Turning vegetarian or vegan can be a difficult transition for many non-vegetarians. And changing your lifestyle doesn’t necessarily have to mean that you have to give up everything that you once loved. Mock meats, for example, are a great way to embrace the transition.
Meatless meat is the latest trend in the food world. Some restaurants in the city are using soya chunks, tofu, champ, chickpeas and even jackfruit to make meat-like dishes without the actual meat.
Some vegetarians and vegans are probably disgusted reading this but here’s the thing — it is just a meat substitute. It looks similar and probably feels like it too, but it is actually the new vegan meat option.
Foodhall at 1MG Mall has mock meats for fish, salami, sausages and hot dogs for one to purchase. Available frozen, one can easily buy these at the store and enjoy it at home.
In fact, experts say that imitation meats are good quality proteins. In addition to that, you’re also helping out the environment and taking care of your health at the same time.
What are mock meats?
As we know, China is predominantly a meat-consuming place, but as per the laws of Buddhism, back in the day, they had to create a replacement for meat-based dishes. This prevented them from having any eggs, dairy products and warm-blooded animals. They used chopped almonds, grapes and diced bread as alternatives. Years later, tofu was introduced to the world.
How is it made?
Ingredients like mushrooms, tofu, champ, chickpea and sometimes jackfruit, are mixed with flavouring agents to make final products like lamb, ham, sausages, seafood and chicken.
Does it taste the same?
Yes and no. The mock meats have the chewy texture to it that many may not like. It’s also juicier than you would expect it to be. In short, it has everything a slice of meat should have except the meat itself.
Burma Burma in Indiranagar serves a couple of meatless dishes that vegetarians can indulge in. The ‘Grilled Mock Duck’ is made of gluten and soy marinated in a robust marinade of hand ground red chillies, lemongrass, tamarind and crushed spices on bamboo skewers. When we visited the restaurant and ordered it, we didn’t know that it was a vegetarian dish until we were told. In fact, we thought it tasted better than duck meat itself.
The restaurant also has ‘Pounded Mock Chicken Buns’ which has mock chicken mince pounded in a pestle with spices and pink peppercorn stuffed in soft steamed buns.
‘Soybean Chaap’ at BonSouth is quite rich in proteins, vitamin B and minerals. You’ll definitely get the chewy feeling like that of mutton or chicken but it’s cholesterol-free and tastes delicious.
Is it the way forward?
According to the Sample Registration System baseline survey in 2014, 71 per cent of people above the age of 15 are non-vegetarians. But we’ve been seeing a trend of many who are looking for plant-based alternatives either to take care of their health or to protect the environment.
People are also becoming aware of the way animals are treated in farms and are consciously making the effort to either turn vegetarian and vegan or consume as less meat as possible. But for those who aren’t able to give it just like that, mock meats are a good alternative.