Lhe consistency is very similar to that of meat, the taste, to be honest, much less. But overall Plantedthe vegetable meat based on pea flour, it is a good substitute for animal proteins, however vegans and vegetariansbut also for the increasing number of “flexitarians”Which reduce the use of meat in the diet, increasing the use of vegetable proteins.
Born in Zurich in 2019, Planted has just arrived in Italy, and you can taste it in restaurants such as Linfa Milan or fast food like Kebhouze, but also to order online (soon it will also be sold in some supermarkets). This type of food it halves the consumption of water and arable land, with -74% CO2 emissions. “From 20 kg of wheat, 1 kg of meat is produced in 35 days, we produce 1 kg in 4 hours, 10 tons of product every day – he explains Massimiliano Nogheredosales manager Italy – we have a counter that reports how many animals are saved: in 2021 we “saved” almost 500,000 chickens and 7,500 pigs ».
This vegetable meat is made with pea protein and fiber, water, rapeseed oil and vitamin B12 for the “nature” versions, to which are added marinades and natural spices such as planted.chicken Herbs & Lemon or the planted.pulled BBQ. For those who have doubts about rapeseed oil, the company assures: «The rapeseed oil is zero km because the production is in Switzerland and we want to maintain sustainability also at the territorial level. It also has nothing less than other fats: Planted vegetable meat has excellent nutritional benefits ».
How the diet of Italians changes
According to a research on the propensity of Italians towards plant nutrition promoted by Just Eat and conducted by Bva Doxa out of a sample of 893 people representative of the Italian population, in 2021 as many as 2 out of 3 Italians (67%) chose to reduce the consumption of meat and fish, some for health reasons (45%) and some, instead, to reduce its impact on the environment (28%). Furthermore, more than half of the interviewees perceive the vegan diet as healthier (55%) and environmentally friendly (57%) than the traditional one. One in 5 respondents (20%) have already tried a vegan or vegetarian diet while 14% say they are inclined to follow it in the next 12 months. The percentage increases (32%) taking into account those who are willing to follow one vegan diet for a limited time (3-6 months).
Is it possible to guarantee a healthy diet for a future population of 10 billion people while respecting the planet’s sustainability thresholds? According to a recently released study by scientists from theUniversity of California at Berkeley and Stanford University the suspension of meat production activities and the consequent decrease in methane and nitrous oxide emissions would lead to the conversion of 800 billion tons of carbon dioxide in forests, meadows, woods and biomass. The suspension of meat production activities, therefore, could alter the trajectory of global warming and could potentially save the planet.
Vegetable meat in the big names of fast food
Vegetable meat may be, in part, the answer. And the trend is catching on considering that big names in fast food, from Mc Donalds’ at KFC have included veg choices in the menu. Mc Donalds’ said it will expand testing of a plant-based hamburger (created together with Beyond Meat) about 600 locations from next month. In the United States, the menu of the fast food giant KFC is Beyond Fried Chicken, the vegetable fried chicken made from meat not meat, but which promises to taste the same as poultry meat.
In 2018 Unilever acquired The Vegetarian Butcher, a very successful Dutch brand, especially in the UK, which produces plant-based alternatives to meat and derivatives. Today its products are offered in more than 45 countries.
The almost vegetable alternative
From January, in supermarkets Lidl new ones are available in Germany meat products, enriched with the addition of vegetable content. It is a kind of “hybrid meat”Which should help to consume fewer products of animal origin. Lidl has announced the sale of meat and sausages with a plant content of up to 40%.
How to cook vegetable meat
Planted offers typical Italian recipes in a “veg” key with its vegetable meat: fromArancinə with planted.kebab which becomes a creamy filling for the iconic Sicilian fried, with baked cannelloni renamed “My grandmother doesn’t have to know”With beaten planted.pulled, substitute for a simil ragù. Then the “Cacciatora senza caccia” for a planted.chicken alla cacciatora, with tomato sauce and black olive crumble and finally the dessert that no one expects: a fried panzerottino stuffed with almonds, cocoa, walnuts, chocolate, cinnamon, carnation and … planted.pulled, from the Sicilian recipe of the famous’Mpanatigghi. But also more exotic recipes such as the Planted Peking Duck proposed by the chef Tim Rauethe Cesar salad, the Mexican tacos.
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