Vegan Storecupboard Challenge Winter 25 - Winter 26

leftatthetrafficlights

It's back for a new year!! I celebrate my New Years day on the midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice and that's today so it's time to get the new Vegan Storecupboard challenge off the ground!

The aim of this challenge is to minimise grocery shopping and food waste by using up as much as possible of what you have in the house already - whether that's in the cupboards, freezers, fridges or gardens. Photo's of meals made, menus, recipes, questions, ideas etc are very welcome! 

I tend to post every other day - I generally cook three to four times a week and consume leftovers (either re-purposed or repeated) on the other days. I will post my planned dishes each week in alphabetical order. These are always subject to change but the majority of the components of each dish will come from the inventories. 

This challenge has run for a number of years - last years link is below, the first post of previous threads is on the first page of each thread: 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6521466/vegan-storecupboard-challenge-2024/p1

I have completed and listed my current food inventory in the following posts (storecupboards and freezers) I have not listed things that are in the fridge or my teas/coffees as these change daily and are therefore too labour intensive to update.
 
There are a number of other 'storecupboard' type challenges/threads on the boards, so I would request that only vegan food is discussed on this thread. However, all are welcome - over the years we have had people of all dietary persuasions contribute and gain ideas. Genuine queries about veganism and plant based eating are welcome, but this is not a thread for arguments for or against others' dietary choices so please be respectful. 

Enjoy the challenge!

leftatthetrafficlights

Beans	Grams
beluga lentils	757
black beans	1000
black eye peas	577
butter beans	1260
cannellini beans	5000
carlin peas	722
chick peas	2500
dark speckled lentils	12000
french beans	183
green lentils	3000
marrowfat peas	1631
moong dal	1033
mung beans	451
pinto beans	297
red kidney beans	340
red lentils	4393
scarlett runner beans	646
soya beans	9647
Grains	Grams
barley groats	2587
basmati rice	3000
buckwheat	971
millet	1326
oat groats	2214
polenta	150
quinoa	1824
rye berries	1203
short grain brown rice	6302
sushi rice	3052
teff grain	500
wheat grain	9720
wild rice	500
Pasta & Noodles	Packets
fusilli lunghi	2.75
fusilli red lentil & beetroot	0.25
fusilli wholewheat	0.75
lasagne wholewheat	3
macaroni wholewheat	2.75
noodles - chicken	3
noodles - chilli	1
noodles wholewheat	0.5
poppadoms green chilli	1
poppadoms plain	1

leftatthetrafficlights

Tins/Jars/Pouches/Bottles
baked beans	5
alfalfa sprout seeds	1
apple sauce	1
apricot halves	1
balsamic	1
balsamic - black garlic	1
balsamic – blood orange	2
balsamic - fig & date	1
balsamic mixed fruit	1.5
banana blossom	2
black olives	1
broccoli sprout seeds	0.75
brown sauce	2
caperberries	1
capers in brine	1
chickpeas	2
chilli sauce - linghams	1.5
chilli sauce - sweet	2
chocolate spread	0.5
chutney - cherry	1
chutney - courgette	1
chutney - onion	2
chutney - plum	3
chutney - tomato	1.5
cocktail cherries	1
cranberry sauce smooth	1
cranberry sauce whole	1
curry paste balti	1
curry paste rogan josh	1
curry paste tikka masala	1
dijon mustard	1
fish sauce	0.2
grapefruit	2
green olives with lemon	1
grenadine	1
harissa rose	1
harissa tubes	5
harrisa jar	1
hoisin sauce	2.15
horseradish	3
inari	4
jackfruit	1
jelly pouches (x6)	6
lemon juice	2
lemon sauce	2
lemons preserved	1
lime picke	1
Liquid smoke	6
mandarins	1
mando chutney	4
mango chutney - cooking	1
marrowfat peas	1
mirin	2
mustard - dijon	1
mustard - english	0.75
mustard - french	1
nocellara olives	1
nori	3
onions - dehydrated	1
peach slices	1
peking sauce	1
pineapple	2
pomegranate molasses	0.5
potatoes	1
red grapefruit	2
rice cakes - wholegrain	0.5
rice krispies	0.5
rice paper	1
roasted pepper tapanade	2
soy sauce	2.25
spanish style grains	1
spread - biscoff	0.75
spread - chocolate	0.75
spread - peanut butter	0.2
stuffing	2
sugar syrup	1
sushi ginger	2
sweet & sour sauce	1
sweetcorn	2
tahini	1
tamari	0.75
teriyaki sauce	1
tomato ketchup	2.25
tomato ketchup - bacon flavour	0.2
tomato ketchup pickle	3
tomatoes - dehydrated	1
tomatoes chopped	1
vimto	0.75
vinegar - apple cider	0.2
vinegar - rice	0.75
wasabi	2
welshmans caviar	1
white rice vinegar	1
worcestershire sauce	4.75

