Top 5 Tips for Cooking with Plant-Based Meat
If it’s your first-time cooking with plant-based meat, you may be wondering how to pull it off. First and foremost, plant-based meat offers unique tastes and textures, that will open a world of exciting new culinary experiences for you. There are many ways to get the most of out of your plant-based meat in your dishes, so here are a few tips that will help you achieve the perfect texture and bring out all the flavour.
- Plant-based meat is more than just an alternative
Although, you can use plant-based meats as a direct substitute to conventional meats in almost any dish, the possibilities extend far beyond. Having unique tastes and textures, plant-based meats are culinary items in their own right. So, if you were stuck in a limited routine with conventional meats, plant-based alternatives can help you break out of old habits and start experimenting or rediscovering new dishes.
- Marinades
Marinades are a fantastic tool to bring out the flavour in plant-based meat dishes. Use them to infuse the plant-based meat with complementary taste and add a touch of moisture.
Unlike conventional meats that require hours of marinating before you cook it, plant-based meats achieve deep flavours without the long marinating time. For example, the traditional Emirati dish ouzi, involves marinating meat for up to 24 hours, which is often then served with yoghurt or a tomato sauce. With plant-based meat, you can simply cook it in a flavourful marinade for a quick and delicious explosion of taste!
It is best to avoid using metal bowls, when preparing marinades, the acidic ingredients can react with the metal and affect the flavour. Instead opt for glass, ceramic, or food-grade plastic containers.
- Simmering
Don’t want to wait a whole day? Well, simmering plant-based meat is another great cooking option. Plant-based meats such as Switch Kafta absorbs the flavour of sauces really well, so consider simmering them in a sauce like we did in our meatball kafta curry and kafta bil seniyeh dishes. Stews are a great way to trap moisture and aid absorption of ingredients into your meat, too.
- Umami
We also recommend adding umami flavours. Umami is a delicious savory flavour, that adds richness and depth to your dishes. Shiitake mushrooms, miso paste, soy sauce, seaweed flakes and even the humble onion all add umami to your dishes. They can be especially important for plant-based dishes that traditionally call for meat stocks.
Check our recipes page for a list of healthy plant-based dishes packed with Umami, that you can make at home.
- Terrific Texture
For the best texture, cook your Switch Foods’ plant-based meats well and enjoy them hot.
Switch Foods’ plant-based alternatives, like many others, use the fibre-derived methylcellulose to create a texture similar to conventional meats. It’s only firm if your food is piping hot, so we do not recommend eating cold leftovers or leaving your dishes to cool down too much.
Don’t overcook your meat, either. Plant-based alternatives are lower in fat, so they dry out faster. However, if you love the taste of well-done meats, you could enjoy plant-based alternatives the most with some substantial searing. The combination of a crispy outer shell and juicy interior is an enjoyable sensory experience for many people.
The blackened edges of meat or an alternative of your choice is caused by the Maillard reaction and caramelisation. The Maillard reaction is an interaction between sugars and proteins, while caramelisation is the breakdown of sugars in steam.
Health Considerations
Finally, there are a few health considerations with plant-based diets.
Plant-based meats are often lower in essential omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin A compared to their conventional counterparts. Consider adding some vegan-friendly sources of omega-3s to your diets, such as walnuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, and Brussels sprouts. As for vitamin A, sweet potato, carrot, red pepper, pumpkin, and kale contain carotenoids which transform into vitamin A, those are great options to add to your dishes.
On the other hand, you may be in luck with vegan meat alternatives if you love it well-done. The Maillard reaction also creates advanced glycation end-products in the body, which contribute to cell and tissue aging. Plant-based foods such as burgers were found to have far lower levels of AGEs compared to beef burgers, so you can enjoy slightly charred, well-done foods without the health impacts.
Make the Switch Today!
At Switch Foods our mission is to create delicious plant-based meat products that celebrate local cuisine, so you can create and recreate your favourite dishes at home with a lower carbon footprint and key health benefits. Find out where you can buy our products near you and let’s get cooking.
