Lactic acid powder is primarily used in sour milk products and some cheese products. You can purchase vegan-friendly lactic acid powder which is made from cane or beet sugar. Other uses include in beer brewing and in sourdough breads.
You can use vegan lactic acid in the same way as non vegan lactic acid is used; to make cheese etc.
Lavender sugar can be used in your favourite recipes in place of regular sugar to give cakes, scones, cupcakes, pancakes, buttercream icings, shortbreads, crepes or muffins a deliciously sweet lavender flavour.
Use lavender sugar in our Lavender Lemonade Ice Lollies.
A member of the allium amily, leeks are a large vegetable. When cooked, they have a mild sweet flavour that is similar to onions. When they are raw, the flavour is not as desirable. When using leeks, make sure to wash them properly to ensure that all the dirt has been cleaned from the layers or leaves. They are in season from September to March.
Use leeks as you would onions in soups or to make a tasty vegetable stock.
A yellow citrus fruit that is used as an ingredient in many different dishes. It is native to Asia and has high levels of vitamin C. Avoid lemons that are a faded yellow colour as they will contain less juice and use lemons that do not have any green parts, which indicates they are not ripe. To get lots of juice from a lemon, roll it on a flat surface before preparing.
Lemons can be used in sweet and savoury dishes to add a fresh and zesty taste. Flavour warm water with lemon to make a refreshing beverage that aids digestion.
Lemon Juice is the liquid extract of the citrus fruit of the lemon tree, produced by squeezing lemons creating juice.
Lemon juice can be used in sweet and savoury dishes. Lemon is so refreshing and can simply be added to a glass of sparkling water to give it a citrussy lift.
Lemon Thyme (Latin – Thymus citriodorus) is a lemon-scented evergreen from the same family as the herb Thyme – a low-growing aromatic herb from the mint family.
Lemon thyme has a lemony taste and scent and is a fresh and citrussy alternative to regular thyme in recipes. The leaves look similar to that of regular thyme however lemon thyme leaves have a white ring around the green leaf.
Lemon zest is a food ingredient that is created by scraping or cutting from the outer yellow rind of an unwaxed lemon. Lemon zest can be used to create an abundance of aromatic notes and strong citrus flavour.
Some species of lemongrass are edible, and used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It is commonly used in teas, soups and curries.
Use lemongrass in a vegan Thai green or red curry to give it an authentic flavour.
Lentil sprouts basically means sprouting your lentils. This is simply done by soaking your seeds in warm water in a jar for a good 36 hours. We recommend cooking before eating.
You can easily sprout lentils in a jar at home, similar to alfalfa sprouts. The sprouts can then be used as a salad topper, in sandwiches and in soups. Also suitable for those following a raw vegan/plant based diet.
Lentils are an edible pulse.They are very versatile in cooking and provide many dishes with a boost in protein as well as fiber content, and nutrients that are essential for prime body function.
Add lentils to soups or stews to thicken dishes, add protein and fiber.
This is an annual plant that is a member of the daisy family. It is grown as a leafy vegetable and used as a main component in salads.
Use lettuce as part of a salad or as a garnish for a main dish.
Light brown sugar is literally as its name suggests, it is created from light brown granules.
Light brown sugar is often used in cakes and puddings where a rich flavour is required.
Light coconut milk is an alternative if you want to retain some of the flavour of traditional coconut milk but without the fattening aspects. Light coconut milk is a diet friendly option but it is not as nutritional as full fat coconut milk lacking in many vitamins and minerals.
Use to make sweet sauces, add to curries such as kormas, or add to porridge or smoothies to give them a rich and creamy taste or make a delicious, creamy rice pudding.
White miso, has a sweet taste and is made from soybeans that have been fermented with a large percentage of rice. The actual finished colour can vary from white to a light beige colour. White miso goes wonderful with condiments such as vegan mayonnaise or in light sauces.
Light muscavado sugar is a type of sugar that is less refined and has some of the molasses left in the product. It gives baked food a darker colour and a richer taste. More nutrients from the sugar cane are left in this type of sugar due to the nature of the product.
Light muscovado sugar is stickier with a strong molasses taste, its good to use when making fudgy desserts.
Limes are a green citrus fruit that have a bitter taste. The fruit is typically 3-6 cm in diameter and grown in India, Mexico and China. They are high in vitamin C and mainly used to flavour food and drinks.
