are plenty of products that vegans can use in place of dairy products, that will make vegan cooking a breeze. OK, let's get to it.

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MILK

It’s very easy to substitute for dairy milk in a recipe and what's great about milk, is that you can substitute the exact measurement. Most supermarkets carry at least a

couple of varieties so you can use soy milk, rice milk, oat milk, hemp milk, almond milk, coconut milk or nut milk - there really is, quite a huge variety. I'd suggest that you try a few then stick to the one that you like best. It’s that simple. Below are my favourite options from various stores that I use for my oats, curries, smoothies and for baking.

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CHEESE

The market has opened up for vegan cheese and we are loving it! It’s not as easy as finding milk alternatives but we have definitely come a long way. You can get slices, blocks, shreds... did I mention slices?

You want home made pizza? Done! Mozzarella shreds work incredibly well. Vegan cream cheese is amazeballs on bagels.There are quite a few brands out there but make sure that you read the label as some vegetarian cheeses contain casein, which is not vegan. Below are great vegan cheeses that I absolutely enjoy, and I use them in my recipes in the same manner that one would use dairy cheese. You're welcome:)

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YOGHURT

I'm a great fan of yoghurt! Apart from the obvious nutritional benefits - it is such a great snack when topped with berries or banana and some chia seeds. Yum Yum! It is quite hard to find vegan options but I've done the work for you. Several companies make vegan soy, coconut, almond yoghurts that will substitute well in your recipes. You can find these in fruit flavors and also plain for cooking and baking. Here are my go-to yoghurts.

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Ice Cream

Another category with very limited options, especially in JHB - Capetonians are lucky because they have such a wider variety (this is also true with restaurants). There are however, a few vegan ice creams options that I have eaten - based on soy, rice, nut, and coconut milks, and they’re all delicious. I especially like the fruity like sorbet, while others are sinfully decadent.