Vegetarian family coming, and I make spaget and chili and will need fake beef. Any recommendations?
For the spaget, you could try tofu, but freeze it first in its water, then thaw (allow plenty of time for that) and squeeze the water out. It will have a spongier and chewier texture.
For the chili, lots of beans! Or you could try mushrooms.
I don’t find any of the plant-based fake meats appealing.
I don’t either when served alone, but in a dish like chili, should probably be okay.
Just remembered. Last time they were here, they bought soy nuggets as Target. Worked great, but I don’t recall what it’s called or who makes it.
My Mom would make Tuna Spaghetti on No Meat days.
I wonder about highly-processed fake beef.
But for your chili, maybe try Morningstar Farms Grillers (sort of like ground beef, soy based).
Michael Pollan ("In Defense of Food) : "Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants.
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TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) is a healthful, inexpensive, and decent tasting a textured replacement for ground beef. I halve a meatless loaf recipe that uses TVP, bulgur wheat as the meaty base substitute. It does use an egg as a binder, so it’s not completely Vegan. TVP also works for chili really well.
I think that’s it…! Many thanks
Try cashews in the chili. I eat chana masala a lot and cashews add a bit to it. Chana masala is like an Indian chili.
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Good idea! I eat a lot of long grain brown rice, and add a lot of fillers, like dried cherries, diced apples, raisins, etc, plus cashews and peanuts. However, the nuts are too hard with the soft rice, so I nuke them for two minutes in water. Perfect.
Family loves chili so will add cashews!
You can make spaghetti (or other pasta) without putting meat in the sauce, and it just as good as a sauce with meat. I’m no help with the chili
by the way, share your experience, was it tasty?
There are several types of fake beef available in the market, and the best one depends on personal preference. Some popular options include:
Beyond Meat: Beyond Meat is a popular plant-based meat alternative made with pea protein. It has a similar taste and texture to beef and is also a good source of protein.
Impossible Burger: The Impossible Burger is another popular plant-based meat alternative made with soy protein. It also has a similar taste and texture to beef and is a good source of protein.
Tofu: Tofu is a popular vegetarian protein source made from soybeans. It has a neutral flavor and can be used in a variety of dishes to mimic the texture of beef.
Seitan: Seitan is a meat substitute made from wheat protein. It has a chewy texture and can be used in a variety of dishes, including burgers and stews.
Tempeh: Tempeh is a fermented soybean product that has a nutty flavor and can be used as a meat substitute in a variety of dishes.
Overall, the best fake beef is one that fits your personal taste and dietary preferences.
But there is an opinion that such food can make you water retention ( here for more info https://betterme.world/articles/list-of-foods-that-cause-water-retention/ ) , but I do not know. May be u have an opinion about that ?
A lot of the fake meats are heavily chemical. Impossible being one such. Read labels.
Other that when my vegetarian family members show up, I stick with real meat / chicken.