Can meatless meat become the next big thing in India?
Meatless meat is plant-based meat, generally made from soy or peas products which can be a healthier alternative. But can it become popular in India? Let's find out.
For years, Indians looking for meaty substitutes have been stuck with the ubiquitous soya nuggets and chaap. But a new bunch of startups is dishing out everything from mock meat tikkas to burgers for not just the growing tribe of vegan consumers but also carnivores looking to switch to alternatives that are pitched as good for the body and the planet.
Meatless meat is “plant-based meat which is generally made from soy or peas products,” explains nutritionist and dietician Nmami Agarwal. Swapping good old meat with plant based protein means reduced saturated fat and increased fibre as well as vitamin content in your diet.
While meatless meat is often labelled as artificial, Marta Zaraska, the author of Meeathooked, a book that chronicles the 2.5 million-year history of meat, believes that “calling plant-based meat artificial is incorrect as it somehow implies that the food itself is not natural. On the contrary, most plant-based meats are all natural and very healthy.”
India is a country where religious practices govern the food preferences of people. The large vegetarian population even forced fast food giants like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut to introduce specially crafted vegetarian menus. Meatless meat could allow restaurants to offer even more vegetarian options.
Whether it’s vegans, vegetarians, or meat lovers looking for a healthier alternative, everyone has the same question when they first hear about meatless meat: does it taste the same as real meat?
While the taste of the meat depends highly on how it is produced and cooked, many restaurants around the world, like US-based Umami Burgers, claim to have managed to nail the true meat flavour all while serving plant-based meat.
However, “comparing the two types of meat is really not justified as both of them have their own nutritional values,” says Nmami. “Meat is generally higher in protein, but a little high in cholesterol too, when compared to plant-based meat. A lot actually depends on the method of preparation. For instance, deep fried, high in salt and highly-processed meat is always bad for your health-- whether it’s animal-based or plant-based,” she adds.
That is why, it’s important to read the labels to really understand if the claims match the actual product. As Marta mentions, “some plant-based replacements could be loaded with preservatives and fats that are bad for health. For maintaining good food standards, the clean meat industry in the US is already working with the FDA and the USDA to regulate lab grown meat.”
For years, Indians looking for meaty substitutes have been stuck with the ubiquitous soya nuggets and chaap. But a new bunch of startups is dishing out everything from mock meat tikkas to burgers for not just the growing tribe of vegan consumers but also carnivores looking to switch to alternatives that are pitched as good for the body and the planet.
Meatless meat is “plant-based meat which is generally made from soy or peas products,” explains nutritionist and dietician Nmami Agarwal. Swapping good old meat with plant based protein means reduced saturated fat and increased fibre as well as vitamin content in your diet.
While meatless meat is often labelled as artificial, Marta Zaraska, the author of Meeathooked, a book that chronicles the 2.5 million-year history of meat, believes that “calling plant-based meat artificial is incorrect as it somehow implies that the food itself is not natural. On the contrary, most plant-based meats are all natural and very healthy.”
India is a country where religious practices govern the food preferences of people. The large vegetarian population even forced fast food giants like McDonald’s and Pizza Hut to introduce specially crafted vegetarian menus. Meatless meat could allow restaurants to offer even more vegetarian options.
Whether it’s vegans, vegetarians, or meat lovers looking for a healthier alternative, everyone has the same question when they first hear about meatless meat: does it taste the same as real meat?
While the taste of the meat depends highly on how it is produced and cooked, many restaurants around the world, like US-based Umami Burgers, claim to have managed to nail the true meat flavour all while serving plant-based meat.
However, “comparing the two types of meat is really not justified as both of them have their own nutritional values,” says Nmami. “Meat is generally higher in protein, but a little high in cholesterol too, when compared to plant-based meat. A lot actually depends on the method of preparation. For instance, deep fried, high in salt and highly-processed meat is always bad for your health-- whether it’s animal-based or plant-based,” she adds.
That is why, it’s important to read the labels to really understand if the claims match the actual product. As Marta mentions, “some plant-based replacements could be loaded with preservatives and fats that are bad for health. For maintaining good food standards, the clean meat industry in the US is already working with the FDA and the USDA to regulate lab grown meat.”
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