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14 Vegan Brands That Are Revolutionizing Food

January 16, 2023 By Guest Author Mohan Raj (swagswami.com) and Edit by Dishan Mendis Leave a Comment

Vegan Plant-based Brands


Ahoy there fellow vegans! 

We know that veganism is not just another fad, but a philosophy and a way of living that have been in existence for many years grounded on ethics and we believe it is the future. 

It’s apparent that the wider world has started to recognize this undeniable fact. Furthermore, the notion that veganism is a sacrifice that animal lovers make is also fast losing credibility. 

It is becoming increasingly clear with research into climate change and global warming that veganism is one of the most sustainable choices moving forward.

When you see traditional dairy-based brands like Baskin Robbins start rolling out vegan options, you know for sure that veganism has gone mainstream.

In addition, we are also seeing a significant amount of venture capital investments into vegan brands that are emerging across the United States and the world. 

Let us now dive into this neat list of great plant-based vegan brands that are revolutionizing food as we know it.

Vegan Meat Brands


Livestock (except birds) account for 62% of the mammal biomass on planet Earth. Add another 34% of the human population and you only have a meager 4% of wild mammals [1]. 

To give you another perspective, each year approximately 80 billion land animals are slaughtered [2]. These staggering statistics drive home the scale of the global meat and dairy industry. The sad fact is that these billions of farm animals are raised solely for the purpose of slaughter. 

Thankfully the following vegan meat brands are making significant dents into this inhumane industry.

Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat’s line of meat-free plant-based sausages, ground beef and even steak have been a massive hit over the last few years. 

Beyond Meat

Their bloody Beyond Burger gained massive praise and they’ve followed it up with an even more awesome vegan product through their Beyond Steak line. Do follow their Instagram page for regular updates about their amazing new products!

MorningStar Farms

MorningStar Farms from Kellogg’s was originally vegetarian but thanks to the efforts of PETA, MorningStar Farms has successfully converted all their products to be 100% vegan!

MorningStar Farms

Their line of bacon and sausages are certain things to excite any vegan. The bacon strips are easy to cook and make for a wonderfully traditional American breakfast!

Tofurky

Tofurky

Thanksgiving dinners are often a vegan’s nightmare because tradition dictates that a poor turkey be slaughtered for our celebration. However, thanks to Tofurky’s 100% vegan turkey alternative, we can celebrate the holidays without harming any of these innocent birds. Isn’t that the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving?

BOCA

BOCA

BOCA offers great vegan fast foods, including a vegan All-American Burger and Chik’n nuggets. 

For more vegan plant-based meat substitutes click here

Dairy-free Vegan Milk Brands


Dairy milk is not only derived from an abusive industry, but there doesn’t seem to be a necessity for human consumption. It is estimated that nearly 65% of the world’s population is lactose intolerant [3]. 

Non-dairy vegan milk brands continue to develop flavourful & economical products each day, appealing to the masses while increasing its market share.

Let us now take a look at a few wonderful vegan plant-based milk brands.

Ripple Foods

Ripple Foods

Ripple’s line of dairy-free milk is derived from nuts and peas, thus providing a healthy source of proteins for everyone. In addition to regular flavors, they even have milk for kids with enriched nutrients for growth.

Notco

Notco

Notco is a Chilean company that is reinventing our favorite foods. Their Not Milk vegan milk is made from a combination of peas, pineapple, and surprisingly, cabbage! 

You would expect a weird taste from this combination of ingredients, but boy are you in for a delicious surprise when you sip this wonderful concoction. A must-have in any kitchen!

Edensoy

Edensoy

Edensoy from Eden Foods is a line of soymilk that is perfect for daily use and consumption. The unsweetened Edensoy milk is a great option for baking cakes and cookies, while their fortified soymilk is excellent for kids to help with their growth.

For more vegan plant-based milk click here

Non-dairy Vegan Cheese Brands


Cheese is one of the most common ingredients in American cuisine. A great dairy-free alternative is thus a wonderful innovation that disrupts this traditionally dairy-based industry.

Vevan

Vevan

Vevan’s cheese shreds are ready to cook and insanely delicious. The best part about Vevan’s vegan cheese is the melt quality. After all, melting gooey cheese is one of those things that make any pizza or burger irresistible.

Don’t forget to try their P’jack-Shred! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

Violife

Violife

Violife’s line of cheese slices, shreds, and cream cheese are the perfect alternatives to any cheese cravings and recipe requirements that you may have in your kitchen. In addition, their ‘Just like Parmesan’ is enriched with vitamin B12, a vital necessity for all vegans.

For more vegan plant-based cheese click here

Vegan Ice Cream Brands


Yes, vegan ice creams are finally here and they are absolutely fabulous. Made from a variety of plant milk, these brands are giving the world their favorite treats cruelty-free.

