Vegetarian Substitute For Meat And Ground Beef Substitute

By | December 4, 2008

Substitutes For Beef With Vegetarian Diet

I am a pure vegetarian. Is there any way I could substitute beef for a vegetarian diet?

You can go in for dried pulses, such as kidney beans, whole bengal gram and so on. They are cost effective and easy to cook. Dry beans are analogous to beef in its nutrient composition, as they also contain zinc, selenium, iron, protein and niacin. The amount of B12 vitamin in beans is less. The quantity of beans has to be increased to reach the benefits of beef, through the issue of flatulence exists! Reduce the size of serving, in the initial stage. Soya nuggets are also good substitutes for beef. Milk products such as yoghurt and cottage cheese are equally good.

Soy Substitutes For Beef

Tempeh is a soy product, which also might comprise of millet and rice. It is basically made by the fermentation of soy beans. It is available as patties and is not as versatile as tofu, which is cottage cheese, made from soybeans. It has a rough texture, and is not creamy. Tempeh is pale brown in color and has a nutty flavor. Dishes that require animal protein can be easily replaced by tempeh. It is also used for salads, by replacing the poultry in them. Tempeh is good in stews, casseroles and soups. Tempeh is used with veggies, in the skewered or grilled form. Barbecuing, baking and grilling are the other forms of cooking tempeh with beef. It is free of cholesterol, though a good source of protein and fat. They are commercially available in reusable plastic bags or in shrink-wrap packages.

Seitan is made from the gluten part of wheat and is a chewy protein. It is brown in color and is commonly used in Thai and Chinese foods. It is also referred to as wheat meat or wheat gluten. It is used as vegetarian mock meat and is easy to prepare. It is kneaded with wheat gluten, soy sauce, broth, garlic and ginger powder. It is kneaded and allowed to stand for some time. It is of irregular shape with holes. It is simmered in broth and allowed to expand. It is also available as a mix and is an excellent source of protein. It is low in fat and taste good. It is used with vegetables or in sandwiches and acts as a good substitute for beef. Textured vegetable protein is yet another substitute for beef. Its texture is similar to beef, chewy and soft. It is prepared from the flour of soy. It is crumbled as a filling for taco or with spaghetti sauce.