Vegetarian Meat

As a proud vegetarian for the past 10 years, its safe to say that the first question I get is always, 'What can  you eat?!'. Well, everyone, the answer is plenty. You just need to know what to get. If you're thinking about being a vegetarian  or have been one forever, below you will find a simple guide to the different replacements and substitutes that have come out, like tofu and tempeh. Seriously, being a vegetarian is the best thing that I could have done for myself and I encourage everyone out there to try it, too. Do it!

Meat Substitutes

Tofu

Tofu,  found often in Asian cuisine, is probably the most common type of vegetarian food. While it does taste great in Asian-inspired dishes, tofu can literally taste and be shaped like anything if you know how to handle it, so don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors and textures. Tofu can also be enjoyed by meat-eaters, so why not make a tofu dinner for your entire family tonight? There are two types of tofu that you can buy at any normal supermarket--water packed tofu and silken tofu. Water packed is the type that is for when you want the tofu to hold its shape, like for grilling and baking. Silken tofu is more for puree purposes and isn't good and staying a certain shape. To cook with the water-packed kind, you must first drain it out a little bit. Then it is ready to take on any sauces or marinades that you have prepared. Silken tofu is great for adding into desserts or smoothies or anything else that your vegetarian heart desires.

Tempeh

Tempeh  is made from whole soybeans as opposed to tofu which is made of soybean milk. This causes the tempeh to have a thicker and denser texture. Therefore, many suggest marinating or braising the tempeh in some sort of liquid before cooking in order to make it softer and give it a less intense flavor. Tempeh can also be used in a variety of ways and in many different types of cuisine. Here is a recipe from VegCoo for basic braised tempeh.

Seitan

Seitan  is formed from wheat gluten and is also a great source of protein for vegans and vegetarians. You can even make seitan at home if you're up for it. Here is another recipe from VegCooking.

Soy Protein

Aside from those three types of substitutes, there are many brands that offer fake meats made ouf of soy protein. These products are deisgned to actually taste like the meat that they emmulate, making it a great choice when you are maybe craving meat but you don't want to sacrifice your vegetarianism. There are tons of products to choose from and they can all be found in your local supermarket.

Top Manufacturers

• Boca Burger 
• Morningstar Farms 
• Gardenburger 

External Links

• VegCooking-This website is a great resource provided by PETA. They list many different recipes and ideas to make the most out of meatless cooking and living.
• The Vegetarian Times is a magazine catered directly to those who choose to live their lives as vegetarians.
• Wikipedia-The complete wikipedia article covering all things related to vegetarianism.