JD’s Vegan

JD’s Vegan

Jermain Dupri, the rapper has come out with his own line of amazing JD’s Vegan ice cream that is taking the country by storm. With all the favorite American flavors including key lemon pie, JD’s is a treat for the soul!

Oatly

Oatly

Oatly is a vegan milk brand and their line of oat milk-based ice creams are well made and tasty. They come in 7 creamy flavors including, you guessed it, oat!

O’My Gelato

O’My Gelato

O’My Gelato is a vegan gelato brand that delivers across the US and Australia. Their line includes the incredibly innovative cake batter flavor which is a must-try. Oh, and it’s a women-owned brand too!

For more vegan plant-based ice cream brands click here

Vegan Egg Brands


Scrambled eggs and omelets have become a staple of any breakfast the world over. Eggs are also a key ingredient in baking which makes vegan eggs a godsend for us vegans and everyone in general.

Let us take a look at the vegan egg brands that are revolutionizing this industry.

Just Egg

Just Egg

Just Egg is a super innovative product that is the result of years of food research and development. Their egg replacer is ready to use for any menu. Just use it as you would use any egg and you are all set!

Vegg

Vegg

Vegg is another super innovative company that has come up with the world’s first vegan egg yolk. It looks and tastes just like egg yolk which would be a pleasant surprise for many.

They also have other vegan egg alternatives including vegan egg scramble, cake mix, and baking mix.

Well, that brings us to the end of this list of wonderful vegan brands that are revolutionizing the food industry. 

If you are someone pondering about turning vegan, check out these 6 convincing reasons why you must go vegan. For friends from India do check out my comprehensive Indian vegan brands guide. 

What did you think? Any wonderful vegan brands that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!


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References:

[1] https://ourworldindata.org/wild-mammals-birds-biomass

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_slaughter#cite_note-FAOSTAT-1 

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532285/

Image credit: “Beyond Meat – Beyond Plant-Based Vegan Sausage” by Tony Webster (licensed under CC BY 2.0).

Filed Under: Diet, Vegan Cheese, Vegan Eggs, Vegan Ice Cream, Vegan Meat, Vegan Milk, Vegan Substitutes Tagged With: vegan brands, vegan cheese, Vegan Eggs, vegan ice cream, vegan meat, vegan milk

Steak is Weak, Not Your Vegan Meat – Vegan Meat Substitutes!

June 16, 2017 By Dishan Mendis and Cat Robinson Leave a Comment

Vegan Meat Substitutes

Many of our non-vegan friends may think they just can’t go vegan because of their long-standing appetite for meat.

The good news is, it shouldn’t be the case, anymore. All those non-vegans who are finding it difficult to give up on meat and the vegans who occasionally crave for something meaty, there are many vegan meat substitutes now one can turn to!

What is Vegan Meat?


Vegan meat can be considered as a sub-group of meat analog, also known as faux meat, imitation meat, and mock meat. These vegan meat substitutes are becoming more readily available every day, and there are plenty of whole food vegan foods as well which can surprisingly be turned into meaty dishes!

These vegan meat options can really simulate the real thing in appearance and texture while fooling even the most avid meat eaters in terms of taste. They can be soy-based (e.g. tofu, tempeh, TVP, etc.), wheat gluten based (e.g. seitan), whole foods (e.g. lentils, peas, cauliflower, nuts) and gluten-free (e.g. mushrooms, jackfruit).

While there are dozens of brands available as vegan meat substitutes in the market, in this post, we’re going to look at many whole food options as well, considering the health-conscious vegan.

Best Vegan Meat Substitutes


1. Mushrooms

Best vegan meat substitutes, imitation meat, vegan meat alternatives, vegan meat replacement, meat analogue for vegans and vegetarians - sauteed mushrooms
Sauteed Mushroom / By Hungry Dudes via Flickr

Mushrooms have a meaty secret! They stimulate the umami taste buds in our mouths, which have a particularly savory flavor very reminiscent of meat dishes. With their rich, savory, meaty taste, they’re ideal for use as a meat substitute.

Cremini, Portobello and button mushrooms are ideal as vegan meat alternatives in virtually any recipe. As an added bonus, mushrooms which have been pre-exposed to sunlight or commercially to UV light are also an excellent source of vitamin D!

2. Jackfruit

Baby Jackfruit Curry - best vegan meat substitutes, imitation meat, vegan meat alternatives, vegan meat replacement, meat analogue

This versatile strange tropical fruit is one of those foods you just have to taste to believe.

While as healthy as any other fruit, its unusual texture and taste make it an excellent blank canvas that can be used to create a surprisingly realistic meat substitute!

