What is the best replacement for meat?

Find out right here. We’re rounding up the best alternatives for the different meat to eat if you’re following an animal-free diet...

The best vegan alternative to chicken

Chickpeas

Chickpeas have a light, neutral taste that make them versatile and great for absorbing and taking on the flavours of spices, herbs and marinades - just like chicken. As a legume, they are also a great source of protein and fibre.

Whole chickpeas can be used directly instead of chicken in dishes like curry or stew, chopped up to mimic shredded chicken, or mashed up and shaped into patties like chicken breasts.

Seitan

A wheat-based meat-substitute that’s high in protein, seitan is sometimes known as “wheat meat” thanks to its similarity in texture and flavour to white meat.

Slightly chewy and neutral to the point of bland, seitan is best when seasoned, battered, breaded, or cooked with other ingredients - much like chicken breast.

Allergy alert!

Seitan, being derived from the Cereal containing Gluten wheat, is among the 14 major food allergens.

Oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms have both a neutral taste and spongy, chewy texture that makes them a good alternative to the meat on a chicken that’s near the bone. So coated, battered and fried oyster mushrooms are the ideal plant-based alternative to chicken wings.

Best vegan alternative to beef

Legumes

Protein-rich legume foods like chickpeas and lentils can be mashed or chopped to imitate minced or ground beef.

Like beef, they are hearty and meaty, but able to take on the flavour of spices, herbs or gravy in dishes like stew, spaghetti bolognese, chilli and Shepherd’s pie.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower steaks are made by slicing a whole cauliflower into thick pieces the size of a ribeye or fillet, and then grilling, roasting or even frying them. These steaks have a crisp, caramelised exterior and meaty centre similar to that of beef steak, and are often served alongside chips, salad or baked potatoes as a steak would be.

Portobello mushrooms

Meaty, rich portobello mushrooms, either grilled whole or chopped and mixed with breadcrumbs to form patties, make for one of the most popular plant-based burgers.

Black beans

A hearty, almost beefy legume, black beans can be used in chilli or stew in place of mince or stewing steak, or ground up and mixed with other ingredients such as breadcrumbs and minced onion to create meat-like patties for vegan burgers.

Green spelt

Green spelt is a cereal, a type of wheat spelt grain harvested before it has reached maturity. Semolina made from green spelt that has been roasted and dried can be used to make meat-like patties or balls.

Allergen alert! Spelt is a Cereal containing Gluten, and therefore one of the 14 major food allergens.

Best vegan alternative to pork

Jackfruit

The most common vegan substitute for pulled pork is jackfruit. A type of fruit from the jack tree, which is in the same family as fig and mulberry trees, when cooked and consumed before it is quite ripe it has a stringy texture similar to that of shredded meat, and a neutral flavour.

Because of this, jackfruit is frequently marinated in spices or barbeque sauce, and can even be purchased pre-prepared in this way. Jackfruit is not as high in protein as meat, but it does contain fewer calories.

Tempeh

The fermented Indonesian food tempeh - made from fermented soybeans - is a versatile alternative to pork.

Slightly darker and meatier than tofu, tempeh has a similarly firm texture and can be fried, grilled or roasted to resemble and imitate light meat. This makes it a great substitute for pork in dishes such as stir fry, tacos and even pies.

Allergen alert!

Tempeh is made from soybeans. Soya is one of the 14 major food allergens.

Seitan

Seitan, the “wheat meat” is the best stand-in for pork chops or roasted pork, as it is high in protein, shares a slightly firm but chewy texture and is sold in cutlets or chunks suitable for roasting or pan frying. Like pork, seitan can taste a little bland if not properly seasoned, and takes on the flavours of the foods it is being cooked with.

Allergen alert! Seitan is made with wheat, a Cereal containing Gluten, one of the 14 major food allergens.

Pea protein

Celebrated for its high protein content, pea protein is fast becoming a popular ingredient in plant-based meat alternatives, particularly sausages. The consistency of pea protein means it blends well with the other sausage ingredients such as breadcrumbs, onions and herbs, giving the sausage an authentically smooth texture.

Best vegan alternative to fish

Banana blossom

The best fish substitute for fried, fish and chip shop style fish is banana blossom. Popular in Southeast Asian cooking, banana blossom is the meaty flower that grows at the end of a banana fruit cluster and is also known as “banana heart”. Banana blossom can be eaten raw or cooked, and the latter has a flaky texture that pairs perfectly with batter to replicate fried fish.

Tofu with nori

Tofu, made from soya, is one of the most widely used plant-based alternatives for meat - owing to its extremely neutral flavour and versatility. Cooked with nori (dried seaweed) it can take on a salty and sea-like taste.

Allergen alert! Tofu is made with Soya, one of the 14 major food allergens.

Carrots

Sliced carrots, prepared in a specific way, can be used as an alternative to smoked salmon. The carrots should be roasted with salt before being cut into ribbons and marinated in a mixture of olive oil, rice vinegar, lemon juices and spices like paprika. Between the orange colour and tangy flavour, this creates a pretty good imitation of smoked salmon.

Hearts of palm

Harvested from the inner core and growing bud of a coconut tree (or some other types of palm tree), hearts of palm are a vegetable used to make imitation crab meat.

They have a juicy texture and mild flavour and can be chopped and shaped to look like shellfish.

Best vegan alternative to ham

Watermelon

Watermelon is a surprisingly effective substitute for ham. Most recipes involve dry-brining the watermelon with spices such as paprika, garlic salt and chilli powder before smoking it and glazing with ingredients such as honey and mustard - basically treating it as a glazed ham.

The result replicates the sweet and salty flavour and pink flesh of a glazed ham.

Koji

Many plant-based Manufacturers are choosing to create imitation ham with koji, a mushroom root-like food (made by inoculating rice or soya with a fermentation culture) whose fibres are similar to those you would find in meats from animal muscle, such as ham.

Koji is of Japanese origin and also found in foods such as miso and soy sauce.

Allergen alert! Some koji is made with Soya, one of the 14 major food allergens.

Best vegan alternative to venison

Tempeh

Because it is a little heavier and earthier than other plant-based, meat-like proteins like tofu and seitan, tempeh is the best alternative to venison, which is heavier and earthier than other meats.

Allergen alert!

Tempeh is made from soybeans. Soya is one of the 14 major food allergens.