• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Lifestyle

Plant-based diaries: It doesn’t always have to be about meaty business

28th November 2020
Christo Van der Rheede is the executive director of Agri SA. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Former music teacher leads agri’s greatest symphony

11th August 2022
Bumper harvest for Mzansi’s olive growers

Bumper harvest for Mzansi’s olive growers

11th August 2022
ADVERTISEMENT
Thanks to Netafim’s innovative solutions, drip irrigation is within reach of small-scale farmers. Photo: Supplied

Yes, precision irrigation is possible on a budget

11th August 2022
There's been a major breakthrough with South African citrus containers that have been contained at European ports. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Relief! Govt convinces EU to save SA citrus

11th August 2022
Willem Booise (left) is a trustee and has won the industry’s Specialist Agricultural Worker of the Year award in 2018. Photo: Supplied/Hortgro

Fruit farm shows there’s power in transformation

11th August 2022
Many people love avocados, but did you know that the introduction of just one of these fruits per day can improve the overall quality of your diet? Photo: Pixabay

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

10th August 2022
Davidzo Chizhengeni, animal scientist, founder of KvD livestock, Ika Cronje, farmer and participant in the Corteva Women Agripreneur 2022 programme, Vuyokazi Makapela, a Director at Afrivet, and permaculture farmer, Stephanie Mullins. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Podcast: Prevent rabies with vaccination

10th August 2022
Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

11th August 2022
The value of South Africa’s informal farming sector is understated, experts say, and many farmers say that they prefer trading to this segment of the economy. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

New farmer? Informal markets ‘the way to go’

10th August 2022
Gauteng police recovered and confiscated sheep and goats in Sedibeng this week. Photo: Supplied/SAPS

ICYMI: Police recover stolen livestock

10th August 2022
Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

Ecological farming the answer to food insecurity

11th August 2022
Setting up a regenerative smallholding

Setting up a regenerative smallholding

9th August 2022
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
11 GLOBAL MEDIA AWARDS
Thursday, August 11, 2022
Food For Mzansi
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
    • All
    • AgriCareers
    • Entrepreneurs
    • Farmers
    • Groundbreakers
    • Innovators
    • Inspiration
    • It Takes a Village
    • Mentors
    • Movers and Shakers
    • Partnerships
    Christo Van der Rheede is the executive director of Agri SA. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Former music teacher leads agri’s greatest symphony

    Agripreneur 101: Creating a beauty brand

    Agripreneur 101: Creating a beauty brand

    Claire and Martin Joubert have sacrificed and struggled to become top breeders of Ankole cattle in South Africa. But giving up was never an option, because they wanted to offer only the very best Ankole genetics in the country. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Farming couple lives and breathes Ankole cattle

    Tackling climate change, one tree at a time

    Agricareers: Veterinary science not for the timid

    Agricareers: Veterinary science not for the timid

    Once struggling farm now a family heirloom

    Optimal yields now at farmers’ finger tips

    Some of the children with the ECD practitioner Yolanda Shabalala. Zero2Five Trust promotes holistic Early Childhood Development in formerly disadvantaged areas by improving learners’ health and education outcomes with nutrition and education programmes. Photo: Supplied/Zero2Five Trust

    Zero2Five: Giving hope to KZN flood victims

    Agripreneur 101: Kupisa Sauce is going places

    Agripreneur 101: Kupisa Sauce is going places

  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought
No Result
View All Result
Food For Mzansi

Plant-based diaries: It doesn’t always have to be about meaty business

by Dané Vermeulen
28th November 2020
in Lifestyle
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A

Going meat-free doesn't mean saying good-bye to hamburgers. A variety of meat alternatives are increasingly becoming available in local supermarkets. Photo: Dane Vermeulen

After a month and a half of plant-based meals, I have realised that it is much easier than I thought it would be. But there are some days when I long for that typical meaty meal. A meal that would just not be the same without that meaty component. Luckily, I have found a solution.

Yes, I am talking about meat-free products: those meat alternative products that look and taste like meat but in fact it is made entirely out of plant-based products.

Now I know what you are thinking, meat is meat, and nothing will ever be able to replace it, and you are right. The first time I cooked a meat-free patty I kept thinking “this will be a disappointment”. But as I have mentioned before, the secret is in the flavour.

ADVERTISEMENT

Read: This is the vegan flavour bomb your body is craving

As I took my first bite into my meatless, dairy-free burger I was surprised at how much it tasted like the real deal. I was also surprised at how satisfying and light the meal was. All it takes is an open mind and a sense of adventure to start your journey toward a healthier diet and there is a range of products to help you do so.

From patties to braai-style sausages, from chicken nuggets to pied sausage rolls (I’m a sucker for a pie so I loved not having to give that up as well), everything you need to satisfy the memories of an animal protein-filled diet.

I was also surprised at how accessible and easily available these products were. I never noticed that they were right under my nose in my favourite grocery store. All I had to do was look for it. So next time you are in your local store, look up the vegan and plant-based products and choose a meat alternative to be a little more adventurous, while making the healthier choice.

