SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Meat Alternative Trends and Technology - May 2022 - 18

INGREDIENTS
gives the tomatoes a resemblance in taste and
texture to its fishy counterpart, minus the fishy
taste. "
She developed several flavorful salad toppers,
with some serving as a way to provide a
complete protein. The " parmesan " combines raw
Brazil nuts, raw cashews, raw hemp seeds with
nutritional yeast and a touch of salt and garlic
powder. The mixture should be pulverized into a
granular texture. Overprocessing will result in a
nut butter consistency.
Chickpea croutons are made by seasoning
then baking fully cooked garbanzo beans. She
includes nutritional yeast with the herbs and
spices. You won't find any protein in her vegan
" bacon " topper, but the liquid smoked-marinated
and seasoned baked coconut flakes deliver flavor
and crunch.
DON'T FORGET SOY
Tofu is one of the original complete vegan proteins,
and too often ignored by culinary
professionals. Tofu is made from soybeans,
which contains all nine essential
amino acids in the right ratio. Tempeh and
edamame, also forms of soybeans, are complete
proteins, too.
A favorite menu item from Chicago-based
Meez Meals, a meal kit delivery concept that
provides prepped and ready-to-cook ingredients
for healthy gourmet meals made at home, is
Himalayan red rice with Bangkok basil crunch.
The rice bowl starts with an Asian-inspired basil
crunch made from fresh basil, ginger, coconut
and ground peanuts. It gets mixed with the
cooked rice, baked organic tofu and roasted kale.
The Soyfoods Council, Des Moines, Iowa, and
The Iowa Restaurant Association, like to work
with Iowa chefs to create consumer-friendly
recipes using soy. Recently several chefs were
charged with creating an original salad dressing
featuring Mori-Nu Silken Soft Tofu as the base.
Produced by Morinaga Nutritional Foods Inc.,
Torrance, Calif., the tofu is intended to be used as
a low-fat, heart-healthy alternative to sour cream
or mayonnaise. It is a source of complete vegetable
protein to make dips, sauces and smoothies
and needs no refrigeration until opened.
" Tofu-based items are very trendy, " said Chef
Aaron Holt, a culinary consultant to Sysco Foods
Iowa in Ankeny and owner of Doolittle Farms in
Story City, Iowa. " Tofu is so versatile. The firmer
forms are great for searing or grilling as centerof-plate
proteins. "
18
2022 MEAT ALTERNATIVE TRENDS + TECHNOLOGY MEAT+POULTRY
Seeds and nuts are a
go-to ingredient for
many vegan recipes.
He created a green goddess-type dressing
with the soft tofu as a base. Lots of green ingredients
are central to this dressing, Holt said. He
blended the silken tofu with avocados, basil,
cilantro, roasted poblanos and charred green
onions. Some chili-infused honey adds sweet
heat, while apple cider vinegar gives it punch.
" You add some Dijon mustard for emulsification
and lemon for acidity, " Holt said. " The lemon
really brightens up the flavors. "
He used the dressing on mixed greens that
were served as part of a deconstructed avocado
toast platter. It included grilled toast points,
sliced avocado with everything bagel seasoning
(seeds are a source of complete plant protein),
sliced tomatoes, sliced radishes, pickled onions
and a whole grain blend of farro, quinoa and rice.
Linda Funk, executive director of The
Soyfoods Council, said tofu is a blank slate waiting
to be infused with flavor.
" These soy salad dressings demonstrate how
easy it is to incorporate plant protein into your
diet, " Funk said.
Morinaga is introducing tofu to appeal to
the growing number of consumers interested
in functional foods. The new Mori-Nu Plus
Fortified Tofu is an extra creamy, smooth tofu
with added nutrients, including an efficacious
amount of prebiotics and the company's proprietary
postbiotic.
" Our mission has always remained the same:
to facilitate an easy and delicious intake of nutrients
while promoting a wholly nutritious lifestyle
backed by evidence-based, scientific facts, " said
Satoshi Endo, president and chief executive officer.
" We are excited to introduce a new concept
of tofu, which can be adapted to everyday recipes
and is made for all healthy-living enthusiasts. "
Shelf-stable until opened, the company
invested in recipe development to fuel interest in
the nutrient dense soy product. One concept is
to cube drained tofu, coat and fry it, followed by
a slathering in Buffalo sauce. Another is to make
a custard for soaking bread for French toast.
Chef Tsadakeeyah Emmanuel, co-owner of
vegan restaurant Majani, operates three locations
in Chicago. He is a fan of tofu and appreciates
its versatility. His menu includes a boldly
spiced " crab " cake tofu patty with vegan tartar
sauce, and a jerk-infused tofu used in tacos, a
sandwich and his signature dish: smoky jerk
tofu, creamy mac and house-made soy cheese
with collard greens and cane sugar sweet potatoes.
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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: Meat Alternative Trends and Technology - May 2022

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