Veganism in India has picked up pace over the years, thanks to the encouragement from different brands and industries, including PETA and Veganuary, an annual movement that promotes veganism around the world.
Photo Courtesy: Veganuary
VeganuaryÂ
Veganuary is a non-profit organisation from the UK, established in 2014. Every January, the platform encourages people around the world to switch to a plant-based diet, by supporting vegan businesses and movements around the world.
Photo Courtesy: Veganuary
Through January, people all around the world are encouraged to switch to a cruelty-free, plant-based diet that they claim is not only good for their health but for the health of the environment as well.
Photo Courtesy: Veganuary
With the population of vegans rising through the years, many brands have come up with replacements for popular animal bi-products, including their meat diets, which gave rise to the production of mock meat.
A healthy alternativeÂ
The obvious translation of mock meat is that it is created to resemble the flavour, texture and consistency of meat. With this people can enjoy the flavour and texture of products similar to meat without hurting any animals.
Photo Courtesy: Pexels
Mock meat is usually made with common plant-based ingredients like soya, jackfruit, wheat gluten, rice flour, quinoa and lentils. The absence of fat and the low-calorie level in these ingredients make them a good source of protein and fibre.
Mock meat brands in IndiaÂ
Imagine Meats
Photo Courtesy: Imagine Meats
Bollywood couple Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh acted on their shared passion for animals by producing a meatless version of their favourite meals under the brand name Imagine Meats in September 2021. Each of Imagine Meats’ products are prepared with soy along with a combination of pea protein and vegetable fat which makes them authentic as a meat product, as claimed by the brand. The brand offers a wide array of products including mutton and chicken kheema, seek kebabs, biryanis burger patties, chicken nuggets, and hot dogs.
Urban Platter
Photo Courtesy: Urban Platter
India’s popular one-stop shop for all gourmet and culinary supplies, Urban Platter expanded its culinary base with the launch of their vegan plant-based burger patties. Made with soy protein, these frozen meatless burger patties are a great alternative with no meat and all the flavour. While these vegan burger patties are currently the only offering from Urban Platter, the brand does have plans to expand their meatless variants while also venturing into dairy alternatives as well.
Veggie Champ
Photo Courtesy: Veggie Champ
India’s first-ever mock meat brand launched in 2008, Veggie Champ takes pride in its collection of meat-like products that extend to seafood products as well. From salami and hot dogs to fish fillet and king prawns, Veggie Champ offers the best of chicken, mutton and fish alternatives made with ingredients like soya bean, wheat protein, vegetable fibre and seaweed.
Vezlay Foods
Photo Courtesy: Vezlay Foods
A Delhi-based brand, Vezlay offers delicious curations of ready-to-eat mock meat products. Both frozen meat varieties and non-frozen ones like pasta and noodles are available with them. The product range is \ vast and includes popular favourites like seekh kabab, shami kabab, soya chop, gluten-free soya noodles, shwarma, tikkas, sausages and more.
Wakao Foods
Photo Courtesy: Wakao Foods
A sustainable food brand based in Goa, Wakao Foods is one of India’s first brands to offer a range of naturally grown, plant-based products that are made from the superfood Jackfruit. With its unique meat-like texture, jackfruit is one of the best meat alternatives, mostly because it’s delicious and also full of fibre. Their current offerings include vegan burger patties, and three pre-pared variants BBQ, Teriyaki and Butter Jack, to make your own meatless menus.