Because it can be flavored with whatever spices and taste panels you like, it can be used to create dishes reminiscent of barbecue sandwiches, stir-fries, beef, chicken, or pork dishes.

It can even be roasted in the oven on a baking sheet for fifteen minutes to give a ‘chewier’ meat-like texture. If you enjoy experimenting in the kitchen and like the idea of recreating some of your favorite old meat dishes, it’s definitely worth giving it a go with some jackfruit!

3. Eggplant

Grilled Eggplant - Best vegan meat substitutes

If you thought parmigiana was all you could do with eggplant, think again. The slightly spongy texture of eggplants, aubergines, or brinjals (whatever you wish to call them!) means that you can incorporate almost any flavor which takes your fancy.

Whether it’s a rich, tomato-laden vegan moussaka, deliciously simple stuffed eggplant or mushroom and pesto pizza–eggplant is one versatile vegan meat substitute!

Add to this the fact they are a source of fiber, B vitamins, and trace elements like copper, manganese, and potassium, incorporating them into your meals becomes a no-brainer!

4. Tofu, A Popular Vegan Meat Alternative (Opt For Non-GMO Brands)

Tofu

Tofu is another versatile and tasty substitute for dishes which would normally include pork, chicken, beef, and seafood. Because it is produced from soybeans, it is also a good source of protein and calcium.

Like many vegan meat replacements, it has a great capacity for absorbing flavors from spices and marinades, which can be liberally applied prior to cooking.

If you want to create a crispy texture, in a stir-fry, for example, press your tofu to get as much of the water out as possible. Start with extra-firm tofu, and take your stress out on it by pressing it! You can freeze tofu and press it later.

Getting as much of the water out of the spongy curd as possible means your strips won’t fall apart during the cooking process, spatters are less likely, and you’ll end up with crispy, well-browned strips!

You can use tofu in so many dishes, from tofu burgers, tofu noodle salad, to vegan fajitas or tofu scramble!

5. Tempeh (buy Non-GMO brands)

Indonesian Fried Tempeh - meat analogue

Like tofu, tempeh is made from soybeans but it is fermented and has a firmer, more grainy texture with a slightly nutty flavor. Like its close cousin, it’s a great source of protein, fiber, calcium, and vitamins, but doesn’t require pressing before cooking, which saves time in the kitchen!

Tempeh can be sliced, diced, or even ground in a food processor for use in a range of recipes. It’s particularly useful in emulating the slightly flaky texture of certain fish dishes and seafood recipes.

When processed, it becomes the perfect substitute for ground beef as well in a host of dishes such as chilies, with pasta dishes, burritos and as imitation Bolognese sauce.

Use tempeh for recipes like tempeh tacos, sweet and sour tempeh, vegan Sloppy Joes, and delicious Thai green curries!

6. Seitan, a Versatile Vegan Meat Replacement!

Seitan Steak with Peas - Best vegan meat substitutes for vegans and vegetarians

If you don’t suffer from gluten intolerance, then seitan (sometimes called wheat meat, gluten meat) can give you one of the most meat-like textures of the meat substitutes. Seitan meat is essentially processed wheat gluten, which makes it a great source of plant protein.

It can be flavored to resemble pork, chicken, beef, turkey, etc. depending on your requirements. Its dense, chewy texture makes it ideal for grilling, braising or frying because it holds together extremely well, lending itself to almost any recipe in which you want to replace meat. You can even try making your own!

It’s great for use in wraps, vegetable dumplings, chilies, kebabs, tacos, or as a tasty addition to fried rice.

7. TVP – Textured Vegetable Protein

Textured Soy Protein (TVP) - Best vegan meat substitutes for vegans and vegetarians
Textured Soy Protein / By Alex via Wikimedia Commons

TVP (sometimes known as TSP (textured soy protein), soy meat, and soya chunks) forms the basis for many of the ready-made veggie burgers and sausages you’ll find at the store, and it’s perfect for use as an occasional treat! As an added bonus, it’s easy to use and inexpensive too.

Essentially, TVP is dehydrated soy, which rehydrates and plumps up with cooking. It usually comes in chunks or small granules, which have a host of uses.

Ideal as a replacement for ground beef, and so can be used in pasta dishes, burgers, cutlets, and meatloaves.

8. Natto

Natto With Rice - Best vegan meat substitutes, imitation meat, vegan meat alternatives, vegan meat replacement, meat analogue for vegans and vegetarians
Natto With Rice / By Shades0404 [CC BY 2.5] via Wikimedia Commons
While natto may be a popular Japanese breakfast staple, its flavor tends to associate a love-hate relationship with people!

Derived from fermented soybeans, natto has a stringy texture and a characteristic ‘cheesy’ pungent smell that can be an acquired appetite for some.

