Plant-Based Ground Beef Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is plant-based ground beef made of? ›

It depends on the brand, but most plant-based meats are made from pea or soy protein, a type of fat, and some sort of binder, but they may also contain natural and artificial flavors to make the product taste more like meat.

Plant-based meat cooked to medium-rare (125 degrees) is mushy and pasty. On the flip side, cooking plant-based meat until well done (160 degrees) yields meat with an unpleasantly bouncy, chewy texture. We found medium doneness (130 to 135 degrees) to be the sweet spot for tender, juicy meat.

Umami is what gives savoury dishes that meaty, brothy taste – typically found as MSG. Some manufacturers will use what you might call an “umami bomb” to give plant-based applications the hearty, meaty taste consumers want from traditional meat.

Some plants also have heme; and in plants it is carried by the protein leghemoglobin, which is closely related to myoglobin (Impossible Foods, 2018). Using this heme protein in the burger patty, allows it to better mimic the taste of an animal meat burger.

Researchers at Impossible Foods discovered that by adding heme to their plant-based burgers, they could capture a lot of the aromas we associate with meat. They call it their "magic ingredient," and, combined with yeast extract, it does seem to do a pretty good job.

Plant-based meats can be a healthy part of a balanced diet if you enjoy them in the right way. Consuming plant-based meats in moderation along with fruits, veggies and other nutrient-dense foods can profoundly support your health.

New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.

The diet consists primarily of food made of plants: fruits and vegetables in addition to nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. A plant-based diet is not a vegetarian or vegan diet; you can eat poultry, beef, eggs, fish, and dairy products, however most of your nutrient intake is coming from plant-based food sources.

To make your own spice blend: Start with a base mixture of salt, pepper, brown sugar, onion, garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Other great flavoring agents for beef-alternative dishes are: Vegan Worcestershire sauce – Adds that signature umami flavor.

According to data from the Good Food Institute, plant-based meat is still two to four times as expensive as traditional meat. With inflation cutting into people's paychecks, paying double for a similar experience is not an ideal choice for omnivores.

What plant-based meat company does Bill Gates own? ›

One issue is that the still relatively new products are currently more expensive than real meats. That's why Gates and his foundation have financially backed plant-based and lab-grown meat startups such as Impossible, Beyond Meat and Upside Foods. He's also backed Neutral, a carbon-neutral food startup.

New research shows that although plant-based meat products are generally healthier than meat equivalents, they can be higher in sugar and are often lacking important nutrients found in real meat.

Interestingly, the plant based burgers may not be the best choice for people following a heart-healthy diet, as they are higher in saturated fat than turkey burgers and contain substantially more sodium than lean beef burgers.

As with any food, the healthiest options among plant-based meat alternatives are the ones you can eat in as close to their original, whole form as possible. For example, jackfruit flesh or a soy food like tofu undergoes significantly less processing than products like the Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger.