Hearty Flavors

With all the meat alternatives on the market now, it can be easy to fall into the habit of putting together meals with the same packaged products time and again. (Soy crumbles, anyone?) But with a little creativity, you can turn portobello mushrooms, eggplant, and canned jackfruit into whole-food meat substitutes that are just as versatile, convenient, and tasty.

Tasty Find: Canned Young (or Green) Jackfruit

A fruit that shreds and tastes like chicken? We didn’t believe it until we tried canned young jackfruit. The Thai ingredient has a texture that mimics meat in hearty chilis, saucy stews, even gyros. Find it in Asian grocery stores (be sure to buy canned young jackfruit, not ripe jackfruit in syrup, which is sweet) and try it as a substitute for packaged mock meat crumbles or shreds.