The veggie takeover

Radhika Sharma

Okay, can you guess the biggest food trend of the last couple of years? Well, veganism it is and a steady rise in vegan lifestyle has spurred the food industry across the world to adapt itself to this massive change. Veganism has given rise to a revolution of sorts. Here veggies take the centrestage, replacing meat as the main protein. So you have vegetables that give the taste and texture of meat, those that make your cakes moister and those that make you healthier. India is slowly adapting to this taste and has shown considerable innovation in this space. As our traditional cuisine gets a modern twist, veggies break new ground and the taste quotient is elevated to an all-time high.

For the sweet toothed

At the heart of every basic cake recipe are three key aspects — taste, moisture and structure. While butter, oil and eggs are the traditional products lending moisture, bakers are increasingly adding veggies such as zucchini, avocado and potato for the purpose. A new version of chocolate mousse uses avocado instead of butter to make up for the fat content and it tastes just as buttery as the original. Another example of a veggie showcase is beetroot halwa. The texture of the beets is a perfect contrast to sugar. Also courtesy its water content, it stays moist for a far longer time period. Potatoes are being used to make denser cakes too! 

Meat for vegetarians

It’s an oxymoron, but there have been plenty of innovations in this aspect too. Meat eaters-turned-vegan or -vegetarian no longer have to miss the texture and taste of meat. Veggie concoctions such as kheema — a soya and veggie mixture — are becoming quite a hit with the crowd. Italian cuisine that traditionally uses meat in different layers in lasagne has been replaced with a brinjal and spice mix. Mashed steaks stacked with buttered vegetables are another example of this new takeover. These recipes are seasoned well and maintain the taste in its original form without compromising on quality. Until now, soya chunks have been the only viable alternative to meat, but veggies are far superior in taste and structure.

Low on carbs

If you are a fitness freak on a diet, then you will understand the phrase ‘less carbs, more proteins’. Meat is a primary source of protein, which, until now, found its suitable alternate in soya. The decrease in carb intake has led to innovation such as no carb noodles! What are they? Zucchini and carrot strips, which look like noodles, are cooked with traditional pasta sauces and spices to maintain its taste and feel. For peeps on keto diet, spinach makes up an essential part of every dish they eat. Superfoods such as kale, avocado and sprouts are replacing meat in every meal as they contain similar protein grammage required for their diet counts.