Starting a whole-food plant-based diet might have you shopping for new & hard-to-find ingredients. Here's where to find them in the store, and general substitutions. Please check our Substitution Guide, ask in our Facebook Group, or email us for recipe-specific substitute suggestions. We love supporting local businesses, so check with them first if you can! Otherwise, we have created this handy Amazon list with ingredients that may be harder to find.
We make a very small commission on the affiliate links if you purchase through Amazon. Happy shopping! - Clean Food Dirty Girl.
Miso(opens in new tab)
Find in the refrigerated section near tofu. Shelf-stable miso can sometimes be found in the international cuisine section.
Substitutes: Soy sauce, tamari
Cheesy sauce substitutes: Additional salt, nutritional yeast
Soy Curls(opens in new tab)
Typically only found online. Call your local health food grocer to check availability.
Substitutes: Jackfruit, tofu
Jackfruit(opens in new tab)
Find in the canned fruit and vegetable section or near the international foods section.
Substitutes: Chopped mushrooms, artichoke hearts, soy curls
Tahini(opens in new tab)
Near nut butters
Substitutes: Sunflower butter, almond butter
Tapioca Flour/Starch(opens in new tab)
Near baking/flour and sometimes in bulk bins.
Substitutes: Arrowroot flour and cornstarch will thicken sauces but don't provide the stretch and gooey factor
Brown Rice Flour(opens in new tab)
Near baking/flour and sometimes in bulk bins.
Substitutes: Oat flour or whole wheat flour, if used as a thickening agent
Black Salt (Kala Namak)(opens in new tab)
International food stores or online.
Substitutes: Unicorn dust
Nutritional Yeast(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the baking aisle or bulk bins, or spice section. Often in a larger spice-jar type of container.
Substitutes: Extra miso and a pinch of salt in cheesy sauces, ask us about other recipes
Dulse(opens in new tab)
Near international foods aisle
Substitutes: Nori sheets (chopped up), miso or capers
Arrowroot(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the baking aisle, bulk bins, or spice section
Substitutes: Regular flour, cornstarch (non GMO)
Hemp Hearts(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the baking aisle or bulk bins.
Substitutes: Flax seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds (raw, unshelled), walnuts, almonds, pine nuts
Hulless Barley(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the baking aisle or bulk bins
Substitutes: Whole wheat couscous, quinoa, brown rice
Pitted Dates(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the baking aisle or bulk bins
Substitutes: Cranberries, currants, raisins
Coconut Sugar(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the baking aisle or bulk bins
Substitutes: Maple syrup, date sugar, dates
Ume Plum Vinegar(opens in new tab)
Health food stores or online.
Substitutes: Brown rice vinegar
Coconut Aminos(opens in new tab)
Near soy sauce or spices & seasonings.
Substitutes: Equal parts low sodium soy sauce and maple syrup
Brown Rice Vinegar(opens in new tab)
Health food stores or online.
Substitutes: White rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar
Worcestershire Sauce(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the condiments section. Check to ensure it's vegan.
Substitutes: Balsamic vinegar, miso with a drop of liquid smoke
Flax Seed, Ground(opens in new tab)
Widely available in the condiments section.
Substitutes: hemp seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds (raw, unshelled), walnuts, almonds, pine nuts