what is vegan meat made of

11 months ago 17
Nature

Vegan meat is a type of food that is free from animal-derived products but is intended to replicate the texture and taste of meat. It is made from plant-derived substances such as soy, wheat gluten, peas, and mushrooms. Vegan meat can be purchased in unrefined forms that can be used to replace meats in recipes, or it can be used by vegan food manufacturers to create prepackaged products that simulate popular meat dishes such as burgers, chicken nuggets, and sausages. The foundational elements in plant-based meat are a protein of some sort (like tofu, tempeh, or soy), plant oils (like sunflower or canola oil), and a vegan binding agent (like gluten, aquafaba, or beans) . Vegan meat products also contain starches from vegetables like corn or potatoes to help hold the ingredients together so that it mimics the texture and mouth-feel of meat, and herbs and spices are used to flavor the vegan meat.