Prepared plant-based meat alternatives have flooded the grocery market, but plenty of whole foods can be used to prepare your own mock meat. Glenda’s Farmhouse produces quality walnuts that you should keep on hand for nights when ground meat would have been on the menu.
Glenda’s Farmhouse is a product brand of Andersen & Sons Shelling. We produce walnuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, and sea salt, with a mission to provide quality foods that create quality families.
If you’re new to the idea of vegetarianism, you might be hesitant to try new things. Still, as we become aware of the health benefits of eating less meat, not to mention the environmental advantages, it’s becoming more popular to take meat off of the menu at least one night of the week. Once you master your own recipes, you may extend it to two or more nights.
Additional Plant-Based Alternatives to Meat
The jackfruit has a meat-like texture, similar to pulled pork. It’s often used to substitute for meat in stews, soups, tacos, etc. This option has plenty of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber, but it lacks the fiber of meat.
Tempeh is made of whole fermented soybeans and substitutes for meat because it absorbs flavors and has a texture similar to meat. Tempeh provides protein, vitamin B, fiber, and other nutrients. It can be cut to different thicknesses to substitute for different meat portions.
Tofu is commonly considered when one thinks of meat substitutes. It is made of curdled soybeans and comes as silken, soft, medium, firm, and extra firm. On its own, tofu has no flavor, but it absorbs flavor well. If you’re sure you don’t like tofu, it’s only because you’ve never had it prepared well.
Cauliflower buffalo wings deserve a place on your list of meat substitutes. Battered and baked, the cauliflower is tossed in buffalo sauce and delivers quality taste and flavor.
Walnuts are one of the key meat substitutes. With walnut meat, you can create burgers, meatloaf, tacos, meatballs, etc. It also provides a healthy amount of protein, good fats, and other nutrients. All you need is a few extra ingredients for flavor and binding, a food processor, and a supply of walnuts from Glenda’s Farmhouse.
Lentils can also be used to create ground meat substitutions. When your stash of Glenda’s Farmhouse walnuts gets low, rely on lentils while you wait for your new order to arrive.
Chickpeas are another great tool in the vegetarian toolbox. You can mash them for a patty, blend them into a dip, roast them to throw in a salad, or eat them alone. The versatility is remarkable for this under-the-radar vegetable workhorse.
Essential to any vegetarian pantry are herbs and seasonings. The absolute staples include:
- Dried onions
- Dried garlic
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Garlic
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Ginger
- Curry powder
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Thyme
Vegetarian cooking and eating can be fun and creative! Play around with flavors until you find the variation you and your family like, and make sure that your Meatless Mondays become the favorite meal of the week.
Plant-based meat alternatives are the perfect way to enjoy food while being kind to yourself. Glenda’s Farmhouse is one convenient source for quality walnuts, one of the premier staples to keep in your vegetarian pantry.