Gone are the days when going meat-free means settling for a sad bowl of shrivelled greens. Now, most restaurants and cafes in Singapore offer amazing vegan creations using plant-based meat alternatives. And no, we’re not just talking about Impossible burgers. Through the innovation of food tech startups, the vegan scene is thriving with new and amazing non-meat products. Read on for the best brands and where to find them.
Best plant-based meat alternatives in Singapore
1. Beyond Meat
Having been around the vegan block for almost a decade, Beyond Meat offers quite a range of plant-based meats. From beef patties and Italian sausages to meatballs and ground beef, you can easily veganise your favourite meat dish. Oh, and did we mention its products are free from gluten and soy? A mean feat since those two ingredients are common in vegan items.
Beyond Meat, available at multiple restaurants including Porta and Wolf Burgers, and at most supermarkets
2. Heura Foods
Heura has entered the fray stealthily with its vegan chicken strips. We say this soy-based chicken is close to the real thing. How else can it appear in local and Asian dishes without diners batting an eye? You’ll find it in versions of chicken rice, tandoori chicken, Thai chicken basil and even laksa. Now, that’s saying something.
Heura Foods, available online and at multiple restaurants including Green Common and Mezza9
3. Impossible Foods
When the OG plant-based meat Impossible Foods arrived on our sunny shores in 2019, it quickly changed the local vegan dining scene with its beef-like flavour and texture. Two years on, it has gone on to appear not only in burgers but also dishes like pizza, pasta and even curry puffs. Now that this plant-based meat is available in supermarkets, you can whip your very own Impossible dish at home.
Impossible Foods, available at multiple restaurants including Bread Street Kitchen and Fatburger, and at most supermarkets
4. Quorn
This UK meat alternative brand knows what’s up when it comes to meatless products. Using mycoprotein to imitate the flavours of meat, we have to say the Quorn nuggets taste almost or even better than those from a certain fast-food restaurant. Yes, we’re fully aware they aren’t 100% vegan but we’re willing to make an exception for the taste. If you’re a purist at heart, there are other great options like fishless fingers, vegan fillets and spicy burger patties.
Quorn, available at most supermarkets including Cold Storage and FairPrice
5. Tindle
Chicken made from plants? You best believe it’s true! This local plant-based meat brand is made up of only nine ingredients, including coconut fat, water, soy and sunflower oil. Plus, it’s free from all the nasties (read: GMOs, antibiotics and hormones) and packs a whopping 19g of protein per 100g. Sink your teeth into creations like chicken strudel at The Market Grill, katsu curry at Prive and chicken manakish at Levant.
Tindle, available at multiple restaurants including Prive, Three Buns and Empress
6. Karana
We’ve covered beef and chicken, so what’s next? Pork, of course. For its debut, Karana uses sustainably sourced jackfruit (from a small Sri Lankan farm, if you must know) to create a delish pork alternative. We tried the plant-based pot sticker variation from Butcher Boy and we’re sold. Meanwhile, Open Farm Community uses the plant-based meat to recreate shredded pork and stuff it in a bread roll. For more Karana goodness, try variations in restaurants such as Candlenut and Morsels.
Karana, available at multiple restaurants including Atout and Grain Traders
7. OmniMeat
Launched by social venture group Green Monday, OmniMeat is the answer to creating meat-free versions of popular Asian dishes. It might look like minced pork but it’s actually made up of ingredients like rice, peas, shiitake mushrooms and soy. Other popular hits have to be the vegan luncheon meat and meat strips. Once you try the former, you’ll never look back at the real thing.
OmniMeat, available online and at Green Common
Bonus: Next Meats
The future of plant-based meat is looking mighty bright. Say hello to the world’s first plant-based yakiniku meat. Mostly made of soy, the Japanese alternative meat has twice the amount of protein and half the fat of regular meat. Next Meats has joined hands with Japanese grill chain Aburi-en to present its vegan boneless short rib, Next Kalbi, in two dishes. You can have yours in a donburi bowl or stir-fried with cabbage and eggs.
Next Meats, available at all Aburi-en outlets till July 2021
Now, are you ready to go on a vegan adventure with these plant-based meats in Singapore?
The post Enter the no meat zone: Where to get amazing plant-based alternatives in Singapore appeared first on Honeycombers Singapore.