The best meat and vegetable alternatives for chicken

Aside from its irresistibly good taste, many people love chicken meat because it is a good source of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin D, B Vitamins, and minerals. So, some of you may be wondering who in the world would want to avoid chicken?

Well, there are vegetarians and vegans who are very much against the slaughter of chickens and other poultry animals.

And there are also those with health concerns such as rare allergy to poultry meat, kidney problems, heart disease, dyslipidemia and high cholesterol levels, who may have to lessen their consumption of chicken meat or stop eating it altogether.

Plus, some places may be affected by the Bird Flu or the Avian Flu, whose two types -the H1N1 and H7N9--can be passed on to humans.

So, whether you're among those who have to avoid chicken meat for now or for good, it's comforting to know that you can still have your favorite dish by making it chickenless.

If you're only avoiding chicken meat temporarily and are not really vegetarian, vegan, nor have allergies to it, then you can try these other types of meat that can make your chicken-free dish just as appetizing.

Meat alternatives for chicken:

1. Ground turkey

Turkey meat is also rich in high-quality protein, which is why it is a good alternative for chicken. You can try making Turkey Teriyaki Rice Bowl or Ground Turkey Curry.

2. Beef

There are a lot of recipes where you can easily replace chicken with beef. You can cook up Beef Noodle Soup instead of the usual Chicken Noodle Soup. Or make Beef Caldereta instead of Chicken Caldereta.

3. Pork

Pork can also be a great substitute for chicken. You can make Stir-Fried Vegetables with pork, instead of chicken meat. Or make the Pinoy favorite Adodo by simply substituting chicken with pork.

4. Lamb

Lamb is another chicken alternative you can experiment with. You can make Lamb Kebabs instead of the usual Beef and Chicken Kebabs.

5. Processed meat

Processed meat such as sausages, ham, and bacon are affordable meat substitutes for chicken.

However, if you want to go chickenless forever for your health and/or because you're adapting a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, then you should go for these vegetarian-friendly substitutes.

Vegetarian and vegan-friendly substitutes for chicken | Source: Pexels

Vegetarian and vegan-friendly alternatives for chicken:

1. Seitan

Seitan is also known as wheat meat, wheat protein, and wheat gluten, since it is made from hydrated gluten.

2. Tofu

Tofu is probably the most popular alternative for chicken and other kinds of meat. It is made from coagulated soy milk.

3. Tempeh

Tempeh is often confused with tofu, but they are two different things. Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans that are transformed into a firm, compact cake.

4. Beans and Sprouts

Beans and sprouts are another protein-rich alternative to chicken meat, that can be very filling and perfect to use in soups and stew.

5. Nuts

Nuts are among the favorite ingredients for vegetarian dishes. They are great substitutes for chicken meat as they are also full of protein and add texture to salads and other dishes.

6. Potatoes

Another popular substitute for chicken and other meats are potatoes, they are often used to make vegetarian versions of some dishes such as burgers, soups, and casserole. It is said that potatoes can imitate the texture of chicken relatively well.

Excluding chicken from your diet doesn't necessarily have to be done by literally replacing chicken meat with substitutes to make your go-to dishes.

You can also explore other delicious recipes you can cook up with these great chicken substitutes.

So, whether you're saying goodbye to chicken for now or forever, you can relax and know that there are a lot of nutritious and tasty alternatives to chicken meat out there.

Have fun going, chickenless, mga Kapuso!

For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4462824/
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/shared/PDF/Chicken_Turkey_Nutrition_Facts.pdf
https://medlineplus.gov/birdflu.html#:~:text=It%20is%20rare%20for%20people,people%20in%20he%20United%20States.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/turkey-vs-chicken#white-meat
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/seitan#seitan
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tempeh-vs-tofu#what-they-are

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