Its texture resembles sticky, stringy beans, but don’t let its looks fool you—natto packs one big nutritional punch!

If you can look past its appearance, it’s an excellent source of calcium (providing 9% more calcium than cow’s milk per serving, at 38% of your RDA), while simultaneously being a good source of protein, fiber, vitamin K2 (which is also good for the bones and heart), iron, potassium, zinc, phosphorous, copper, magnesium, selenium and manganese to boot!

Best of all, it can be eaten raw or cooked, so is good to have on hand when you need a quick, healthy meal. Use it in maki rolls, but it’s just as useful with crepes, curries, rice, pasta, dumplings, stir-fries, burgers and soups.

9. Lentils

Vegan Lentil Burgers - Best vegan meat substitutes, imitation meat, vegan meat alternatives, vegan meat replacement, meat analogue

The hardworking and versatile lentil has been a vegan staple and a vegan meat alternative since the very beginning of the vegan movement. They are an excellent replacement for ground beef, and come in a variety of colors, including green, red, brown and black, all with slightly different textures.

They are incredibly inexpensive, cook easily, quickly, and because they swell up slightly with cooking, a little bit goes a long way.

Use wherever you want to replace ground beef or mince in pasta dishes like lasagna or spaghetti Bolognese, for rice and curry, in shepherd’s pie with mashed potatoes, soups, and salads.

10. Legumes, Beans, and Peas

Black-eyed peas grilled Flour Tortilla - Best vegan meat substitutes, imitation meat, vegan meat alternatives, vegan meat replacement, meat analogue for vegans and vegetarians
Black-eyed peas grilled Flour tortilla (burrito) / By Hungry Dudes via Flickr

Isn’t it wonderful that some of the best protein sources in the supermarket are also the cheapest? The hearty beans and peas come in an almost endless variety like black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, Adzuki beans, navy beans, chickpeas, split peas, and black-eyed peas, to name a few.

Use these protein powerhouses to make healthy soups, stews, and chilies that deliver a meaty flavor in vegan style.

From quick and easy Mexican beans and rice, breakfast burritos, bean dips, Tuscan white bean soup, winter bean salads to stews in the slow cooker, no health conscious vegan should be without legumes in the kitchen!

11. Potatoes

Baked Potatoes with Garlic Sauce

The immense range of potato dishes available to vegans and its role as a vegan meat substitute show their variety in the kitchen! Whether you like them mashed, baked, fried, boiled or roasted, your imagination really is the limit when it comes to these amazing tubers.

Try them in baked potato soup for a winter treat, fresh potato salad for summertime, baked into hearty casseroles and stews, combined with flour to make your own Indian potato roti.

You can also bake it into healthy no oil chips, have it mashed with roasted garlic served with your favorite topping, or as the usual French fries!

12. Cauliflower

Cauliflower Buffalo Wings

Now when you think meaty, cauliflower might not be the first food that comes to mind, but hold your horses!

With its willingness to soak up flavors and brown to a delicious golden crispiness, cauliflower actually makes an excellent replacement for chicken in many dishes, and can easily become the star at the dinner table.

From Cauliflower Buffalo Wings to Asian Cauliflower Manchurian, you can slice cauliflower in any way you want including to create an impressive cauliflower piccata.

Further, try cauliflower in potato bakes, as an awesome and different pizza base, spiced and served with chickpeas, as a vegan meat alternative in pasta dishes like Alfredo or Chicken à la King, roasted whole or in chunks with some nutritional yeast, and of course in creamy cauliflower soups.

13. Nuts

Cashew Nut Pakora (Fried)

Nuts are often used in veggie burgers to add that little bit of extra meatiness and make wonderfully rich and rewarding ‘meat’ loaves, which make them an appetizing vegan meat substitute.

They’re absolutely packed with NUTrients, (yes, you can’t talk nutrition without going nuts) and are an especially valuable source of protein, calcium, vitamins like vitamin E & B, healthy fats, as well as some of the minerals like selenium and magnesium.

Though nuts are a frequent ingredient of some mouth-watering baked goods like cakes, and cookies, they are used as meat substitutes in pine nut pesto pasta, cashew and brazil nut veggie burgers, lentil and walnut loaf, walnut ‘meat’ balls, and stuffed mushrooms to name a few.

Vegan Meat Substitutes


Having all these super tasty vegan meat substitutes at your disposal, you really don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on anything!

With some experience, it’s possible to replace the meat component in all your favorite dishes and come across with new and various vegan meat taste sensations along the way.

Best of all, you get to enjoy all these meaty flavors with no harm to animals!

Related Posts:

Vegan Meat Brands Review to Substitute Beef, Pork, Chicken, etc. — 40 Plus Products!

Filed Under: Diet, Vegan Meat Tagged With: vegan meat

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