Galangal has a sharp citrusy, almost piney flavor and is part of the rhizomes family; a type of underground creeping stem of a plant that sends out shooters to create new plants (turmeric, ginger and cardamom are also in this family). It grows throughout South-East Asia and is popular in Thai cooking.
Use galangal in Asian-inspired dishes, or to make a homemade Thai green curry paste with.
Used in a variety of dishes, this aromatic Indian spice mixture is made up of peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom pods, bay leaves and cumin.
Garam masala is blend of spices, so its great to use as a quick way to give dishes a flavour boost; add to vegan mayonnaise, popcorn, a homemade chutney, soups or on roasted potatoes or vegetables!
Garlic bread consists of bread, topped with garlic and olive oil or butter and may include additional herbs, like chives. It is then either grilled until toasted or baked in an oven to melt the garlic butter.
You can make your own garlic bread at home by mixing raw garlic, herbs (such as parsley) and vegan butter or dairy – free margarine, then spread this mix over slices of ciabatta or sliced baguette.
A garlic clove is a single piece of the garlic bulb, which is comprised of several cloves. They have to be peeled before being used, and this is what recipes refer to when instructing to use fresh garlic and will say how many cloves to use.
Rub a slice of toast with garlic to give it a flavour kick and enjoy as a quick and tasty snack. Top garlic rubbed toast with chopped fresh tomatoes to make easy bruschetta.
Garlic and ginger are staple ingredients in many cuisines, most commonly in South Asia. Garlic ginger paste is a huge time saver, instead of chopping the ingredients for every dish, the garlic and ginger are blended together into a paste that can be taken for the jar and added directly into the recipe. To make the best of the flavour and aroma that garlic and ginger diffuse it is best to heat the paste before using in a recipe.
Garlic granules are dehydrated finely minced garlic. It has a stronger taste that garlic powder and is off-white in colour.
This powder is made from ground, dehydrated garlic. It is a common seasoning on different dishes such as pasta and pizza, and it is cheaply and widely available in all UK supermarkets.
Garlic powder is a great ingredient to add to a multitude of dishes as a substitute for fresh garlic.
Garlic salt food seasoning created from made of an assortment of ground dried garlic and table salt.
The green stem like shoots that are often removed from garlic plants before the bulbs mature are commonly known as garlic scapes. These shoots can be chopped and added to many recipes, both cooked and raw, for a milder more complex garlic flavour.
Garlic scapes can be chopped and added to many recipes, both cooked and raw, for a milder more complex garlic flavour.
Baby Gem lettuce, Gem lettuce, or little gem lettuce is similar in appearance to Romaine lettuce, however it is smaller in size. They have a sweet flavour, however this can become bitter when left to mature for too long. Widely available in UK supermarkets.
Finely slice a little gem lettuce and use in a salad as an iceberg lettuce substitute.
Gherkins are a small variety of cucumber that are used for pickling. They are left to pickle in brine or vinegar for a period of time to ferment. You can get different types of pickles in terms of size and are often referred to as cornichons in some other countries, however in the UK this is type of gherkin.
Sliced gherkins, similar to dill pickles can make a great addition to a salad. They add bite and zing as well as being a great addition to dips and sauces.
Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavoured with ginger. It is drunk on its own or used as a mixer with spirit-based drinks. There are two main types of ginger ale, golden and dry.
This fragrant spice is used as a powder or it is also used as ‘root’ ginger, as the plant comes from the rhizome, which is known as the creeping rootstalk. It is available as a powder, preserved in syrup, candied or as the root (fresh) in supermarkets.
Ginger can be grated into soups and Asian inspired dishes to add a lovely fresh kick, however, added to a cup of hot water with some lemon, it makes a healthy beverage too.
Gingerbread are baked good typically made with the flavours of clove, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon. Gingerbread baked goods can vary from a loaf cake to a crunchy biscuit.
Oats that have not been grown near other crops containing gluten are classed as gluten-free oats. Naturally, oats are gluten free, however they can become contaminated during processing. These are recommended for those that are coeliac.
