The primary ingredient in most plant-based mock meats is either wheat protein or soy.
The ‘non-veg’ in veg variations of mock meat is flying off shelves at gourmet stores.
When banking executive Sheela Buchal, 32, decided to give up meat, she started cooking her family favourite mutton biryani with soya nuggets instead. While it didn’t match up in taste to the meaty flavours, it was the only substitute that came close. This was three years ago. However, now, the Murugeshpalya resident is experimenting with the many varieties of meat alternatives that have flooded the market.
“I had not heard of mock meat until a food blogger friend mentioned it. She had bought some from New York — mock duck meat. The texture was so much better than the rather boring soya nuggets,” she said.
The primary ingredient in most plant-based mock meats is either wheat protein or soy. The wheat gluten seitan is among the most favoured. It is made by washing wheat flour dough with water until all the starch granules are removed, leaving the sticky insoluble gluten as an elastic mass, which is then cooked.
Almost unheard of in India till a few years ago, several variations of mock meat are now flying off the shelves at gourmet stores as people move towards “crueltyfree” food.
Diet Coach Aniruddha Shankar says mock meat is a good substitute and dismisses concerns about high sodium or gluten content.
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Premium food store chain Foodhall has witnessed a big jump in sales. “In the last one year, we have seen a growth of 20%, which indicates that customers are looking for alternatives and ingredients that provide the texture of meat. The increase could be due to a lifestyle change, change of diet or just awareness,” Foodhall CEO Jay Jhaveri said.
Home-grown mock meat brands are also slowly gaining foothold. Udapiur-based Good Dot, a clean meat startup, is one of the leading producers of plant-based meat alternatives, along with Veggie Champ, a mock meat brand owned by Delhi-based Ahimsa Foods. It has a wide range of mock meats like duck, salami, fish fillets, hotdogs, etc, on offer. Closer home, organic food retailer Namdhari’s Fresh also rolled out a vegan sausage in 2017. Good Dot says it sells more than 12,000 mock meat packets a day.
Restaurants, too, have jumped on the mock meat wagon. Chinese fine dine Cantan offers Udon Noodles with mock meat and a mock meat sesame toast. Dimsum house Yauatcha offers ‘vegetarian chicken’ options in its stir fries and mains.
Diet Coach Aniruddha Shankar says mock meat is a good substitute and dismisses concerns about high sodium or gluten content. “We have been consuming gluten for thousands of years. If a doctor tells you to particularly cut down on sodium intake or you have gluten allergy, then it makes sense to be sceptical about mock meat.”
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Fish, Nuts, Fennel: Foods That Act As Natural Skin Cleansers And Keep Acne Away
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Have acne trouble? A balanced diet along with a healthy lifestyle can help you curb it, say experts.
Preeti Seth, Cosmetologist, Pachouli Wellness Clinic, Delhi, and Prabhu Mishra, Senior Cosmetologist, SCI International Hospital (Delhi), tell what all one should eat to keep acne at bay.
Have acne trouble? A balanced diet along with a healthy lifestyle can help you curb it, say experts.
Preeti Seth, Cosmetologist, Pachouli Wellness Clinic, Delhi, and Prabhu Mishra, Senior Cosmetolog..
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Brown rice is a rich source of vitamin B, protein, magnesium, and several antioxidants. For acne, vitamin B acts as our skin's stress fighter, which will help regulate hormones levels and prevent the likelihood of breakouts.
Brown rice is a rich source of vitamin B, protein, magnesium, and several antioxidants. For acne, vitamin B acts as our skin's stress fighter, which will help regulate hormones levels and prevent th..
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Garlic is another super food that helps fight inflammation. Garlic is full of a naturally occurring chemical called allicin, which kills off many harmful bacteria and viruses your body might be fighting, so its proven to be good for reducing inflammation in acnes.
Garlic is another super food that helps fight inflammation. Garlic is full of a naturally occurring chemical called allicin, which kills off many harmful bacteria and viruses your body might be figh..
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It is the perfect skin clearing food. It contains health building properties like vitamins A, B complex, C, E, and K. These antioxidants fight radical damage which will assist with the luminosity of your skin.
It is the perfect skin clearing food. It contains health building properties like vitamins A, B complex, C, E, and K. These antioxidants fight radical damage which will assist with the luminosity of..
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Known to be a very good source of omega-3 and 6-fatty acids, fish is excellent for an acne prone skin. These acids reduce inflammation in the skin. Sardine and salmon are very good for skin.
Known to be a very good source of omega-3 and 6-fatty acids, fish is excellent for an acne prone skin. These acids reduce inflammation in the skin. Sardine and salmon are very good for skin.
Deficiencies in minerals such as zinc and selenium have been linked to acne. Most nuts contain selenium, vitamin E, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and iron, which are all essential for healthy skin.
Deficiencies in minerals such as zinc and selenium have been linked to acne. Most nuts contain selenium, vitamin E, copper, magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium and iron, which are all essential..
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If you are looking for the perfect natural skin cleanser, eat fennel. This licorice-tasting root vegetable can improve digestion, reduce swelling and help to flush out excess fluids and toxins in your skin.
If you are looking for the perfect natural skin cleanser, eat fennel. This licorice-tasting root vegetable can improve digestion, reduce swelling and help to flush out excess fluids and toxins in yo..
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Many studies show that green tea helps fight acne. Drink more green tea throughout the day, and try applying cooled tea bags or a cloth dipped in cooled green tea to acne-prone areas of your face for 10-15 minutes.
Many studies show that green tea helps fight acne. Drink more green tea throughout the day, and try applying cooled tea bags or a cloth dipped in cooled green tea to acne-prone areas of your face fo..
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The fruit and seed contain powerful natural chemicals and antioxidants that have been shown to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. On top of this, grapes can also help to control the side effects of allergic reactions on skin.
The fruit and seed contain powerful natural chemicals and antioxidants that have been shown to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. On top of this, grapes can also help t..
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It looks like grass, but these sprouts are packed with valuable, skin-clearing nutrients. Alfalfa sprouts contain live enzymes which help fight inflammation. (Image: Pinterest)
It looks like grass, but these sprouts are packed with valuable, skin-clearing nutrients. Alfalfa sprouts contain live enzymes which help fight inflammation. (Image: Pinterest)
If the idea of gluten or soy sounds unappetising, jackfruit, too, is emerging as a popular meat substitute with vegan stores selling fresh and dehydrated versions of it. Jackfruit quinoa biryani at Fab Cafe is a hot seller, says brand head Rebekah Blank. “Jackfruit is probably the healthiest meat substitute. Our biryani is popular among non-vegetarians trying to eat healthy. The best part is it’s a fresh local produce that is abundantly available.”
