GLOSSARY OF INGREDIENTS

agave nectar

Pronounced ah-gah-vay, agave nectar is a natural, unrefined sweetener with a consistency similar to honey.

black salt

Black salt is also called kala namak. Not to be confused with Hawaiian black lava salt.

coconut aminos

A soy-free substitute for soy sauce.

liquid smoke

Found in most supermarkets, liquid smoke is smoke condensation captured in water. It looks like low-sodium soy sauce but smells like barbecue.

miso

Found in the refrigerated food section of health food stores and Asian supermarkets, miso is usually made from soybeans, although it can also be made from rice, barley, wheat, or chickpeas.

nondairy milk

Soy milk, rice milk, hemp milk, oat milk, and almond milk are just some of the many kinds of nondairy milk on the market.

nutritional yeast

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast, meaning it doesn’t make breads rise the way active yeast does. It also gives food a cheesy flavor. You can find nutritional yeast in health food stores and some Krogers. I recommend Red Star or Bragg’s brands.

poultry seasoning

Poultry seasoning is a blend of basil, rosemary, thyme, sage, marjoram, and oregano, but other herbs may be included. Avoid buying powdered poultry spice or chicken spice rubs, which can be salty. In a pinch, substitute Italian seasoning.

powdered sugar

Also called confectioners’ sugar, powdered sugar is fine and powder-like. You can make your own by combining 1 cup of raw sugar with two tbsp of cornstarch in your food processor and letting the motor run until a fine powder is formed.

pumpkin pie spice

A blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.

pure maple syrup

Pure maple syrup is a delicious natural, unrefined sweetener. Imitation maple syrups and pancake syrups cannot be substituted without sacrificing taste and quality.

pure pumpkin

Pure pumpkin is different from pumpkin pie mix. (Don’t use that.) You want canned pure pumpkin or the insides of an actual pumpkin. In a pinch, you can substitute canned sweet potato or butternut squash.

tamari

Interchangeable with low-sodium soy sauce in recipes, tamari is similar to low-sodium soy sauce, but thicker and usually gluten-free.

vegan chocolate chips

Many semisweet chocolate chips are unintentionally vegan. Ghirardelli is my favorite brand.

vegan yogurt

Yogurt made from soy, rice, almond, or coconut milk instead of dairy. If you have a dairy allergy or are vegan, make sure the cultures are not from dairy, either.

vital wheat gluten

You can find vital wheat gluten in the baking section of health food stores or online. For a gluten-free substitute, use Orgran’s Gluten Free Gluten Substitute.