Make your own vegan hack: our instructions

Minced meat is one of the most commonly used types of meat in Germany. And did you know that spaghetti Bolognese tops the list of our most popular dishes?

It's no wonder that we are looking for suitable minced meat substitutes in vegan cuisine - beyond its natural diversity.

It's not just about imitating taste. But rather to buy and create products ourselves that provide us with as many nutrients as possible. And in the best case scenario , sustainably protect our environment . A real win-win situation.

Below we present you the best ideas for plant-based minced meat substitutes - versatile, tasty and healthy. No matter whether you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet or simply want to experiment with substitutes - you will find suitable suggestions here.

Soy products are an important part of a plant-based diet. Whether as a minced version , granules or soy shreds - there are many ways to cook with this minced meat substitute . In addition, soy products are easy to obtain and offer a wide variety of brands.

The products can be used either directly or after soaking in water or broth. They are a good alternative to minced meat, especially when things need to be done quickly.

As with all other finished products, this also applies here. Pay attention to where the soy comes from.

In addition , the shorter the ingredients list, the better.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few people who have a soy intolerance or soy allergy. Fortunately, there are enough other variants to put together plant hacks yourself .

Legumes are an important part of plant-based cuisine. So it's no surprise that they have a say in minced meat substitutes . For example, you can find peas in many substitute products. We also use peas as a base in our products.

If you want to make your own plant hack , it's worth using lentils. They can be used raw or pre-cooked as a base. It depends on what you want to prepare with it. The raw version is sufficient for sauces or stews. Home-baked foods such as casseroles or lasagne can also be made with raw lentils.

Like meat, you simply fry them in the pan and then continue with the desired preparation. If, on the other hand, you want to process a plant-based " minced mixture ", use the pre-cooked version. In any case, it is important for the end result that the lentils are completely cooked through.

Lentils are one of the popular options for vegan Bolognese , but can also be used for numerous other dishes. The diversity also applies to the type of lens. Here you simply use what is available, for example plate lenses.

Another option from the legume group is beans. Kidney beans can be used, for example, to prepare vegan patties. Beans also have the advantage of being available practically everywhere.

Another “ best seller ” from the legume family is the lupine . If you want to eat vegan, you should have it on your menu. Because it can be used in a variety of ways - for example in the form of lupine meal .

It stands out among vegan protein sources because of its diversity. In addition to replacing meat, it also looks good as an alternative to dairy products such as yogurt.

As a grain product, oat flakes are a good and inexpensive ingredient, for example to bind a plant-based “ chopping mass ”. Other grain variants such as couscous, bulgur, buckwheat or green kernels are also suitable as a base or for mixing purely plant-based minced meat dishes .

If you want to make plant mince yourself , you can also mix grains with legumes such as beans. Leftover bread or rolls are stale, as with meatballs, and are also suitable for plant-based versions.

Simply soak something in water or plant drink and wring it out well. Then add a suitable egg substitute and you have good basic ingredients to make patties, among other things.

Rice plays a special role as a meat substitute. More precisely, the rice cakes made from it.

No longer an insider tip: chopped up, soaked and added with tomato paste and spices, it creates a delicious vegan meatball . This has a striking similarity to the original, not only visually but also in terms of taste.

Attention : Vegetable meat is only suitable for raw consumption and not for further processing into other plant-based “ minced dishes ”. Use other vegan alternatives.

If you want to make plant-based alternatives yourself, there is no way around vegetables. Varieties such as cauliflower or eggplant are not only suitable as meat substitutes.

Vegetables also provide a good basis if you want to avoid meat substitutes entirely. In this case, the amount of minced meat can often be replaced with an appropriate portion of vegetables.

Let's be honest - even with normal minced meat, only the right mix of spices ensures the right taste. Vegan alternatives also depend on the right seasoning.

When choosing, simply base your selection on the meat variants. Of course, tasty results can also be achieved with a little experimentation.

In addition to salt and pepper, the classic spices for normal and vegan minced meat include marjoram and all varieties of paprika. Cumin, chili powder, curry, allspice or mustard seeds are also often found in recipes. This is also a great way to make your own spice mixtures.