Meat Alternatives

Tofu, tempeh, seitan, jackfruit, soya mince and falafel mixes - the plant proteins that stand in for meat in a dish rather than sitting alongside it.

Tofu is pressed soya curd and takes on whatever it is cooked with. Tempeh is whole fermented soya beans, firmer and nuttier, and holds its shape better in a pan. Seitan is wheat gluten, the chewiest of the three. Young jackfruit has almost no protein but shreds like slow-cooked meat, which is why it turns up in pulled-pork style dishes.