Soya - the alternative to meat

For those wondering how to make non-veg dishes to veg and still have the texture and taste of meat, you can use soya, in the form of cubes or in granules. The cubes can be used in place of meatballs (although they'll be half the size so adjust accordingly) and the granules in place of mincemeat.

How does it taste? It tastes slightly nutty, and feels chewy like meat. Personally, I think this the best alternative to meat that will appeal to both carnivores and vegetarians alike without either turning green. It's also pretty cheap - a 200gm (7.6oz) box can make up to 4kgs worth of meatballs and set you back about AED5(USD2). Plus it's rich in natural proteins, vitamins and minerals, low in fat and cholesterol and low in sodium (without the added salt you use in the prep).

To prep them before use in any dish, you first take the amount you need and soak them in warm, salted water for about 20-25 minutes. If you want to cut down on salt, or use it for a sweet dish, omit the salt. The soya will double in size, so keep that in mind when finding the right size bowl for soaking.

Once soaked, drain and squeeze the water out. You will see a whitish foam escape, with a slightly nutty-boxy smell. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze again. This time there should be a reduced or no boxy-smell, and the water coming out will be clearer. Once this is done, you can either pop the soya straight into your dish or lightly saute it with a little oil until browned before adding to the dish. I personally prefer frying it as it further reduces the boxy-nutty smell and tastes better.

I think this is so much better than 'meatless' meats you find in the USA, unless they are just unprocessed and unflavored slabs of tofu. The reason why I say this is because most vegetarians I've come across were born into it and have never had any meat. Eating something flavored and textured to feel like meat becomes too gross and alien to them. For those who turned vegetarian, it may taste fine, but I think becoming a vegetarian only to eat food that tastes and looks like meat defeats the purpose. Not to mention all those chemicals and preservatives.

The cubes and granules mentioned above are available in the UAE under the Datar food range in most supermarkets. As for other countries, I'd advise you to do a Google search to see where it will be available, although chances are you might find them in the Asian/Indian section of a supermarket, or at specialty Indian stores.