Same as regular oats (see above). Gluten free oats can be ground into a flour and used as a flour substitute.
Gluten-free pasta is a combination of wheat-free flours including rice, maize and quinoa.
It comes in a range of shapes and can used in place of regular pasta and although it has a slightly firmer texture than regular pasta, it acts as a great replacement.
Rice flour is gluten-free, however to avoid any contamination from a processing plant that has not had other grains containing gluten in, purchase gluten-free rice flour specifically.
Gluten-free rice flour is a great alternative to regular flour when baking, use it for batters or to thicken sauces.
Gluten free flour refers to flours that are created from non gluten containing ingredients. There is a wide range of gluten free flours available to purchase from most supermarkets, these make an easy to use replacement for wheat flour.
Glutinous rice flour, is flour that has been milled from short grained sticky rice, and is used to make sticky or chewy texture which is traditional in Asian sweets and desserts. The term ‘glutinous’ refers to the gluey consistency the flour gives to food. Glutinous rice flour does not in fact actually contain any gluten.
Glutinous rice is what mochi is made from.
Glycerine (also known as Glycerol) is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and non-toxic.
It is widely used in the food industry as a sweetener and may help preserve foods. It is also used as a filler in commercially prepared low-fat foods and as a thickening agent in liqueurs.
As a sugar substitute, it has approximately 27 kilocalories per teaspoon (sugar has 20) and is 60% as sweet as sucrose. It is added to cake icing to prevent it from setting too hard.
We used glycerine in our recipe for vegan s’mores.
Originating from Asia, goji berries are packed with vitamin C, vitamin B2, vitamin A, iron, selenium and lots of antioxidants. Many studies have suggested the shriveled red berries you can find in the dried fruit section at the supermarket will boost brain activity and your immune health, whilst also decreasing your chances of heart disease and cancer. They taste great sprinkled on breakfast cereal or toast.
Add to homemade energy bars or use as a breakfast cereal, yogurt or porridge topping.
These small red berries are popular due to their benefits for human health. Dried goji berries are known as an antioxidant as they contain vitamins C, B2 and A and iron. They are widely available in the UK from supermarkets and health food shops.
Similar to fresh goji berries, add to homemade energy bars or use as a breakfast cereal, yogurt or porridge topping.
A plant of the Chenopodiaceae family, the gold beet is made up of both edible root and edible leaves. The root’s variegated golden-orange flesh is firm, earthy and usually a little sweeter and mellower in intensity than red beets.
Use as a pretty alternative to red beetroot, it can be eaten raw or cooked so use it in salads, or roasted in the oven as a tasty side dish or meal accompaniment.
These are dried grapes, and specifically the seedless white-fleshed variety. They are also known as sultanas, and unlike other types of dried fruit, they don’t darken as they dry.
Add to homemade energy bars or use as a breakfast cereal, yogurt or porridge topping. Use when making vegan fruit cakes instead of regular raisins.
Made from sugar, golden syrup is an inverted sugar syrup that is made in the process of refining cane or beet sugar. It is often used as an alternative to honey in vegan baking due to the colour, consistency and taste.
Drizzle over porridge or use to make a vegan flapjack.
A sesame salt condiment most commonly used in Japanese cooking. It is made by grinding dry-roasted sesame seeds with salt. You can purchase it prepared but it’s simple to make from scratch and the taste doesn’t compare. Used as a replacement for salt, it’s a delicious way to reduce sodium while adding a little calcium, magnesium, protein and fibre.
Use as a salt replacement; it’s a delicious way to reduce sodium while adding a little calcium, magnesium, protein and fibre.
Gosh! Butternut, Tomato and Basil Sausages are free from gluten, egg, dairy, nuts and soya. Not only are they comforting but nourishing too and packed full of flavour with one portion containing one of your five a day. Available in 282g packs.
Use these sausages in place of non vegan sausages. This particular flavour would be best suited to tomato based pasta dishes and Italian-inspired dishes.
