Plant-Based Asian Pantry

A plant-based Asian pantry is easier to build than most people expect — Asian cooking has centuries of vegetarian tradition behind it — and this collection brings the essentials together: tofu, tempeh, miso, vegan sauces and the mock meats that make weeknight cooking interesting.

Start with the proteins. Fresh tofu from UK makers in firm, silken and deep-fried forms, tempeh for stir-fries and curries, and edamame for snacking and rice bowls. The Everbest frozen range covers the traditional mock meats — vegetarian duck, drumsticks, spring rolls and sweet-and-sour pieces — which have long been part of Buddhist cooking and suit plant-based meals.

The flavour shelf is where meals come together. Miso paste for soups and marinades, vegan oyster-flavour sauce for stir-fries, gochujang for Korean heat, and the pickles and seasoned seaweeds that turn rice into lunch.

One honest note: Asian sauces sometimes hide fish or oyster, and recipes change, so please check the pack before you buy. Orders go by DHL from our Manchester store, with free standard delivery over £75; fresh and frozen lines add a £5.50 surcharge once per order.