What's a good substitute for ground meat – in fact, any kind of meat – to retain that hearty beef taste without actually using meat?
Chris, Oaxaca. Mexico AVG:: Chris, there are so many ways to substitute for meat, it could take several web sites to do them justice! Here's some tips to help you. First, the proper use of herbs and spices will do much to liven up any dish, especially when you want to add “hearty” flavor. A good example is using cumin, a smokey spice used most often in Indian and Mexican cooking – but an excellent addition to almost any dish (especially mushrooms) in which a vegetable is substituted for a traditional meat product. See our recipe for Cajun Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms on this site as an example.. Second, there are a number of meat substitute items on the market, from simulated ground meat to bacon strips! I have found that both Boca and Morning Star make a very acceptable “ground burger” soy product that, when properly prepared and seasoned, is virtually undetectable from ground beef. The AVG makes a vegetarian “fire house” chili that clients swear is made with ground sirloin! Third,
