Vegetarian Exchanges in Meals

Dishes like casseroles and lasagnas are easy to modify.  Finely chopped mushrooms, cooked lentils, or crumbled tempeh mimic ground meat.

Swap 1 tablespoon gelatin for 1 tablespoon agar agar flakes or 1/2 teaspoon agar powder (thickens 1 cup liquid).  Agar agar is a gelatinous substance derived from seaweed that works as a thickening agent and can replace gelatin as a plant-based substitute.

Exchange a dairy yogurt with a soy- or rice-based version.  Buy the plain flavor,and add fresh fruit and date paste for a whole-food version.  Plain plant-based yogurt works well as a moisture-adding ingredient in baking.  It can also add a creamy texture when cooking sauces, curries, or soups.

Make buttermilk by adding 2 teaspoons lemon juice or white vinegar to 1 cup soy milk.

Vegetable broth can easily replace chicken, meat, or fish broth. For a meatier flavor, add tamari or miso paste to water or vegetable broth to taste.