A versatile citrus fruit, similar to lemon in its usage and zesty flavour. It can be used to make sweet and savoury dishes and is particularly good in creamy desserts such as vegan cheesecake.
Lime Juice is the liquid extract of the citrus fruit of the lime tree, produced by squeezing limes creating juice.
Like lemon juice, lime juice can be used in sweet and savoury dishes. lime juice is so refreshing and can simply be added to a glass of sparkling water to give it a citrussy lift.
Lime zest is a food ingredient that is created by scraping or cutting from the outer green rind of an unwaxed lime. Lime zest can be used to create an abundance of aromatic notes and strong citrus flavour.
Linguine is a type of pasta similar to spaghetti, but is flat in shape. It is about 4 millimetres in width, which is wider than spaghetti. It is often sold as dried pasta although it can be bought fresh, however, this may not be vegan friendly as fresh shop bought pasta usually contains eggs.
Use linguine pasta in place of spaghetti. Our Meals in Minutes – Lentil ‘Meatballs’ in Tomato Sauce with Linguine will show you how to make use of this type of pasta.
Sometimes referred to as flax seeds, linseeds are small, brown, tan or golden-coloured seeds. They are the richest source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, called alpha-linolenic acid in the world.
Sprinkle linseeds over your favourite cereal, porridge or add a teaspoon to a fruity morning smoothie or grind up and use to make flax eggs (link to flax eggs).
Containing 16 of the 20 amino acids found in nature, liquid aminos is a non-fermented soy sauce used to season foods. This low calorie product can be used as an accompaniment for salads, dressings, tofu, rice, and potatoes.
Use liquid aminos in place of soy sauce or tamari when cooking.
Liquid glucose is sometimes referred to as glucose syrup in some recipes. It is used in home baking as it controls the formation of sugar crystals, which is important when making ice cream or confectionery. To make measuring easier, it is recommended that you warm the tube with your hands and use a hot metal spoon.
Use liquid glucose in place of sugar in recipes to keep dish soft and moist, for example, icing sugar.
This tar-like, yellow to red liquid is typically used as a seasoning to add a smoky flavour to various foods. Colgin liquid smoke works well drizzled over baked beans and brushed onto vegan hot-dogs and burgers for an authentic barbecue taste.
Making marinades out of liquid smoke to marinate tofu for example gives it a delicious smokey and slightly ‘meaty’ flavour.
Also spelt ‘licorice’ it is extracted from the root of the gycyrrhiza glabra and has a slightly sweet flavour. The words ‘liquorice’ and ’licorice’ are derived from licoresse from the Greek word that means ‘sweet root’. The liquorice plant is technically a legume, and is indigenous to many parts of Asia and south Eastern Europe. It is used in confectionery, sweet beverages, and tea – as well as the woody root sometimes being chewed.
Enjoy liquorice in tea, in sweets or in desserts.
At a staggering three feet long (about one metre or yard) in length, these beans – also known as ‘yard beans’ for obvious reasons – are used in a similar way to green beans. Their massive size means they require more cooking time. The flavour is similar to green beans, but the texture is tougher.
Use in the same way you would French beans and green beans, but cook for longer as they are much bigger.
Lotus Biscoff are small, sweet caramel flavoured biscuits that are free from animal ingredients. You can purchase them in all UK supermarkets and are often served in cafes with a coffee.
However they are a great biscuit to use in desserts that require a base (such as cheesecakes), as their distinctive caramel flavour makes them a tasty alternative to a plain biscuit.
These can be used to make a great biscuit base for a cheesecake or tart by adding melted vegan butter.
Native to western Asia and the Mediterranean, this tall perennial plant has a multitude of uses. Fresh or dried Lovage leaves may be eaten as a vegetable, or used in soups and as a garnish, much like parsley.
Lovage is great when added to a salad.
This powder is made from the subtropical fruit of the Pouteria Lucuma tree. The pulp of the Lucuma fruit is dehydrated to produce the powder, or flour, which is marketed primarily as a seasoning. With a taste described as maple or caramel to pumpkin-like, Lucuma delivers an abundance of health benefits.
With a taste described as maple or caramel to pumpkin-like, Lucuma delivers an abundance of health benefits. Add to smoothies, ice cream, homemade desserts.