How to use fake ground meat

Diamond Member Joined: Mar 17 2008 Posts: 3561

I have two boxes of fake ground meat. One is unflavored, one says it has "Mexican flavor." What can I do with them besides making pareve chili, spegheti and meatsauce, or tacos? Any ideas? Any recipes?

Posted: Mon, Oct 11 2010, 3:14 pm Post subject: re: How to use fake ground meat

You can use it like cooked ground beef for pretty much anything or raw beef if you have something to make it stick together (like meatballs with eggs, but you may need an extra egg.) We usually do tacos or taco soup for the mexican flavor kind, and you can do things like borekas, cigars, meatloaf,, or stuffed cabbage.

You could also check a "meat" company's website for recipes, like morningstar farms--they have lots of ideas, too.

Silver Member Joined: Oct 16 2006 Posts: 693

I use it in lasagna. It really adds something to it, instead of just plain sauce.

Active Poster Joined: Sep 22 2010 Posts: 50

I am a HUGE fan of this stuff, especially as DH strongly prefers milchig meals except on Shabbos and YT.

Here's what I do: I saute a cup of chopped onion and a clove or two of garlic in olive oil on medium high heat in a big pan, then toss in the regular flavor fake meat and some mushrooms if I have them until it's all nicely cooked. Then I add in jar of spaghetti sauce (or a can of tomato sauce or sloppy joe sauce or any combination of same that I happen to have in the pantry). When it is bubbly I add whatever frozen or canned veggies I have around that seem good - usually that means corn, green beans, carrots, maybe some canned mushrooms if I didn't have fresh. (I have a member of the family allergic to any color peppers and one who hates peas, or I would add those too.) I taste and adjust the seasonings amd let it simmer on very low heat for 10 or 15 minutes.

I usually make a double batch of this, half to eat and half to freeze and defrost on a busy night when I don't want to cook. It is healthy and tasty; DH and kids love.

I use it according to my mood and what's in the pantry. It's great over noodles or pasta or rice - just add some cheese on top. You can serve it over hamburger buns for sloppy joes. You can put it in a casserole dish and top with mashed potatoes (okay - so I use instant) and some parmasan cheese and bake for half an hour in a 350 oven for shepherds pie or you can pour it over baked potatoes.

With the Mexican fake meat we always have tacos. Family loves! Here is the recipe I use for the cheese sauce. I do find the sauce a bore to make (when WILL they make self-stirring pots??), but yum to eat:

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black or white pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup grated Cheddar or any other cheese you like

Melt butter; remove from heat. Stir in flour and seasonings. Gradually add milk, stirring until well mixed. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and smooth. Cook for 5 minutes longer; add cheese. Stir until smooth and well blended. Makes 2 cups.

The sausage flavor is very excellent on pizza or in omlets and I make "chicken" fried rice or fetuccini alfredo with the chicken flavor.

The Morningstar Farms website has good ideas too - check it out!

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48159

I use some in my ziti or lasagne, as posters stated above.

We also like pareve tacos so we can use real cheese and sour cream.

Posted: Mon, Oct 11 2010, 3:45 pm Post subject: re: How to use fake ground meat

Vegetarian mince doesn't quite stick to make meatballs or hamburgers. (If someone knows how to do this without too much eggs/potatoes/real meat, please let me know).

Aside from bolognaise, chili, etc, it's very good for making shephard's pie/cottage pie. You sautee the mince with chopped onions, chopped carrots, chopped red peppers (all finely chopped). Season with salt & pepper, a bit of onion soup powder. If you want you can add a bit of BBQ sauce or ketchup or soy sauce or whatever. Put in an oven-proof casserole, top with mashed potato (the great bit is, since it's parve you can use real milk/butter if you want) and broil till the top is golden.

Another thing you can do is meat omlettes patties/edja (sp?). sautee 1 chopped onion till transparent, I use 3 eggs, lightly beaten mixed with onion and 1 cup veggie mince. Chopped parsley and paprika (and harissa) optional. Drop about 3tbsp in a lightly oiled skillet in an oval, (you can cook a few at a time, depending on your pan size). Once the bottom part is dry, flip to cook the other side. Delish hot or cold, makes great pita sandwich. If you want it more colourful, you can add a small amoount of frozen peas or shredded carrots.

Active Poster Joined: Jul 05 2010 Posts: 99

Amital