Meatless Crumbles | Plant-based, Vegan

Meatless Crumbles is one of those recipes that you can use to enhance many different dishes. And with only four ingredients, Meatless Crumbles are super simple to make and can quickly transform the ordinary dish into an extraordinary one.  

One of my favorite things about the meatless crumbles is that they freeze unbelievably well. I like to keep plenty in my freezer, ready to add to recipes when it is needed.

Add these crumbles to lasagna, tacos, pizza, burritos and various pasta sauces. The options are limitless. We have kept the flavor of these crumbles mild so that you can customize the taste to your liking.

Do Meatless Crumbles Recipes Taste Different?

These meatless crumbles do taste different from meat, but the main reason is because we kept the flavoring very subtle. This allows you to customize the seasoning to whatever flavor profile you desire.

The Bragg’s Liquid Aminos (more on this ingredient later) does add a bit of rich flavor, though. You can experiment with other ingredients that sounds tasty to achieve the exact flavors you want.

You can also season this recipe if you or someone in the house really wants a meaty flavor.

I like to use herbs such as parsley, rosemary, and thyme for recipes that would normally use chicken or pork. For beef, try adding paprika and cumin.

Basically, these crumbles have a bit of that rich umami flavor you normally find in meat. You can enjoy it just the way we make it, or amp up the seasonings however you like.

Only 4 Ingredients!!! Let’s Talk Meat Crumble Ingredients!

Vital Wheat Gluten:

Vital Wheat Gluten is a fantastic ingredient in making mock meat. It is almost tasteless, which gives you a lot of options for flavor combinations. It is fun to experiment with different herbs and spices. I like Bob’s Red Mill brand, which you can find in the health food section of most grocery stores, but I also buy Vital Wheat Gluten in bulk. I found a wonderful option on Amazon. Vital Wheat Gluten stores well, which makes it easy to have on hand when you want to make a meat substitute of any kind.

All-Purpose Flour:

In this recipe, we have found that adding a little all-purpose flour improves the consistency and flavor of the meat crumbles.

Vegetable stock:

We like to use vegetable stock as the liquid for this recipe. This is because it adds a nice round flavor to the recipe. You can substitute the vegetable stock with water and add in a little vegetable bouillon if you prefer, but vegetable stock makes it really easy.  

Braggs Liquid Aminos:

Braggs Liquid Aminos is a soy sauce alternative, which you can find in the health food section of most grocery stores.

Substitutions to Make this Recipe Gluten Free

Making these crumbles gluten-free is super easy. Half of the ingredients (Braggs Liquid Aminos and the vegetable stock) are already gluten free.

I recommend replacing the vital wheat gluten and all-purpose flour with chopped walnuts or chopped soy curls. Gluten-free, vegan, and delicious meatless crumbles.

Equipment You’ll Need for This Recipe

To make these meatless crumbles, you’ll need:

• Large bowl
• Cheesecloth
• String or baker’s twine
• Large stockpot and lid
• Steamer basket
• Food processor (optional)

If you don’t have a food processor, you can do the crumbling with your hands or a handheld mixer. I just love the food processor because it creates the crumbles in less than a minute!

How to Store Meatless Crumbles:

The Meatless Crumbles can be stored in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for several months. That way, they are ready to go when you want to add them to a recipe.

Seasoning Ideas for These Crumbles, AKA Vegan Ground Beef

You can take these crumbles in so many different directions! Here are just a few flavor profiles I like.

Asian seasoning ideas:

• Ginger
• Coriander 
• Lemon 

Mexican seasoning ideas:

• Cumin
• Chili Powder
• Garlic
• Mexican Oregano

Italian seasoning ideas:

• Italian Herb Mix
• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Marjoram

Comfort food seasoning ideas:

• Garlic
• Onion Powder
• Celery Salt
• Paprika

Mediterranean seasoning ideas:

• Za’atar
• Dill 
• Garlic
• Fennel

Don’t feel the need to limit yourself to just these lists. I don’t follow these to the letter when I cook, either. Think of these not as rules, but as ideas and inspirations to launch your own delicious meals.

Are Vegan Crumbles Healthy?

Vegan crumbles are somewhat healthy. It depends on how you look at it. Compare two sloppy joes: one made with meatless crumbles, and one made with 80/20 ground beef. The vegan option won’t have the grease or saturated fat of the beef version.

At the same time, all-purpose flour doesn’t have a high nutritional value. You can also make this with whole wheat or chickpea flour for meatless crumbles which are healthier and higher in protein.

If you want to dial in making the healthiest, most nutritiously dense crumbles possible, feel free to experiment!

Why Isn’t Soy Sauce Vegan?

Soy sauce isn’t vegan because some producers add meat- or fish-derived flavor enhancements.

Liquid aminos are naturally soy- and gluten-free. Finally, they don’t contain the same preservatives found in soy sauce. (1)

All in all, I find there are only upsides to using liquid aminos in place of soy sauce.

Click Here to Watch Me Make this Recipe on YouTube!

Delicious Ways to Use These Meatless Crumbles

One of the best things about these meatless crumbles is how versatile they are! You can use them in as many dishes as you can imagine.

For an Asian-inspired meal, use these to top a bowl of stir-fried veggies. The crumbles also make a good base for lettuce cup filling. With some water chestnuts and ginger, you’ve got a healthy lunch or dinner.

Craving classic comfort food? Use the crumbles with sauce for sloppy joe filling. You can also add them to your favorite chili recipe. Finally, these are delicious as part of the filling for stuffed bell peppers or even shepherd’s pie.

With a bit of cumin and chili powder, you can make almost any Mexican or Latin dish. You can start simple by using the crumbles as taco or burrito filling. You can even make vegan nachos if you’re feeling ambitious.

These are just a few ideas I’ve had for meatless crumbles. Leave a comment if you’ve used these in a dish. I would love to see what you come up with!

Storing and Reheating Meatless Crumbles

As I mentioned above, these crumbles will last for a few days in your fridge or a few months in your freezer. You can store them in quite a few different ways—it just depends on your space.

One option is splitting the cooked crumbles into several different zip bags (I love the reusable options you can find online now!) and storing them flat. Depending on the shape of your fridge and freezer, this “flat-pack” method can save loads of space.

You can also store them in a reusable container, of course. I personally like to use containers if I’ll be reheating from the fridge. I can pop the container right into the microwave, or add the crumbles straight into whatever I’m cooking.

Which brings us to reheating! The most important thing to remember is that your crumbles can dry out fast. For that reason, I usually don’t reheat my crumbles before adding them to a dish. Whether I’m making pasta sauce or chili, I like to add them straight from the fridge.

If the crumbles are most of what you’re eating, though, I suggest adding them to a pan on low heat for a few minutes. This works for taco filling and other meals where the components stay separate until the moment you eat.

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References:

1. Healthline, What are Liquid Aminos, and Can They Benefit Your Health?