intro
The plant kingdom is incredible - it contains hundreds of thousands of diverse species in every imaginable size, shape, form and color. Surprisingly, it also contains dozens of species that can reproduce the tastes, textures, and nutritional qualities of meat, milk, eggs and more.
Below, learn how creative food shops and companies are turning simple ingredients into high-quality plant meats.
part 1
PLANT MEATS
The making of wheat protein
What They Are
Using plant protein to recreate meat was first done in Asia thousands of years ago, but has recently re-emerged as a creative way to make more healthy, delicious and sustainable .
Wheat protein
Pure wheat flour is rinsed to remove starch, and the remaining protein is cooked in various ways (braising, roasting, simmering, sauteeing) to create a wide range of meat products.
Wheat Protein-Based Steak by The Herbivorous Butcher
Amount of Processing: Low
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Soy Protein
Isolated soy protein is placed under controlled heat and pressure to pack the protein into solid pieces, which are then seasoned and cooked.
Soy Protein-Based Filets from Match Meats
Amount of processing: Moderate to High
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Pea Protein
Canadian Yellow Peas
Similar to soy, peas are ground into a fine powder and heated with water and other ingredients under pressure. This results in a product with a meaty, tender taste and texture.
Pea Protein-Based Chicken Strips (Beyond Meat)
Amount of processing: Moderate
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Jackfruit
Photo: The Jackfruit Company
Jackfruit is a large fruit native to Southeast Asia that takes on the look and flavor of chicken or pork when cooked. The best jackfruit is made from the young, green fruits. which are cooked until tender, and then combined with sauce and other ingredients.
BBQ Jackfruit Slider (Recipe: Design and Digest)
Amount of processing: low to None
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Who Makes Plant Meats?
PLANT BUTCHERS
Kale and Aubrey Walch of The Herbivorous Butcher (Photo: Jonathan T. Armstrong)
Plant Butchers are a new type of "butcher shop" that craft delicious cuts of meat entirely from plant ingredients. Popular butcher products include burgers, sausages, BBQ'd meats, deli cuts and more.
Top Shops Include:
THE HERBIVOROUS BUTCHER NO EVIL FOODS
For a complete list of shops, click here
...and High-Quality Store Brands
No plant butcher? No problem! These great brands are available at major supermarkets and retailers:
What goes into a Field Roast product (Photo: FieldRoast.com)
Plant-meats are real foods made with high-quality ingredients.
Unlike products of the past, today's plant-meat producers treat their foods as an art and science, and aim to deliver the same tastes and textures found in traditional meat.
why eat plant meats?
Grilled Chicken by Beyond Meat - Low in fat and full of protein
* They're delicious
* They're naturally low-fat and cholesterol-free, and contain no antibiotics or artificial hormones
* Many are good sources of protein, while jackfruit can provide many vitamins and nutrients
