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Interior and Designer: Monica Cheng
Art Producer: Samantha Ulban
Editor: Gurvinder Singh Gandu
Production Editor: Rachel Taenzler
Production Manager: Jose Olivera
Photography 2021 Antonis Achilleos. Food styling by Rishon Hanners.
courtesy of milkhoneyphotog.
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ISBN: Paperback 978-1-64876-461-5
eBook 978-1-64876-462-2
R0
For my dad, the late Stephen E. Grant, who instilled in me the value of hospitality and the power of a great meal to bring people together.
Contents
The way we define meat is evolving.
Sales of vegan meats have been on the rise each year, with projections for vegan meats set to reach a global market share of over $35 billion by 2027. While still a relatively small figure compared to worldwide meat sales overall, this upward trajectory is indicative of consumers increasing interest in the health benefits of eliminating or reducing animal-based meats from their diets as well as the social issues of climate change and animal rights. And its not just vegans who are driving these sales.
Vegan meat is becoming an increasingly popular choice among nonvegan and nonvegetarian consumers. Fueled by the explosive growth of brands such as Gardein, Beyond Meat, Sweet Earth, No Evil Foods, Unreal Deli, and Impossible Foods, the vegan meat market receives a large portion of support from nonvegans who are either curious about eliminating meat from their plates entirely or simply wanting to incorporate more meatless meals into their weekly rotation.
I grew up eating meat. I enjoyed all the sensory experiences of eating meat and the deeply ingrained traditions surrounding it. Yet, even as a child, I had the nagging sense that something about it wasnt right for me. I experimented with vegetarianism off and on throughout my teenage years and eventually, as an adult, began to do my own research into factory farming and other issues surrounding meat production. My personal reasons for ditching meat for good actually had nothing to do with the taste.
As a former meat eater (I went vegetarian in 2012 and vegan on New Years Day 2017), I wanted to write a book that highlights the variety of ways the flavors, textures, and experiences of eating the meats many of us grew up with can be replicated without causing undue harm to ourselves, the planet, or animals.
To clarify, this book is not a how-to guide for making your own vegan meats. Thats a whole other topic entirely. Rather, this book is a resource that you can reference for creative and flavorful ways of cooking with brand-name vegan meats.
My personal goal is to ensure that you have success cooking with vegan meats. The way Im going to do this is by helping you get familiar with the wide array of products available today. Although not every brand or variety of vegan meat is represented in this book, Ive kept the ingredients lists to items I have personally observed to be most widely accessible through grocery retailers in major cities across the United States. Theres no need to run out and buy any fancy tools or equipment, either. All of the recipes in the book can be made on the stove or in the oven using standard pots, pans, and baking sheets found in the average American kitchen. Theres even a recipe for vegan turkey pinwheels that doesnt require cooking at all (see ). My hope is that you quickly become at ease with these recipes and that they help make the act of eating vegan meats feel familiar and comfortable in a way that encourages you to experiment with adapting some of your old favorite recipes with a few easy vegan modifications.
The fact that you have picked up a book on vegan meats tells me that you are ready and open to begin the journey of eliminating or reducing animal-based meat from your diet. Or maybe youre already loving the vegan lifestyle and youre looking for more delicious ways to enjoy the growing world of vegan meats on the market today. Whatever path has led you to this book, Im glad youre here. I hope you enjoy the collection of recipes Ive included and that they inspire your own creativity in the kitchen. Welcome! Lets get started!
Now is an exciting time to dive into the rapidly expanding world of vegan meats. In this chapter, you will find the information you need to get started on your personal journey toward incorporating vegan meats into your weekly meal plan. I will guide you through some of the reasons growing numbers of people are choosing vegan meats over animal-based meats. You will also find suggestions and considerations to keep in mind when shopping for products within some of the most popular categories of vegan meats.