Widely used in Indian cooking, this pulse flour is made by grinding chickpeas known in a number of Asian countries as gram. When mixed with an equal proportion of water, it can be used as an egg replacement in baking and cooking. Gram flour can be made from either raw or roasted gram beans. The roasted variety is more flavourful, while the raw variety has a slightly bitter taste.
Gram flour makes a great gluten free batter, or can be used to thicken sauces, curries or add to bean burgers to bind it.
Gran luchito smoked chilli ketchup is medium in heat and uses Pasilla Oaxaca Chillies which give a smoky taste different to that of chipotles found in Chipotle Ketchup. Gran luchito smoked chilli ketchup is a blend of chillies with sun riped, sweet Spanish tomatoes. For more information visit: http://gran.luchito.com/products/ketchup/.
Use in place of regular ketchup to give dishes a spicy kick.
Gran Luchito smoked chilli paste is made from Pasilla Oaxaca Chillies, these chillis create a smoky flavour unlike the chipotle chilli’s in Chipotle Paste. The chilli’s are ground and mixed with caramelized onions, balsamic vinegar and a little dark agave syrup. For more information visit: http://gran.luchito.com/products/paste/.
Use as you would a regular chilli paste and add to dishes to give them a spicy kick.
Granny Smith apples originate from Australia, they have a distinctive bright green skin which sometimes has a slight pink blush if cool nights precede harvest, these apples have are tart and have a crunch and bright white flesh.
Snack on Granny Smith apples, dip them in chocolate or use in desserts that require a firm apple. If the dessert is sugary it will balance out the tart taste of these apples.
A breakfast and snack food, granola is made up oats and other ingredients such as brown sugar, puffed rice and it is baked until it is golden brown in colour. Granola often includes nuts and fruits, sometimes chocolate pieces.
Turn left over granola into homemade cereal bars or add to dairy-free yogurt and fruit as a filling breakfast.
A type of sugar that is bigger crystals of sugar that don’t dissolve as easily as other types, such as caster sugar. Widely available in all UK shops.
Sprinkle over cakes to garnish them.
This citrus fruit has pink flesh and a light orange skin and it is the fruit of the grapefruit tree. It’s a popular breakfast food that has a semi-sweet and bitter taste.
Top with brown sugar and grill to take away some of the bitterness and enjoy it for breakfast or as a snack.
Grapefruit zest is a food ingredient that is created by scraping or cutting from the outer rind of an unwaxed grapefruit. Grapefruit zest can be used to create an abundance of aromatic notes and strong citrus flavour.
Grapes are a type of fruit that can be eaten fresh or that can be used for making wine, vinegar, grapeseed oil, jam, jelly, raisins or juice.
A by-product of wine making, this oil has a clean and light taste. Widely used in baked goods, grapeseed is also sprayed on raisins to help them retain their flavour. With a high smoke point, grapeseed oil is a great substitute for olive and vegetable oils when stir-frying and sautéing.
With a high smoke point, grapeseed oil is a great substitute for olive and vegetable oils when stir-frying and sautéing.
Grated nutmeg comes from a whole nutmeg. When grating a nutmeg the benefit is that you can grate just the amount you need, using a microplane or spice grinder. Grated nutmeg, has a distinctive and intense flavour, it also lasts indefinitely as long as its stored properly.
Use as you would regular ground nutmeg . Add it to cakes such as banana bread to give it a little kick.
You can buy this as a product of its own, or you can grate blocks of vegan cheese. Often referred to as shredded cheese.
Use vegan cheese like you would non vegan cheese; Cover vegan lasagnes, pasta bakes, mac n cheese, salads, pizza etc etc with vegan cheese.
Green beans are young types of the common bean that are long and thin in shape. They are best when they are in season during the summer and autumn, however they can be purchased all year round.
Similar to French beans, use in a salad with a garlic dressing or add to stews as another way to pack in one of your five a day.
This type of chilli is hot in flavour, measuring in at 50,000 100,000 Scoville units making it hotter than a jalapeno. You can purchase the in UK supermarkets, however they may not be as widely available as other types of chilli.
If you have any chillies left over, make a chilli jam or preserve them in oil.