leftatthetrafficlights

Stocks & Oils
vegan bouillion	2.2 kg
lemon oil	0.2
massell chicken stock  powder	4.5
meat free beef oxo cubes	48
nutritional yeast	0.75
olive oil	1
sesame oil	0.25
sunflower oil	1
Herbs & Spices
allspice	1
basil	0.2
bay leaves	0.5
berebere spice mix	750g
black peppercorns	1
cayenne pepper	0.25
celery seeds	0.5
chicken seasoning	0.75
chilli powder hot	1
chilli powder mild	1
chillies red dried	3
chimichurri	0.25
chinese five spice	1.5
cinammon	1.25
cloves	1
coriander ground	3
crushed chillis	0.75
cumin ground	2
cumin seeds	0.75
dill	0.75
everyday seasoning	1
fajita seasoning	0.5
fennel	0.5
Fennel seeds	0.5
garam masala	1.5
garlic granules	1
ginger ground	2.75
himalayan pink salt	0.5
italian seasoning	0.75
kala namak	1
korean red pepper powder	500g
lemon grass paste	2
longpepper	100g
maldon sea salt	200g
medium curry powder	0.5
mint	0.75
mixed spice	1
mustard seeds	0.5
nigella seeds	2.2
oregano	1
paprika smoked	1
paprika sweet	1
parsley	0.75
peppercorns black	0.25
sage	1
shawarma seasoning	0.75
southern fried seasoning	0.75
star anise	0.5
szechauan peppercorns	0.5
table salt	1
tandoori curry powder	0.5
tarragon	0.2
thyme	1
turmeric	1.75
white pepper	0.2

leftatthetrafficlights

Freezers
almonds (bag)	1
alphabites	0.75
apple stewed	1
bananas (bag)	1
bao buns	2
broad beans	1
broccoli	1.5
brussel sprouts	1
buns wholemeal	2
burger beetroot	1
burger beyond x2	2
burgers x 2	1
cannellini beans	0.25
carrots	1
chicken breasts x2	1
chicken dippers	1.5
chicken pieces	1
chicken thighs - this isn't	6
chillis	1
chinese pancakes x 6	10
croissant	1
fish fingers x 12	1
ginger	0.5
gyozo pack 12	1
hash browns (individual)	4
herb trays chopped	2
icecreams	1
kebab ‘meat’	1
‘lamb’ kebabs x 4	1
‘lamb’ steaks x 2	1
lunch blocks	2
mince - frys	1
mixed berry bag	0.5
okara blocks	1.5
onion chopped blocks	2
pain au chocolat	2
parsnips	1
pasta bolognese	1
peas	0.2
pittas x 6	1
pork juicy marbles	8
potatoes	1
rawsomes x 6	3
rhubarb stewed	1
sausages - chorizo x6	1
sausages - richmond	3
sausages - this isn't	3
sourdough pancakes	2
spinach	0.5
steak pieces beyond	2
steaks x2 - juicy marble	11
stock ufo	1
swede	1
sweetcorn half cobs	2
tempeh	1
tofoo large	1
tofoo smoked	3
tofoo stir fry	1
tofu	2
tofu burmese (puy lentil	1.5
tofu cubes - sweet chilli	1
tomato & bean sauce box	1
tomato & courgette sauce	11
tomatoes roasted	0.5
turmeric	0.5
UFO's	6
UFO's blocks	5
UFOs jar (possibly herbs)	0.25
veg mixed	3
vibes mango chutney	1
vibes salt & vinegar	0.5
watermelon chopped	1

