You might be a vegan and craving for meat or you might not be a vegan and want to eat less meat. Either way, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll share everything I know about vegan meat as well as some of the best meat substitutes out there.
So, keep on reading!
The Basics of Vegan Meat
Before we jump into any more details, let’s answer the basics.
What is Vegan meat?
Vegan meat- also known as plant-based meat, vegetarian meat, or meat analogue is a meat-like substance that does not come from an animal but is made of plant-based ingredients.
If you’re new to this and hearing about it the first time, you might wonder what it would taste like.
While tasting for the first time, you might taste the difference between plant-based meat and animal beat, but it tastes more delicious than regular animal meat when you get used to it.
There’s a good reason they’re also known as fake meat or meat substitutes because the taste is exceptionally similar to the actual meat.
Is Plant-Based Meat Healthy?
People who have diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension are sensitive to eating meat; vegan meat is healthy and convenient to consume for them.
Plant-based meat might not be as richer in proteins as animal-meat, but saturated fats and cholesterol levels are very low, and its richness in fibers makes a meal healthy.
The impact of having vegan meat instead of regular beef is quite large. You will observe improved digestion and reduction of body weight.
And if you’re struggling with sleep, you’ll love how this diet can improve your sleep quality as well.
What is Vegan Meat Made Of?
With water as a necessary part, vegan meat includes the following ingredients:
- Uncooked lentils
- Onion & canned beets
- Coconut flour
- Seasonings (garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper)
- Plant/vegetable fiber, often from peas
- Yeast, mushroom and other vegetables/herb, spice extracts and/or powders
Recipe of Vegan Meat:
The most straightforward procedure for making vegan meat is to follow the steps mentioned below:
- Boil the lentils in water, covering the whole lentils approximately by an inch on high flame.
- Simmer it for 10 mins after it is done with boiling.
- Lentils must be soft as they will have a bite. Rinse and drain the lentils.
- Place the lentils in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped with a few irregular pieces. Put the lentils paste in a bowl.
- Place the mushrooms and onions in the food processor bowl. Add the blotted beats to the processor and pulse until you have a finely chopped, uniform mixture.
- Scrape the bottom and sides of the processor several times. Add to the bowl of lentils with remaining ingredients.
- Taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings according to your taste.
- The moisture in vegetables can be adjusted by coconut flour. The meat should hold together.
What are the Best Vegan Meat Substitutes?
Meat alternatives are growing in popularity because they have a similar taste and are also low in proteins and fats, making these alternative options a healthier choice.
Now, we will discuss some of the best meat alternatives for your meal.
Tofu
Tofu is a classic meat alternative and is considered as a low-calorie source of protein. It is made of soybeans.
Tempeh
Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian food and made by using fermented soybeans. Like cheese, it has the advantage of breaking down protein in beans by particular bacterial cultures, making it accessible to the human digestive system.
Green Spelt
Spelt is a species of wheat and one of the oldest cultivated grains. It has a high content of B Vitamins with sufficient quantities of magnesium and phosphorous. It is a good source of vegan patties, cutlets, and meat (free) balls.
Oat Flakes
An ideal source of zinc and iron, oat flakes, supplies complex carbohydrates that help prevent hunger and promote fat loss. Oats are an increasing protein source and available in the form of “pulled oats,” an alternative to pull pork.
Pea Protein
The pea is one of the largest sources of protein compared to other plant-based ingredients.
Is Vegan Meat Processed?
Assuming vegetarian meat to be healthy is good, but it’s not as healthy as you may desire or want it to be. Vegan meals might be more nutritious than meat and dairy-based products. Yet, this is not always the case as plant-based meals contain ingredients which are highly processed.
If a low calorie, fiber-rich, and nutrient-dense diet are what you’re after, you must be aware that it is prepared with processed soy and preservatives.
To have freshness, you must make it at your home from the start instead of buying it from the market.
Is Plant-Based Meat Vegan?
Plant-based meat is specially designed to look, taste, and cook like conventional meat.
It can be in the form of patty or nuggets, just like animal-meat.
Based on the points mentioned above, it is evident if there are no dairy-based ingredients in the recipe for preparing plant-based meat, it will be vegan.
Conclusion
The demand for plant-based meat is rising day by day because of its health benefits. It’s shaking the meat industry today as the need for conventional meat drops.
The hour’s need is to understand the facts and benefits of vegan and consume plant-based products to avoid diseases generated from traditional meat and dairy products.