Green cabbage leaves are crunchy and tender and retain a firm texture even once cooked. It is often used in soups and stews.
This type of cabbage has very pale green leaves that have been exposed to some sunlight. The leaves are tightly packed and solid. It is often found in sauerkraut and coleslaw.
Use white cabbage finely sliced or grated in salads or to make coleslaw. Alternatively, boil or steam cabbage with vegan butter, salt and pepper and use as a dish to accompany main meals.
Green cardamom pods are used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. They have a strong flavour that has hints of mint, lemon and a smoky taste. The pod can be used whole or ground
Use the same way you would cardamon pods; add to a hot cup of tea to give it a spicy Asian twist.
Green chilli’s are chilli’s that have been harvested whilst they are still young, and tender in texture. Green chilli’s have a milder flavour to red chilli’s and are not as powerful in spice, they are available to purchase in most supermarkets, and can come fresh or pickled. Generally types of chilli’s labeled as green chilli’s are a variety called Anaheim or New Mexico chilli, Poblano, or Pasilla all of which are typically milder types of chilli’s.
Use green chilli’s if you want to add a subtle spice to any dish.
This type of lentil tends to keep its shape after cooking, and they are used in casseroles, stuffing and for warm salads. They are widely available in the UK both as a tinned product in water or are as a dry product in bags.
Green lentils are a great substitute for mince in stews, lasagnas, and bolognese sauce.
This is a type of olive that is picked before they have ripened, and are inedible raw. All types of olives are cured in salt, brine or water before they are eaten.
Add green olives to a salad, use them to top a pizza or add them to a pasta dish.
Also known as a bell pepper, sweet pepper or capsicum, they are native to Mexico, Central and South America but are now cultivated across the world including Asia and Europe. Bell peppers are 94% water and a rich source of vitamin C. Red peppers contain more vitamin C than green peppers. Bell peppers contain no capsaicin which is the active hot component in chili peppers.
Similar to yellow, orange and red pepper and often sold in multi-packs along side red, green and yellow peppers. A great pepper to stuff with couscous, lentils or rice as they hold their shape well after cooking.
Grenadine is a commonly used, non-alcoholic bar syrup, characterized by a flavour that is both tart and sweet, and by a deep red colour. Grenadine was originally prepared from pomegranate juice, sugar, and water however modern varients use fruit bases with artificial ingredients.
Ground Allspice (also known as allspice) is the dried and ground berry of the West Indian allspice tree that looks like a pea sized smooth peppercorn. Allspice is used in both savoury and sweet dishes including Jamaican jerk chicken, Christmas pudding, mulled drinks, marinades and pickles. Allspice tastes similar to a combination of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper so if you don’t have any to hand try using the top tip alternative.
To make an allspice alternative simply combine an equal quantity of the following three spices, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and ground nutmeg.
To make a small quantity use teaspoon measure, for larger quantity use tablespoon.
This is made from sweet ground almonds that are usually blanched. It goes by the name of almond meal or almond flour too. They are easily found in the UK in most supermarkets.
Use ground almonds as a gluten-free alternative to flour. You can make ground almonds at home by grinding up whole almonds in a food processor.
Ground cardamom is created from seeds that are extracted from the larger cardamom pods, grinding the inner seeds into a powder.
Ground cardamon is perfect for pastries, breads and in curries.
Cayenne pepper is a breed of chilli pepper, that belongs to the nightshade family of flowering plants and is closely related to jalapenos and bell peppers. Cayenne peppers are a popular spice used in many different styles of cooking worldwide, Cayenne pepper has also been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years renowned for having many health benefits from anti irritant properties to being used as an digestive aid and many many more. Ground cayenne pepper is made up from sun dried caynenne chillis that have been ground into a poweder. Ground cayenne has a smokey, powerful aroma as well as fierce heat. Ground cayenne pepper is exceptionally hot and most often used for sparinkling a little spice into a recipe.
Want to add an earthy smoky flavour to your dish? Try adding a sprinkle of ground chipotle to your grilled corn on the Cobb. This seasoning is generally made from Jalenpeons grown in Mexico, Texas and California. Towards the end of their season, the jalapeno peppers turn from green to red. The red peppers are then dried, smoked and grounded into a chipotle pepper.
