Yes, quite a bit of time has elapsed since I last penned a
blog post. It was a mostly good summer, but I'm glad it's past us and we're in autumn. I want to think everyone in our family grew and learned
something new this summer.
One of those things for me was discovering textured
vegetable protein (TVP), or textured soy protein, something I had never heard of
before having the veg burger at our go-to bar, Square One Burgers and Bar, when we
are at our South house. TVP is defatted soy flour, where the soybean oil is
extracted, resulting in a dried, almost oatmeal-y, grain-y texture, that is a
nutritional power house. A quarter cup, at 80 calories, has 0 grams fat, 540
mgs of potassium, 4 grams fiber, 12 grams protein, 15% RDA of iron, 18% of
magnesium, and 17% of phosphorus, virtually carb-less and cholesterol-free. It has a long
shelf life. And, it’s super cheap, about a penny (!!!) per gram of protein. Expect
to get the equivalent of three pounds of meat out of a pound of TVP.
And, it’s so versatile, from breakfasts – cereals, faux(oat)meal,
sausages – to dinner – soups and chili, burgers, faux(meat)loaf, pasta, tacos,
stuffed in veggies (peppers, zucchini). Use it as you would any ground meat. I’ve
even seen recipes where TVP is made into cutlets. The end result is eerily like
real ground turkey or chicken in texture, with a pretty neutral flavor.
Our first TVP dish was sloppy Joes. Keep in mind I feed a
carnivore. A real meat and potatoes guy. We had a dinner party the night after
making these, and I overheard Craig telling a few of the other male carnivores,
“you wouldn’t believe these weren’t meat. They taste like the real deal.” Knock
my socks off.
Disclaimer: if you
Google TVP, you get a lot of contradicting information because TVP is a “processed” food. I buy my TVP/TSP at Whole Food’s Market; believe
what you’d like, but I personally buy-into their core value of providing the
highest quality products, and I trust the TVP/TSP they sell as being nutritious
and wholesome.
(Baked zucchini fries are a perfect late summer side for sloppy Joes.) |
TVP Sloppy Joes
Serves 4
3/4 cup dry textured vegetable protein
a little short of 3/4 cups of boiling water
a little short of 3/4 cups of boiling water
1/2 large onion, chopped
1/2 large bell pepper, diced
1/2 large bell pepper, diced
1/2 jalapeno, minced
1 carrot, grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cups no salt tomato sauce
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cups no salt tomato sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup, preferably organic
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1/2-1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2-1 tablespoon chili powder
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Combine TVP and boiling water. Let sit about 10 minutes.
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 1/2 teaspoon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
Combine TVP and boiling water. Let sit about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skill. Sauté onion, bell
pepper, jalapeno, and carrot until softened.
Add remaining ingredients and TVP and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add remaining ingredients and TVP and simmer for 20 minutes.
It has been awhile since you've posted! Worth the wait, though - this looks terrific. I've never used TVP - something I need to do one of these days. Maybe as a tofu substitute? Anyway, good stuff - thanks.
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