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Scientists Create Plant-Based Meat that Imitates Marbling of Steak

Plant-based steak with a side of peas and a lemon slice

Scientists in Switzerland have created plant-based steaks from pea protein that looks exactly like the marbling of animal steak.

Source: Nutristrength/Youtube

The team uses pea protein for the red ‘flesh’ and an oil-in-water emulsion for the lines of white fat. Because the emulsion’s fat content can be reduced significantly, plant-based steaks are healthier, cruelty-free, and better for the environment.

The steak is combined with pea protein, carrot, pea, and wheat fibers, along with oil, water, flavors, and spices. The pea protein mixture and the fake animal fat go into their own specially designed tubes. Unline 3D printing, which is becoming very popular for meat alternatives, these scientists force the protein dough and the fat out like playdough and into an attachment that consists of two flat pieces of glass. This makes the pea protein and the fat move together to create the random marbling effect to resemble animal meat.

One of the arguments about veganism is that vegans ‘can’t get enough protein.’ Many people say this because not all vegetables are complete proteins, meaning they have all nine essential amino acids, while meat products do. However, it is very easy for someone eating plant-based to get all amino acids from eating a variety of different foods. Pea is a vegetable that is a complete protein, so it’s a great idea to make a plant-based steak made out of pea protein.

Source: Earthling Ed/Youtube

The lead scientist, Martin Hofmann, is a material scientist at ETH Zürich in Switzerland, said,

‘I’d like to help launch a healthy, environmentally and animal-friendly substitute for high-quality meat that tastes like the animal-based original,’ Hofmann said.

‘Nature took its time to create bovine muscle tissue. Recreating it requires a great deal of research.’

The steak will be ready to hit the market in the UK in a year. It’s such an exciting time for meat alternatives. Many look, taste, and smell the same as meat, without killing animals, harming the environment, or damaging health.

Plant-based steak recipes you can make at home:

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Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Unfortunately, dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend purchasing one of our many plant-based cookbooks or downloading the Food Monster App, which has thousands of delicious recipes, making it the largest vegan recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint and save animals and get healthy! And while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

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