List of meat substitutes
A meat substitute, also called a meat analogue, approximates certain aesthetic qualities or chemical characteristics of a specific meat. Substitutes are often based on soybeans, gluten, or peas. Whole legumes are often used as a protein source in vegetarian dishes, but are not listed here.
General
- Vegetarian bacon – sometimes made from tempeh.
- Vegetarian sausage
- * Vegetarian hot dog
- **Carrot hot dog
- Vegetarian burger
- Vegan chicken nuggets – made from pea protein, soy protein, textured vegetable protein, and wheat gluten
- Tofurkey – faux turkey, a meat substitute in the form of a loaf or casserole of vegetarian protein, usually made from tofu or seitan with a stuffing made from grains or bread, flavored with a broth and seasoned with herbs and spices
- Cauliflower – coated in flour and baked or fried to imitate chicken wings or steak
- Leaf protein concentrate
- Meat extender – sometimes but not always soy-based
- Mock duck
- Nut roast
- Seitan – a food made from wheat gluten, with wheat being a grain.
Dairy-based
- Glamorgan sausage – a traditional Welsh vegetarian sausage named after the historic county of Glamorgan in Wales.
- Paneer – for example in such dishes as Paneer tikka
Fungus-derived
- Edible mushrooms
- Mycoprotein – a form of single-cell protein, also known as fungal protein, it is able to provide greater satiety than traditional protein sources such as chicken, while also being rich in protein and low in caloric contentFistulina hepatica – a common mushroom known as beefsteak fungusFusarium venenatum - a microfungus of the genus Fusarium that has a high protein contentLaetiporus – a mushroom which is also named chicken of the woodsLyophyllum decastes – a mushroom known as fried chicken mushroomNeurospora crassa - a type of red bread mold of the phylum AscomycotaPleurotus ostreatus – better known as the oyster mushroom, famous in the vegan community as one of the best substitutes for fried chicken
Fruit-based
- Breadfruit – used similarly as jackfruit in savory dishes
- Coconut burger – made from sapal, the coconut pulp by-products of traditional coconut milk extraction in Filipino cuisine
- Eggplant – semitropical/tropical plant with a highly textured flesh
- Grapefruit – during the course of the Special Period economic crisis Cubans prepared steaks made out of breaded and fried grapefruit rind known as "bistec de toronja".
- Jackfruit – a fruit whose flesh has a similar texture to pulled pork when cooked
Legume-based
- Burmese tofu – made from water, chickpea flour and turmeric
- Falafel – a traditional Middle Eastern bean fritter, believed to have been created by ancient Copts as a meat substitute during Lent
- Härkis – a brand of processed ground fava beans
Soy-based
- Tofu, made from soy/soybeans.
- Textured vegetable protein – a defatted soy flour product that is a by-product of extracting soybean oil. It is often used as a meat analogue or meat extender. It is quick to cook, with a protein content that is comparable to certain meats.
- Ganmodoki – a traditional Japanese tofu based dish similar to veggie burgers
- Tempeh – a traditional Indonesian soy product in a cake form, made from fermented soybeans
- Injo-gogi-bap – a Korean steamed rice wrapped in leftover soybean paste and dressed with a chili sauce.
- Oncom – one of the traditional staple foods of West Java cuisine of Indonesia, there are two types: red oncom and black oncom. Oncom is closely related to tempeh; both are foods fermented using mold.
- Koya dofu – a freeze-dried tofu that has a taste and texture similar to meat when prepared, common in Buddhist vegetarian cuisine