Nowadays, many people are realising the importance of being vegan. Firstly, it is more economical, and secondly, it is light on the stomach. Best meat substitutes have a taste like non-vegetarian recipes but with added nutrients. When you choose not to eat meat, there can be many reasons for the decision. Such reasons account for religious, ethical, environmental, or health. No matter What your reason for going vegan is, mother nature has always got enough to support you.
Delving deep into the topic, meat substitutes are very digestive and can give permanent relief against bloating and indigestion. Plant-based meat alternatives are popular and very flavourful. They have plenty of iron, vitamins, zinc, and calcium to keep the tummy full for longer hours. Even the protein content in veg meat is higher when compared to a typical non-veg recipe.
Table of Contents
ToggleBest Meat Substitutes -
Tempeh
Tempeh originated in Indonesia. Indonesian soy-based meat is not wholly Soyabean. It is rather a fermented recipe that includes a mixture of grains and beans. The fiber rich meat substitute is rich in probiotics. It helps in better digestion and has a stronger flavor.
People who are in love with barbecue meat recipes can go for Tempeh. It has a whopping amount of calcium and iron content for more satisfaction than a typical meat recipe.
One cup of tempeh contains:
- calories: 319
- protein: 33.7 g
- calcium: 184 mg
- iron: 4.48 mg
- fat: 17.9 g
Advantages
- High in protein
- Some probiotic benefits
- Less processed
- High in fiber
- Dense, chewy meat-like texture
Disadvantages
- May not be gluten-free
- Have to prepare it
- Contains some fat
- Can be dry and/or bitter
There is an advantage to unprocessed plant-based meat substitutes, but there is a downside as well. You won’t find marinades or seasonings on most tempeh at the store. A few products are pressed with seeds or grains, but these contribute more to texture than flavor, meaning they are not gluten-free.
Tofu
Tofu quite a lot resembles cottage cheese, which is prepared using milk. This amazing meat alternative is manufactured with soy plant extract. It tastes great when made to be a part of soups and a scrambled egg recipe. Very flavourful in nature, the marinated tofu recipes have an unbeatable texture and flavor. The organic food item is prepared using non-GMO methods. It deserves a green flag for everyone who wants to remain practice veganism.
1 cup of tofu contains:
- protein: 20 grams (g)
- calories: 188.4
- fat: 11.86 g
- iron: 13.3 mg
- fiber: 0.744 g
- calcium: 868 milligrams (mg)
Advantages
- Multiple uses
- High protein content
- Low calorie
- Different types
Disadvantages
- Requires some prep work
- Has a bland flavor if not seasoned correctly
- Can be difficult to work with
Tofu requires more work than other minimally processed non-meat options. Press the block to remove the water to get a well-marinated or spiced taste. Afterward, it must be prepared and cooked correctly.
There are many types to choose from, so finding the right one for your needs can be difficult and learning how to use them can be challenging.
Seitan
Prepared using wheat gluten, Seitan has a dense texture and chewy taste, just like chicken. The mild, flavourful veg meat can be used to prepare many recipes with ease. It quickly cooks and has a very nice taste because of the base of the legumes. Enjoy a protein rich diet on preferring this meat alternative. Also, get the goodness of calcium, iron niacin, and riboflavin in every dose.
A 4-ounce (oz) serving of seitanTrusted Source contains:
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 28 g
- Fat: 2 g
Advantages
- Available in many varieties
- High in vegetable protein
- Many products require little prep
- Chewy meat-like texture
Disadvantages
- Contains gluten
- Not a complete protein
- Many products are over processed
Gluten sensitive or celiac disease patients cannot consume seitan. You should not consume this product every day if you are sensitive to gluten. High-processed seitan products are especially harmful.
In addition, seitan is not a complete protein. There are not enough essential amino acids in it. Fortunately, beans have plenty of the nutrients it lacks. Sietan can be eaten with vegetables for a complete meal if you pair it with them.
Protein rich plant foods
You can go for mushrooms, lentils, beans, and chickpeas as meat alternatives. These are the best vegetarian items, having added nutrients and good taste. Coming to the price range, the mock meat options are also very easy on the pocket. They can suitably work on high cholesterol levels with their high fiber and nutrient content. Mushrooms can notably let you reduce expenditure on taco meat. Similarly, quinoa and soy products can let you save a lot on chicken-based items. All these meat alternatives have plenty of amino acids. On choosing them, you naturally increase your plant intake.
Vezlay Food Products
Most Vezlay Food products have a taste of non-vegetarian, but all products are pure vegetarian food products. Most Vezlay products contain texturized soya beans. Vezlay has a range of veg meat products that have seamless nutrients and a very rich taste. Prepare Cutlets, gravy recipes, and anything possible using the best meat replacement. The Vezlay chicken tikka, Vezlay shami kebab, Vezlay seekh kebab, and Vezlay soya Rogan Josh are a few must try products from the brand. All these products have a very healthy blend. They are not prepared using preservatives or artificial chemicals. Only natural extract makes them a risk-free meal for all. Vezlay Foods products have vegan food products and plant based food products.
