Veganism is far from boring, and plant-based meat substitutes are becoming more convincing and popular than ever. Here are the top 5 vegan meat substitutes according to taste, versatility and environmental impact!
#5: Jackfruit
Jackfruit is a pungent Southeast Asian fruit that is fast becoming one of the world’s favourite meat substitutes. This is despite it being banned in public in most Asian countries because of its impressive odour!
By cooking down jackfruit flesh with barbeque sauce and other savoury seasonings, you can easily create a convincing pulled ‘pork’ dish to rival any other you have eaten. Jackfruit is very versatile too, and can be used in Chinese, Indian, Mexican, African and Asian cuisines. It does take a while to cook, though – which gives you plenty of time to enjoy playing Bingo Cafe UK games online!
#4: Seitan
Seitan is a Japanese meat substitute that is made using high-gluten flour and a number of flavourings to give it a meat-like consistency and taste. This is a substitute that people can easily make at home with a few simple ingredients like glutinous flour, tomato paste, herbs, spices, Worcester sauce and the basting sauce of their choosing.
Seitan has a uniquely chewy and firm texture, and many plant-based eaters find that it is comparable to steak. It is fantastic for frying, grilling and baking, and holds its shape and texture well.
#3: Textured Soy Protein
Textured soy protein is an incredibly versatile meat substitute that is low in calories and high in protein. It cooks quickly and evenly, and comes in forms like nuggets, crumbles (to make ground beef), strips and chunks. These products can be added to stews, soups, spaghetti sauces and nearly everything else you can think of to add protein and body to a meal.
For those who are concerned about genetically modified soy, lentils and chickpeas are a great replacement. They also offer a meat-like consistency when cooked in certain ways, and are full of B vitamins and fibre to keep you healthy and sated. Chickpeas can be mashed and incorporated with potatoes or flour and eggs to create simple, delicious burger patties and nuggets.
#2: Beyond Meat
This trendy plant-based meat product brand has been popping up in restaurants around the world. It is the creator of the infamous Beyond Burger, which is just as juicy and delicious as any meat-based burger you’ll find on the market.
Beyond Meat products are gluten free, non-GMO and full of protein. They are made using plant ingredients like pea and soy protein, yeast extract, amaranth and beetroot juice. They even mimic the juiciness and texture of a real hamburger patty while offering 20g of protein per patty! Beyond Meat also offers chicken-style strips and ground beef crumbles in their range.
#1: Quorn
Quorn is a popular and realistic vegan meat brand that actually started out in the 1970s. Their products range from ground meat, nuggets and burger patties to chicken-style cutlets, strips and more.
Quorn is made out of a special fungal mycoprotein and is extremely similar to classic chicken, even when it comes down to its chewy texture. The fungi used to make the product are fermented, then combined with other plant-based ingredients and natural flavours. Quorn absorbs marinades very well, and has a great umami taste. A Quorn vegan burger patty contains around 10g of quality protein.
