"Chickenless Nuggets! Chickenless Nuggets! CHICKENLESS NUGGETS!"

When I was waiting for a train the other day a small child was getting exceptionally excited about the dinner that they were going home to. He'd just been promised chickenless nuggets and wanted to share it with the world! I'd like to dedicate this look at meat alternatives to that young vocal vegetarian...

Thinking about going meatless (at least occasionally) but not sure what’s in that chicken"less" nugget or “meat” ball? A lot of terms on meat-alterative packaging can be confusing. Whether made from soy, wheat, or mold (yes, mold) the main ingredient listed might be something that sounds like it belongs in a science lab rather than on your dining room table. First, a video I made featuring various places in a grocery store where you might find these products, then, a closer look at their main ingredients.

Tofu

Example in video: Nasoya Cubed Tofu, great for stir-fries and Tofurky Vegetarian Feast, used as a substitute for turkey.

What is it? Tofu is a white firm product made from soybeans. It resembles feta cheese and in fact is made in a very similar way. The soybeans are first made into a liquid (soymilk) then the coagulated protein is removed, forming tofu.

Soy Protein Isolate

Example in video: Morning Stars Chick’n Strip Meal Starters, used as a substitute for chicken strips.

What is it? According to soyfoods.org, soy protein isolate is “a dry powder food ingredient that has been separated or isolated from the other components of the soybean, making it 90 to 95 percent protein and nearly carbohydrate and fat-free.”

Soy Protein Concentrate

Example in video: Boca Original Meatless Vegan Burgers, used as a substitute for hamburgers. Also listed as an ingredient in textured vegetable protein

What is it? According to www.soya.be, “soy protein concentrate is made by removing a portion of the carbohydrates (sugars) from dehulled and defatted soybeans.”

Textured Soy Protein Concentrate

Example in video: Smart Strips Chick’n Style Strips, used as a substitute for chicken strips.

What is it? Basically it’s soy protein concentrate with a different texture.

Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP)

Example in video: Morning Stars Grillers Recipe Crumbles Meal Starters, used as a substitute for ground beef.

What is it? Made from defatted soybean flour that has been cooked and then dehydrated. It is available dried from Bob’s Red Mill or frozen as in the video. Why “vegetable” and not “soybean”? That may have something to do with the fact that TVP is trademarked by Archer Daniels Midland.

Wheat Gluten (otherwise known as Seitan)

Example in video: Morning Stars Chick’n Strip Meal Starters, used as a substitute for chicken strips and Boca Original Meatless Vegan Burgers, used as a substitute for hamburgers. Also listed as an ingredient in textured vegetable protein.

What is it? According to the International Wheat Gluten Association, “wheat gluten is the natural protein derived from wheat or wheat flour. In its freshly extracted wet form it is known as gum gluten which when dried yields a cream-to-tan-colored, free-flowing powder of high protein content and bland taste. When re-hydrated, it regains its original characteristics.”

Vital Wheat Gluten

Example in video: Tofurky Vegetarian Feast, used as a substitute for turkey.

What is it? Basically wheat gluten (see previous entry) in its flour form.

Mycoprotein

Example in video: Quorn Naked Chik’N Cutlets, used as a substitute for chicken cutlets.

What is it? Mycoprotein seems to be unique to Quorn brand products, which have been on the market in the UK for a long time but only recently came over to the US. According to www.mycoprotein.org, “Mycoprotein is made by adding oxygen, nitrogen, glucose and minerals to a fungus called Fusarium venenatum.” As far as I can tell, it’s a fungus (myco is greek for “fungi”) more closely related to mold than mushrooms. It is manufactured solely as a protein alternative for human consumption.

There are of course other sources of non-meat protein (diary, vegetables, legumes, etc) so don’t feel like your meatless meals have to contain a meat-alternative product like the ones listed above. However, why not give a couple a try and see what you think? You might be surprised how much you enjoy the texture or flavor of certain products. Keep an eye on this blog for recipes and meal ideas featuring some of these products, coming soon!