Other Items
per 100gParameters | Egg (Hen) | Goat Meat | Milk Buffalo’s | Raw Chicken (Whole) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Energy (K cal) | 173 | 118 | 117 | 197 |
Protein (g) | 13.3 | 21.4 | 43 | 18.18 |
Carbohydrate (g | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1.82 |
Total Fat (g) | 13.3 | 3.6 | 6.5 | 13 |
Dietary Fiber (B) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Iron (mg) | 21 | 0 | 0.2 | 132 |
Calcium (mg) | 60 | 12 | 210 | 16.78 |
Cholesterol (mg) | 425 | 82.38 | 32.48 | 89.28 |
Items of Vezlay Foods
Per 100gParameters | Soya Chikka | Soya Indi Chop | Soya Vegget | Soya Noddliee | Soya Seekh Kabab | Soya Shami kabab | Soya Indi fries | Soya Leg Piece |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy (K cal) | 255.79 | 92.48 | 371.43 | 366.66 | 194.33 | 150.98 | 160.85 | 243.15 |
Protein (g) | 27.16 | 18.65 | 46.7 | 47.56 | 17.95 | 15.27 | 20.1 | 26.3 |
Carbohydrate (g | 6.48 | 3.55 | 35.02 | 32:72 | 10.9 | 19.1 | 18.56 | 12.82 |
Total Fat (g) | 13.47 | 0.4 | 4.95 | 5.06 | 8.77 | 1.5 | 0.69 | 9.63 |
Dietary Fiber (B) | 4.86 | 2.82 | 20.31 | 22.31 | 4.89 | 4.18 | 8.59 | 8.92 |
Iron (mg) | 14.26 | 7.48 | 14.18 | 16 | 5.11 | 5.64 | 5.62 | 13.62 |
Calcium (mg) | 242.36 | 131.5 | 232.56 | 219.67 | 34.76 | 542.42 | 344.21 | 218.48 |
Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Items of Vezlay Foods
Per 100gParameters | Soya Slice | Soya Chop | Soya Nuggets | Soya Burger Patty | Soya Italiana Pasta | Soya Chikka Rogan Josh | Soya Bhurji | Veg Chicken | Chop Stick |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Energy (K cal) | 243.15 | 122.04 | 179.13 | 242.71 | 203.58 | 198.25 | 96.44 | 110 | 184.28 |
Protein (g) | 26.3 | 19.89 | 10.48 | 15.92 | 10.28 | 7.1 | 16.37 | 20.24 | 13.16 |
Carbohydrate (g | 12.82 | 5.04 | 31.22 | 30.65 | 17.08 | 8.06 | 7.02 | 6.81 | 20.13 |
Total Fat (g) | 9.63 | 2.48 | 1.37 | 6.27 | 10.46 | 15.29 | 0.32 | 0.2 | 5.68 |
Dietary Fiber (B) | 8.92 | 3.78 | 8.39 | 12.57 | 7.24 | 4.38 | 5.12 | 5.38 | 6.7 |
Iron (mg) | 13.62 | 14.38 | 2.38 | 3.28 | 5.91 | - | 43.47 | 32.34 | 52.17 |
Calcium (mg) | 218.48 | 212.36 | 132.5 | 142.6 | 6.75 | - | 274.84 | 196.64 | 348.19 |
Cholesterol (mg) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Are meat substitutes more healthful than meat?
Plant-based meat products are definitely healthier and have a very nice appetizing flavor. Derived from different types of plants, the meat substitutes end up providing a variety of flavor to the consumers every time. You can prepare almost any non-veg recipe using mock meat products. After being around for many decades, people are finally realizing the importance of meat alternatives. The fake chicken strips and vegetarian burgers are flipping all over the market.
Simple and preservative free manufacturing
A little processing of a plant helps in producing mock meat. The high protein and fiber-based ingredients are actually very healthy. They don’t require preservatives to increase their shelf life.
Low environmental impact
The environmental impact of choosing meat alternatives is very positive. Since very little water is required in cooking them, you end up saving a lot of natural sources. Choose your next meal as a plant-based product and keep away from ecosystem damage.
New brands
Nowadays, commercial brands like Vezlay are giving a lot of new options to try. For example, you can get the taste of chicken tikka and in the veg product range. Moreover, Price range of the products from the brand is also very affordable which makes it a better choice than non veg.
Good heart health
It goes without saying that anything that falls heavy on the stomach is heavy on the heart as well. The plant-based meat is very light and can be consumed up to 2 times a day. Talking about non-vegetarian recipes, they are very heavy to digest and have a High cholesterol content.