We chat with three plant-based content creators, @allveganuae (Sarah Zouabi), @the.nutty.vegan (Tamar Krikorian) and @onearabvegan (Nada Elbarshoumi) about their favourite vegan products, plant-based barbecuing and more
What are three must-shop vegan products at Spinneys and what do you like to make with them?
@allveganuae: The Rude Health cashew drink is a clean product I can't live without; I add it to my overnight oats and matcha. I also love Spinneys' private-label plant-based range. It offers value and variety, so there's something for everyone. The Spinneys Veggie Balls are great with gluten-free spaghetti. Lastly, the vegan KitKat and Raw Halo chocolate bars are must-haves for me, especially when the cravings hit.
@the.nutty.vegan: I love making vegan smoked "turkey" sandwiches with the smoked tofu by The Tofoo Co. I thinly slice the tofu and add it to Spinneys Rye Bread with mustard, vegan mayo, cherry tomatoes (I especially prefer those from Pure Harvest) and avocado! I love the Spinneys Rye Bread, which is freshly baked every day. I have it for breakfast with vegan cream cheese. One of my favourite cheeses is the Violife smoked slices, which I can only find at Spinneys. They work best in burgers and sandwiches as they melt well.
@onearabvegan: House Foods firm tofu is a must for scrambled tofu on weekends. I love using Bob's Red Mill nutritional yeast in 'cheesy' sauces and dressings or even sprinkled on top of popcorn with some salt. Try it, you won't regret it. Nush almond yoghurt is my favourite dairy-free yoghurt at the moment. I use it to make tahini sauce or enjoy it as a snack with granola and fresh berries.
What’s your go-to vegan product to barbecue? Any tips on achieving maximum flavour and texture on the grill?
@allveganuae: It has to be king oyster mushrooms! The secret is to use liquid smoke when marinating them to impart a savoury, smoky flavour. I grill them on skewers and serve them with pita – the taste is unreal.
@the.nutty.vegan: There are many. The SpinneysFOOD Meatless Burgers are not too meaty nor heavy and are perfectly seasoned. The plant-based kafta from Switch is also excellent – it tastes like the real thing. The Beyond Meat plant-based sausages are perfect and juicy on the grill! But, I’ll be honest, I air fry everything. If you’re like me, you can use the air fryer to grill just about anything. The pre-sets are easy to use, and the cleanup is a breeze.
@onearabvegan: Portobello mushrooms, hands down. My top tip is to marinate your veggies (or plant-based protein) overnight before they hit the grill. I love to combine toasted cumin, coriander, a pinch of turmeric and smoked paprika in my marinades.
What’s a vegan food hack you swear by?
@allveganuae: Cashews are especially versatile and are a fantastic base for dressings, sauces, sweet treats and even plant-based cheese. They’re a staple in my pantry, I buy them in bulk.
@the.nutty.vegan: Freezing tofu makes it meatier and spongier, which helps it absorb flavour once you add a sauce or marinade. To freeze tofu, press it to extract the water, slice it and store it in an airtight container. Once you’re ready to use it, thaw it and press it again to remove any excess water.
@onearabvegan: Dry-'frying' tofu in the air-fryer for five to 10 minutes before I marinate it - this dries out the tofu just enough to give it great texture and allows it to soak up a ton of flavour afterwards!
What’s your favourite vegan restaurant or take-out in the UAE?
@allveganuae: Vietnamese Foodies. It’s not a fully vegan restaurant but it has great vegan options like delicious spring rolls, stir-fries, curries and fried rice.
@the.nutty.vegan: I can’t pick just one restaurant, so I’ll name a few. Although Moreish is vegetarian, most dishes are vegan or can be made vegan – I love the flavour combinations of their dishes. Regarding fast food, Neat Burger and Sparkbake are both excellent options and are entirely vegan. I also turn to Al Beiruti when I’m craving Lebanese cuisine, known to be vegan-friendly. It has a huge selection of vegan appetisers. For fine dining, I love the vegan/vegetarian menu at Pai Thai, and for delivery, the vegan chicken shawarma in saj bread at Zaroob hits all the right spots.
@onearabvegan: What a tough question! For take-out, I adore Bloom Vegan Kitchen in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. To dine-in, I love Little Erth by Nabz & G, and my favourite vegan-friendly café is Amongst Few.
