Meatless patties like tofu, tempeh, and textured vegetable protein are popular alternatives to beef and chicken burgers. Veggie/grain burgers made with nuts, greens, and grains are also available, as well as patties made from ground beans or chickpeas.
With the commercial success of meatless patties like Boca Burgers and Gardenburgers, even non-vegetarians and vegetarians now have regular access to beef and chicken alternatives. Prior to the introduction of these traditional meatless patties, however, vegetarians and strict vegans used soy- or grain-based meatless patty shapes for years. There are a number of types of meatless patties available for those looking for a healthier alternative to ground beef burgers or other red meats.
A popular form of meatless patty is called tofu, a soft product derived from soybean curd. Liquid curds are pressed from the soybeans themselves and mixed with a form of mineral salt (gypsum or magnesium chloride is common). Salt causes the curd solids to coagulate in a finished tofu cake, just like milk coagulates in cheese when rennet is added. This tofu cake is often sliced to form meatless patties, which are grilled or fried until thoroughly heated through.
Another form of meatless patties comes from a similar soy product called tempeh. Tempeh isn’t processed the same way as tofu, however. Cooked soybean paste and occasionally grains such as rice or millet are combined with a cultured form of mold. After a few days of fermentation, the healthy mold bonds with the soybean paste to form tempeh. Tempeh can be cut into meatless patties or other shapes for use in vegetarian recipes. Tempeh has an edge over tofu in that it contains vitamin B-12, an essential vitamin often missing in meatless diets.
Through an extrusion process, soybeans can also be converted into a product called textured vegetable protein, or TVP. TVP is the essential ingredient in commercial meatless patties such as Boca burgers. TVP can also be used as a meat substitute in a number of other vegetarian meals. Meatless patties made with TVP usually have the chewy texture and satisfying mouthfeel of ground beef burgers and are often flavored with spices or meat extracts to duplicate the taste of ground beef burgers.
For those looking for a more vegan approach to meatless patties, there are a number of recipes that use nuts, greens and grains as a base. The popular commercial meatless patties sold by Gardenburger are examples of veggie/grain burgers. The signature Gardenburger-style meatless patties are made from a blend of garden greens, nuts, and oatmeal. A binder such as egg whites or cornstarch can also be used, although strict vegans may wish to avoid using eggs. These meatless patties aren’t meant to taste like ground beef burgers, but they do have a distinctive flavor.
Some cultures use ground beans or chickpeas to form meatless patties. A popular Middle Eastern dish called falafel uses ground chickpeas and spices to create a meatball-like sandwich filling. Some vegetarians don’t restrict seafood from their diets, so meatless patties formed from salmon or other types of fish can be acceptable substitutes for burgers and chicken.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
