If you are vegan, shopping for any food can become infinitely more complicated. It can also be an issue when you want to buy noodles. You need to be absolutely confident that there are no ingredients made from animal products and that the entire supply chain is free from animal cruelty. For noodles specifically, there are a few things you need to consider.
Common types of noodle
At their most basic, noodles are just long, thin strips of unleavened dough. The source of that dough, however, can vary. Wheat, buckwheat and rice noodles are all common and on their own present no dangers for a vegan as they are all plant-based. This can also be true for less-common noodles made with seaweed, acorn or mung bean. Egg noodles, on the other hand, clearly are not suitable for vegans as they combine their flour with egg. This is despite them being suitable for vegetarians, which can lead to confusion among those unfamiliar with veganism.
Where to buy noodles
You need to consider not just your type of noodle, but where you buy it. There are shops that specialize in vegan food where you can be confident that any product will be vegan-friendly. Online stores may be able to offer a wider range to offer specialist types of noodles, including vegan and gluten free. As anyone with specific dietary requirements will know, it may involve looking a little further and being more careful when checking ingredients lists as some suppliers can be misleading in their labelling.
Nutrition
An important consideration for vegans is ensuring that they can obtain adequate nutritional content from their diet. For non-vegans, meat and dairy will often be a primary source of protein. Vegans need to find alternatives, such as tofu, which is a common accompaniment to noodles. Noodles themselves can contain protein and also provide many other essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and fiber. This may include vitamin B, magnesium, selenium, potassium and iron, among others. You can also benefit from choosing less processed brown and whole-wheat versions.
Preparing noodle dishes
Of course, you may be able to buy noodles, but you still have to cook them, and that means adding more ingredients. If you are at home, you have full control of your meals and can ensure they are only combined with tofu, beans, vegetables and other vegan-friendly offerings. If you are eating out, it may take a little more effort to ensure you are only being served vegan dishes.
Common meals made with noodles include various soups and salads as well as fried dishes. Many include vegetables along with meat and seafood. With classic dishes such as Pad Thai, the exact recipe may change from chef to chef or establishment to establishment. That means you may need to ask your waiters for more information or even specifically request an alteration to the standard recipe.
Many types of noodles are vegan by default because they are made from plant-based flour. The main exception is egg noodles. However, you should check your ingredients list carefully and buy from trustworthy sources. This is especially true when buying a noodle-based dish, which may contain a range of ingredients, not all of which will be vegan.
FAQs
Wheat, buckwheat and rice noodles are all common and on their own present no dangers for a vegan as they are all plant-based. This can also be true for less-common noodles made with seaweed, acorn or mung bean. Egg noodles, on the other hand, clearly are not suitable for vegans as they combine their flour with egg.
Are vegan noodles healthy? ›
Due to being plant-based, vegan noodles also tend to be higher in fiber, which is great for any kind of diet. Fiber is one of the most important aspects of a healthy diet and lifestyle. It's what keeps food moving through the body and helps nutrients absorb at the right rate.
How is vegan pasta different? ›
Many vegan pasta varieties contain whole grains or legumes, such as whole wheat, quinoa, lentils, or chickpeas. These ingredients are naturally high in fiber, which most people don't get enough of. Eating vegan pasta with additional fiber can improve gut health.
Can vegans eat regular pasta noodles? ›
Most packaged pasta—including spaghetti, penne, and more—is vegan. It's worth checking the label to be sure, as some pasta contains eggs, but most of the pasta you see on the supermarket shelves is 100% vegan!
Why aren t ramen noodles vegan? ›
They're just wheat, salt, and water. That said, there are some things you might want to look out for. To begin with, the broth might contain meat ingredients. For another thing, some ramen products use lactose, which is derived from cow's milk.
Why is ketchup not vegan? ›
While not an animal product in itself, many vegans consider sugar in ketchup to be non-vegan-friendly, as many white and brown sugars are filtered and bleached using animal bone char. Heating cow bones to a high temperature until they break down into carbon creates bone char or activated carbon.
What are the benefits of vegan pasta? ›
Plant-based pasta portions weigh in heavy on the healthy scale. That's because they retain the nutritional components of the plants they're made from. Not only is each pasta on our list a natural source of nutrients such as iron and calcium, but they're also excellent plant-based sources of complex carbs and protein.
Are Oreos vegan? ›
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.
Is vegan pasta processed? ›
From a nutritional standpoint, both processed and ultra-processed food products can provide key nutrients that are retained during processing.
How do vegans get protein? ›
Grains: Grains high in protein include cornmeal, kamut (wheat berries), teff, quinoa, whole-wheat pasta, wild rice, millet, couscous, oatmeal, and buckwheat. Non-dairy milk: Just one cup of soy milk can pack about 7-9 grams of protein.
Generally, tortillas are suitable for vegan diets, often made from ingredients such as wheat flour, corn, water, vegetable oil, and salt. However, some brands may include non-vegan additives like glycerin or vitamin D, and traditional recipes might use lard.
What brand of pasta is vegan? ›
4 Barilla. An international brand started in 1912, most of Barilla's wide variety of pasta is made without animal products, including its gluten-free and Protein+ ranges.
What pasta noodles are vegan? ›
Is pasta vegan? Most packaged pasta—including spaghetti, rotini, and any other type—is 100 percent vegan. To know for sure, simply check the ingredients on your package! Sometimes, you might see “egg” listed as an ingredient in “fresh” pastas, so avoid those—but generally, pasta contains no animal-derived ingredients.
Are all rice noodles vegan? ›
Yes, rice noodles are generally vegan! This is because its very basic ingredients are plant-based and generally nothing is added to packet rice noodles that stop it from being vegan friendly. It's always best to check the packaging to make sure though! Looking for cooking inspo?
What are veggie noodles made of? ›
Did you know that you can make veggie noodles out of cucumber, carrots, kohlrabi, and more? We've all heard of zucchini noodles by now, but lots of other vegetables can transform into curly, colorful noodles too! Making these veggie noodles is one of my favorite summer cooking projects.
