AT THE TABLE: ESSENTIAL VEGAN INGREDIENTS

What are the essential ingredients for any vegan or vegetarian meal?

"Get the best possible vegetables that you possibly can, grown well and organic where possible. Focus on the seasons and be flexible with menus. Consider what works with what – don’t just replacing meat with vegetables and expect it to taste the same."

"Turmeric, coriander root and garlic. These ingredients are so multi-purpose you can use them practically in every dish, for example as seasoning, dressings and even in coffees, at least the turmeric can be used in the latter. They also have proven health benefits. I particularly like the combination for my spicy buffalo cauliflower dish on the Hectors menu, or the paradise bowl, a wonderful filling bowl packed with colour and texture, which tastes good too."

"In our case, we use organic corn masa (corn flour treated with slaked lime) as our base for our tortillas. It's packed with nutrients and makes a perfect vessel to load with other goodness. I don't think we would get far without beans. They are perfect with corn and packed with protein. And delicious. I am remiss to single out any vegetables, but I will highlight cabbages. I love them and we serve slaw as a salad but also as a topping for every taco. It's tasty packed with vitamins and it adds the necessary crunch to make that taco really interesting. Make it into a pickle and you’re away laughing. Kimchi? Sauerkraut? Heck yeah. You’ve got to have seeds and nuts too. It's just essential."

"There aren't any essential ingredients as such, as there's such a huge array of foods, so often lots of ingredients are used, especially in vegan cooking. More important are the components each meal needs.

Flavour is the obvious one, but people eat with their eyes first so presentation is also important. Finally, satisfaction – people need to feel a sense of contentment after their meal."