Started Veganuary and feeling a little bit stuck?
Caribbean-inspired food is a PERFECT fit for a plant-based lifestyle.
Chickpeas, sweet potato, plantain, coconut milk…they’re all mouth-watering staples of Caribbean cooking and they’re all 100% plant-based goodness!
Whether you’re eating out, ordering Turtle Bay on delivery or cooking for yourself, here are our top 5 tips to make your Veganuary a little bit easier and a whole lot tastier!
1. COCONUT MILK IS YOUR FRIEND
This is the perfect dairy replacement. Add to a curry to give a rich, creamy consistency (also great to add if you accidentally go overboard on the chilli….) It’s also great to use in tropical cocktails to feel like you’re on the beach all year round. Our Koko Kolada is a perfect one to try yourself – Koko Kanu rum, dark rum pineapple juice, and coconut milk. It's sunshine in a glass!
2. STICK TO WHAT YOU KNOW
If you don’t want to veer away from your favourite meals, you don’t have to! Simply replace the meat element with a vegan alternative. For example, a classic Jerk Chicken can be turned into a vegan Jerk "Chicken" by using a plant-based "chicken" breast – our Jerk Marinade recipe works well with many vegan alternatives like this. Same jerk spices, same flavour – totally vegan.
3. DON’T MISS OUT ON COMFORT FOOD
We know what you’re thinking – is it all vegetables and salad leaves? Don’t panic, there’s still a whole host of delicious COMFORT FOOD for vegans too. Sometimes, that's just what you need on a cold January evening. Dirty burgers are a great place to start - check out our Vegan Motherclucker burger for inspo – we’ve used a juicy chicken-style vegan patty in Jamaican spices, with smashed avocado, wild rocket, pink onions, vegan jerk mayo & BBQ sauce. It's aaall about the toppings, so if you're cooking at home and can't find vegan patties, try a roast mushroom with heaps of sauces, onions and avo!
If you're after the dirtiest of fries to go with your burger, we totally recommend pouring our jerk marinade sauce over fries - with some vegan cheese for even more comfort!
4. AVOCADO – NOT JUST A PHASE
Avo is more popular now than ever, and for good reason! Brunch topping, salad star, burger filling..... smashed, smoothied or simply as it is, the avocado is so versatile and a must-have ingredient for your Veganuary. It’s an excellent source of monounsaturated fat and vitamin E and helps to keep you feeling full.
5. EXPLORE A NEW WORLD OF PROTEIN
It’s still easy to get enough protein with a plant-based diet. We’re pretty mad about chickpeas – curried with cumin, ginger and garlic they are a tasty main, snack or side. Then there’s quinoa – not only does this make a great salad base it’s also the only grain that’s also a complete source of protein!
For even more Veganuary inspiration, check out our menu and customise it to see what's vegan!
BONUS TIP....
RUM IS VEGAN! So if you feel like a tasty drink to congratulate yourself for sticking with Veganuary this far, we've got plenty of vegan cocktail recipes you can try at home 😉