leftatthetrafficlights

Lots to go through and hopefully lots of money can be saved by utilising it! 😁 

There are a lot of UPF'S in the freezer - the supermarket had a deal on earlier this year so I stocked up. However, we don't eat much of them so they won't feature regularly in my meal listing's (I'll probably still have quite a few at the end of next year! 🙄😂)

Tonight, I am using up leftovers from the fridge so no cooking required today 😁

Moorviews

Happy New Year to you @leftatthetrafficlights I am very impressed with how detailed your inventory is. It must have taken hours! I look forward to following as I always find your meals very inspiring. I am working my way through some rather old stocks of pulses, with the aid of my pressure cooker. 

Good luck with your challenge 😊 

leftatthetrafficlights

Thanks @Moorviews 😁 It did take a long time but it's definitely worth it - I have a hard copy in the kitchen so that I can keep on top of it and make sure I 'shop' from home so it should save me some money 😉 

Dh is making a pumpkin and lentil soup at the moment for his lunches - the pumpkin is one that we grew in the summer - and there is still half of it left so I need to use that this week in my menu plan. There's around 1kg of pumpkin left so I'll probably have to freeze some of it! 

My last meal plan didn't really work out - I only made two out of the four dishes due to dh being out one night and me having a day out with my dd - this week should be easier so I'll put them back on the plan! 

So, the next four dishes I intend to cook are: 

1) pumpkin, black bean, spinach, pineapple and smoked tofu chilli; mixed grains with barberries, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds; yoghurt and herb dressing 

2) avocado and cucumber sushi; inari; gyoza; bao buns; miso dipping sauce & pickled ginger

3) dark speckled lentil lasagne with a cashew cream 'cheese' sauce; rocket, broccoli sprout, strawberry and black grape salad

4) harissa roasted pumpkin; scarlett runner beans; parsnips and carrots in a dijon and maple sauce; orange and ginger brussel sprouts; mixed grains with barberries, sunflower seeds and hemp seeds 

To make all of that I'll need the following on the shopping list:

Avocado
Cucumber 
Rocket 
Strawberries

Everything else is from the storecupboard, freezers and fridge 😁 

leftatthetrafficlights

Tonight we had a box of the happiee lions mane mushroom meatee chunks (bought for me to try by my dd last week). I served it with a rice dish - basmati rice, onion, carrots, peas, miso, soy sauce, 'bacon ' flavour tomato ketchup, worcestershire sauce, meat free 'beef' stock cube and water all cooked together. I've got to say that although I liked the texture, I really wasn't keen on the flavour 😔 it tasted very processed and plastic-y to me 😕

However, it has given me the confidence to buy a fresh lions mane mushroom and cook it myself- I've avoided it so far as I wasn't sure the texture would be to my liking (plus I can't find any anyway!! 🙄😂) but I'm now convinced that with proper cooking and a nice marinade, it would be a very nice ingredient 😁

LotsOfTea

That is an impressive store cupboard! 

I'm intrigued that you've got vegan fish sauce and wondered if it's any good and if so what brand it is? If I'm making a recipe that includes it I just tend to leave it out. 

Sorry, another question, do you have a preferred brand of nooch? I've only ever used the marigold one but I've noticed there are others that are cheaper like H&B own-brand and I don't know whether to stray from my usual. 

I'm veggie myself but am making an effort to eat more vegan and your food always looks amazing!