If you are vegetarian but miss the meaty flavour in traditional veggie fare, these options are for you. You don’t have to give up meat and other sources of protein if you decide to adopt a vegetarian diet.
Here are several classic meat alternatives that are both healthful and nutritious.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a great plant-based meat alternative that tastes and feels like meat. Mushrooms, with their hearty texture and robust flavour, are a great meat substitute for those who are trying to consume more plant-based diets. Mushrooms can also be used in almost any dish because of their adaptable texture.
Raw Jackfruit
Get yourself some raw jackfruit right now if you haven’t tried it before. Even though it is classified as a fruit, jackfruit may be used as a meat substitute. Jackfruit is somewhat sweet, but raw jackfruit is not so much that it can’t be used as a luxurious meat substitute. Jackfruit goes well as a substitute for grilled meats, stir-fries, and other meat-based dishes.
Tofu
Tofu is a great alternative to chicken for vegetarians because of its chicken-like texture. Tofu provides a complete protein, meaning it has all the amino acids your body needs to function properly. When made into nuggets or a meaty burger patty, it can give a flavour to chicken. Tofu has a meaty, chewy feel because it is derived from dried soybeans.
Tempeh
In Indonesia, tempeh is often used as a meat alternative. Tempeh is a fermented food that utilises the whole soybean. Some tempeh products include a combination of different beans or grains, while tempeh alone has a drier feel. Tempeh may have more fibre and protein than tofu since it uses entire beans. Because of the fermentation process, it also includes prebiotics and probiotics, which are beneficial to the digestive tract. It can also stand in for meat in a pinch.
Eggplant
Here’s yet another adaptable vegetable that can be cooked up into a delicious meat alternative. The secret is to use subtle flavours that complement the eggplant. Manganese, a mineral necessary for normal nerve and bone development, is abundant in this vegetable. Anthocyanins are another kind of antioxidant found in eggplant that helps to counteract oxidative stress and inflammation.