The Imposter Burger (serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

4 vegan burger buns
4 vegan burger patties (choose any vegan patty you like)
2 cups cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
1 small bag of rocket
1 small onion
100 ml balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons balsamic reduction
2 large gherkins
1 avo
1 cup vegan mayo
2 tablespoons sriracha (or any other chili component)
Olive oil
10 peppadews (diced)
1 clove of garlic (diced)
some fresh lemon juice

METHOD

Tomato relish:

ADVERTISEMENT
  1. In a small pan, brown the onions and garlic in some olive oil.
  2. Add the cherry tomatoes and stir regularly for about 5 minutes on high heat.
  3. Add the balsamic vinegar and turn the heat down to medium.
  4. Let this simmer until most of the moisture has cooked down and add the balsamic reduction with some salt and pepper.
  5. Turn the heat off and leave the pan to simmer.

Chili mayo:

  1. In a small bowl, add the mayo, sriracha and peppadews and mix well. Add a little salt and pepper with a dash of fresh lemon juice to taste.

Patties:

  1. Fry the patties from frozen in a pan with some olive oil until a crispy layer is formed on each side.

The burger:

1. Cut the burger bun in half and grill the inside of the bun in the oven until golden.

  1. Coat the inside of each half with the chili mayo sauce. Start assembling your burger by first placing a layer of rocket, then your slices of gherkins, your patty, the relish, slices of avo and some salt and pepper.
  2. Serve your burger with some potato fries, wedges or sweet potato fries and use your leftover chili mayo as a dipping sauce.
  3. The burger is also great on its own, so you can easily ditch the fries and save yourself sometime in the kitchen.

Read: Plant-based diaries: Weeknight meals on a dime

Tags: Meat Alternativesplant basedPlant-Base Diariesplant-based recipesvegan recipes
Previous Post

First group of Western Cape agri drone pilots receive their wings

Next Post

Proudly South African whisky goes green for sustainability

Dané Vermeulen

Dané Vermeulen

Dané Vermeulen is a food enthusiast with a strong belief in using fresh produce when cooking. She combines her love for food and photography to share her passions with the world. Her thirst for knowledge keeps her on the top of her game and ready to jump into any conversation, no matter the topic. She has a BSc degree in Biodiversity and Ecology from the University of Stellenbosch and she is a freelance writer for Food For Mzansi.

Related Posts

The 5 best alternatives for meat

by Siyabonga Mngoma
29th December 2020
0

Self-proclaimed meat-lover and owner of Abundance Wholesome Foods, Siyabonga Mngoma looks into whole foods as a substitute for meat. She...

Plant-based diaries: Plant-based braais are the new black

by Dané Vermeulen
9th December 2020
0

As South Africans, we all know that the braai is something we hold dear. For many of us it is...

World Vegan Month: Not just another fad, it’s a way of life

by Noluthando Ngcakani
3rd November 2020
0

The prospect of a diet packed with chickpeas, lentils and quinoa may sound like the beginning stages of a green,...

GERD Almonds are concentrated in energy, protein, fibre, healthy fats and micronutrients.

Here’s why you really should be nuts about almonds

by Andrea Du Plessis
29th January 2019
0

The “health nuts” amongst us seem to be going nuts about almonds. Seriously. A nut such as an almond really is...

Next Post
The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington in the Western Cape has recently won the title of Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the 2020 Icons of Whisky Awards held annually by Whisky Magazine in London. Photo: Supplied / Food For Mzansi

Proudly South African whisky goes green for sustainability

There's been a major breakthrough with South African citrus containers that have been contained at European ports. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi
News

Relief! Govt convinces EU to save SA citrus

by Duncan Masiwa
11th August 2022
0

South Africa has managed to secure a major breakthrough for local citrus exporters. Thanks to high-level government intervention, tonnes of...

Read more
Willem Booise (left) is a trustee and has won the industry’s Specialist Agricultural Worker of the Year award in 2018. Photo: Supplied/Hortgro

Fruit farm shows there’s power in transformation

11th August 2022
Many people love avocados, but did you know that the introduction of just one of these fruits per day can improve the overall quality of your diet? Photo: Pixabay

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

10th August 2022
Davidzo Chizhengeni, animal scientist, founder of KvD livestock, Ika Cronje, farmer and participant in the Corteva Women Agripreneur 2022 programme, Vuyokazi Makapela, a Director at Afrivet, and permaculture farmer, Stephanie Mullins. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

Podcast: Prevent rabies with vaccination

10th August 2022
Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

11th August 2022

60m. mouths to feed: ‘We’ve got you, Mzansi’

New farmer? Informal markets ‘the way to go’

ICYMI: Mama Fifi determined to rise again

Farmers fight on despite lost export markets

Fuel rebates should expand to other businesses

Control and prevent downy mildew on crops

THE NEW FACE OF SOUTH AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

With 12 global awards in the first three years of its existence, Food For Mzansi is much more than an agriculture publication. It is a movement, unashamedly saluting the unsung heroes of South African agriculture. We believe in the power of agriculture to promote nation building and social cohesion by telling stories that are often overlooked by broader society.

Former music teacher leads agri’s greatest symphony

Bumper harvest for Mzansi’s olive growers

Yes, precision irrigation is possible on a budget

Relief! Govt convinces EU to save SA citrus

Fruit farm shows there’s power in transformation

An avocado a day can keep the doctor away

  • Our Story
  • Contact Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824
News: info@foodformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Changemakers
  • Lifestyle
  • Farmer’s Inside Track
  • Food for Thought

Copyright © 2021 Food for Mzansi

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.