Want to add an earthy smokey flavour to your dish? Try adding a sprinkle of ground chipotle to your grilled corn on the Cobb, a soup or a stew.
Ground cinnamon is the ground up spice that comes from that is derived from the bark of trees in the Cinnamomum family. It is widely available in the UK.
Add ground cinnamon to a hot chocolate or sprinkle over your morning porridge. Experiment with it in savoury recipes; it works particularly well in Mexican inspired dishes.
Ground cloves are cloves that have been ground down into a powder. Cloves are dried flower buds, which originated on the Maluku Islands, a group tiny islands near the east Indonesian which in the 16th century were known to the Europeans as the Spice Islands.
Ground cloves have a spicy and warming fragrant taste which can be added to any dish both savoury or sweet!
Ground coriander has a robust yet mellow flavour. Ground Coriander is created from brown coriander that has been placed then ground in a Spice Grinder.
Ground coriander goes beautifully in warming curries.
Ground cumin is a spice that is commonly in Indian food. It can be lightly toasted before being added to dishes for a new flavour however it is quite aromatic.
Add to any savoury dish to give it an earthy flavour hit.
This is a key ingredient in curry powder due to its strong flavour. It is also used in chutneys, pickles, dhals and lentil soups.
Fenugreek is used in chutneys, pickles, dahls and lentil soups.
Ground flax meal is ground flax seeds that are better for human health as whole flax seeds can sometimes pass through the digestive system without their nutritional benefits being accessed. Flaxseed is also known as linseed.
Use flax meal to add to dishes that require binding. You can make a flax egg out of ground flax meal which works great in baking where moistness and denseness are desired qualities.
Ground ginger is the dried powdered form of the root that is native to Southeast Asia. It’s an aromatic ingredient that is believed to have some medicinal properties. It is widely available in UK shops.
Use as an alternative to fresh ginger in dishes. It doesn’t work as well as fresh ginger, but it is an adequate substitute.
Ground mustard is made by grinding mustard seeds and then sifting out the seed coat. This then leave a fine powder. Ground mustard is not a potent as mustard seeds. It is also known as mustard powder or flour.
Nutmeg in this form comes from the nutmeg seed which is pre-ground and sold as a fine powder.
Nutmeg is warm and fragrant and can be found in both deserts such as pumpkin and apple pies to savoury dishes, like vegetable bakes and even drinks like coffee .
Ground pepper mixes heat with a sweet fragrance, pepper intensifies the flavour of any dish, making it a much loved component at all dinner tables. Ground pepper can come in a variety of blends most popularly black pepper, white pepper.
You can add ground pepper to most savoury dishes and even some sweet dishes; black pepper with strawberries is an example.
Szechuan pepper is a Chinese variety of peppercorn that is toasted before it is ground into pepper. You can buy it or make it yourself from buying the peppercorns whole.
Use ground szechuan pepper to add a spicy kick to Chinese inspired dishes.
Also known as turmeric powder or just turmeric. Turmeric is a yellow aromatic powder that is made from the rhizome of a plant of the ginger family. Formerly used as a fabric dye, turmeric is a spice commonly used in Indian and other Asian cuisines. It is derived from the dried underground stem, of the Curcuma longa plant, which is a relative of the ginger plant. It has a warm, earthy and peppery taste and a mild aroma. To create turmeric powder, the turmeric is normally boiled, then sun dried going on to be ground into a powder.
Typically used in Indian cooking, it can also be made into a warming drink called turmeric latte.
Guacamole is an avocado based dip, which was originally developed by the Aztecs, in Mexico. Guacamole is a modern staple in Mexican cuisine, and has become a globally loved condiment.
Guacamole is most popularly used as a dip or a salad ingredient.
Guinness is an Irish dry stout that is a popular drink. It can be added to cooking to add flavour to different dishes, and it is widely available in the UK.
Add Guinness to gravy or to a stew to add depth to the dish.