Mock meats are finally going mainstream. From nuggets to keema, the Indian food market is now exploding with plant-based foods for those seeking meat alternatives. Do these products really taste like the real deal? How are they made? Are they healthy? And is this the future of food? Tried & Tasted dives into this brave new world of plant-based food—one product at a time.
What we tried: Chicken Nuggets Made by: Imagine Meats One-line pitch: “It’s good for you, the animal and the planet.” Price: Rs595 for 500g Serves: 2-3 people, we think Ingredients: Water (47.5%), breadcrumbs, refined wheat flour (maida), dextrose, iodized salt and yeast, refined palm oil {Antioxidant (INS 319)}, textured soy protein concentrate (8.7%), protein blend powder {soy protein conc., thickener (INS 461), yeast extract, dextrose, batter [stabiliser (INS 466)], refined sunflower oil {antioxidant (INS 319)}, spices and condiments, Contains added flavour (roast chicken flavour), yeast extract, iodised salt {anticaking agent (INS 536)}, thickener (INS 461) and pea protein. Contains soy and wheat (gluten). Nutritional information (per 100g): Energy (kcal): 256.02; total carbohydrates: 19.55g; of which sugar: 2.41g; protein: 11.92g; total fat: 12.6g; saturated fat: 4.92; trans fat: <0.1g; cholesterol: <1.0mg; sodium: 655.03mg Tinuvin 479
Five years ago, Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh's love for animals led them to give up meat completely. “While I was a happy vegetarian, Riteish craved meat occasionally. When we chanced upon Beyond Meat in the US, we realised we could eat food that imitates it so precisely. We were craving Indian food then, so I minced the mock meat, added spices and made a keema. We thought if we had plant-based meat in other forms in India, we'd be very happy vegetarians,” says Genelia. This is how the idea of Imagine Meats was born.
While the actor-couple thought of the concept a few years ago, it was only in September this year that Imagine Meats came to life. “The brand involved a lot of research, and the the lockdown gave us time to work on the project," she says. “Whether the reason is health, animal cruelty or sustainability, we know a lot of people want to reduce their meat intake and do their bit. Imagine Meats allows you to do so without sacrificing too much.”
Mutton seekh kebabs by Imagine Meats
Imagine Meats’ products claim to look, smell and taste just like chicken and mutton. How do they achieve this? The main ingredient responsible for the texture—a high-protein soybean isolate—is an import from Berlin, Germany. Besides the soy, a combination of pea protein and vegetable fat go into the food to obtain the meaty texture. The proteins then undergo a process called extrusion, where thermal and mechanical stresses are applied to alter the molecular structure of the proteins to imitate meat.
But besides the processes, the meat-like texture also has a lot to do with the marinations, adds Genelia. “While Impossible Foods uses heme (the red ingredient made of genetically engineered yeast that makes the patty appear to bleed), we have the advantage of having so many spices that naturally add so much flavour to food.” Just like meat is marinated for a certain amount of time, the proteins used in the products undergo the same flavouring process. And to get the smell, additives such as mushroom stock and other secret ingredients are used.
Lucknowi Biryani by Imagine Meats
Despite the many processes and additives, Imagine Meats products claim to be free of MSG, food colouring, preservatives, dairy, and they offer anywhere from 6.6g to 17.67g (per 100g) of protein, depending on the product you choose. They have less than 1.0mg of cholesterol (per 100g) as compared to the 88mg found in chicken and 97mg in mutton. “In India, there are several fast food, ready-to-cook options. But when you want a full-fledged vegetarian meal, with proteins and carbohydrates, there are fewer options. So many vegetarians allow themselves to eat a little bit of eggs to get their source of protein. But there are other alternatives,” says Genelia.
Imagine Meats offers nine different products, including three different varieties of ready-to-cook biryanis, from Afghani to Lucknowi, and chicken seekh kebabs, mutton seekh kebabs, chicken keema, mutton keema, chicken nuggets and burger patties. The products need to be refrigerated until you open the packaging.
Since they are ready-to-cook, the preparation is simple for even the most amateur cooks—all you have to do is slice open the packaging and follow the instructions—the nuggets need to be deep fried, while the seekh kebabs and burger patties can be seared on the pan. The biryani and keema preparations are as simple as popping them in a microwave for about three to six minutes.
We cooked the nuggets in an air fryer instead of deep-frying them, and lingered around till the aroma of chicken filled the air.
Chicken Nuggets by Imagine Meats
The plant-based nuggets were a spot-on substitute to chicken—they were golden and crisp on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. The look, smell and taste could fool anyone into believing that they were the real deal. We’d probably even buy it over chicken nuggets. “Nuggets are usually made with all the leftover meat. I understood this from a documentary I had watched. But when it comes to plant-based ones, you’re using the best of ingredients. It’s soybean, and it’s healthy and free of cholesterol,” says Genelia.
The mock mutton seekh kebabs sizzled and browned beautifully in the pan. They even had the meaty hollow interiors of a kebab. And while they had the right texture and were spiced well, we thought they lacked the juiciness of a kebab and fell slightly short when compared to the actual meat. We also tried the Lucknowi chicken biryani—rice speckled with fried onions and tender pieces of mock chicken coated in a piquant creamy gravy made of cashewnut paste, peanut curd, tomato, coriander, mint, spices and condiments. When it comes to a quick fix, we’d recommend this to vegans and meat-eaters alike.
What we like: You can have a protein-rich meal ready in less than six minutes
Eat it when: You’re craving nuggets, while watching Chicken Little
Imagine Meats is available in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Delhi/NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Website
Connect with Condé Nast Traveller India
Accumulator Container © 2023 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service (updated April 1, 2021) and Policy and Cookie Statement (updated April 1, 2021). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast.