SAN Miguel Foods has spent three years studying and developing the perfect formula to produce its new Veega product line. Made from plant-based protein ingredients such as wheat, soy, mushroom, it offers meat-free nuggets, balls, sausage, giniling (ground meat) and burger patty seasoned with special spices to be tasty, natural and healthy as possible.
Veega answers the consumers’ need for a plant-based protein alternative that is delicious, developed specifically for the Filipino taste. It has high sources of protein (about 10 to 16 grams of protein per 100-g serving), has no added preservatives and is high in fiber.
These new products are fully cooked and can also be cooked directly from the freezer — no need to thaw. Nutritious, sustainable and budget-friendly, the consumption of right and healthy plant-based foods can be heart-healthy, too.
The new product line is perfect for those who want to reduce meat consumption in their diet, try out of pure curiosity, enjoy the health benefits of a plant-based diet, embrace a flexitarian lifestyle, live longer, etc. Also, there are a few things worth noting if one intends to change his diet to ensure that important nutrients will still be absorbed.
Veega was developed with the help of San Miguel Foods Culinary Center (SMFCC) to guarantee that the taste is closer to meat versions in terms of taste, texture and even juiciness.
Besides giving consumers what they want and need, San Miguel Foods has also noted that many people are becoming more interested in adopting a flexitarian diet. With Veega, more people can easily adapt to a balanced and nutritious diet.
San Miguel Foods continuously develops new products and aims to launch more formats that closely match the eating experience of animal-based products, as the company receives a lot of requests from consumers who have tried the new product line.
Providing another option for non-meat consumers, Veega products are priced between P99 to P120 per pack and available in leading supermarkets. They can be incorporated in one’s usual recipes.
The SMFCC team also whipped up some healthy and “madalicious” meals using Veega products: Easy Veega a la Cubana, Veega Meat-free Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie, Veega Meat-free Sisig, Veega Nuggets with Gochujang Mayo, and Veega Meat-free Balls in Pomodoro.
Veega Nuggets with Gochujang Mayo
Ingredients:
2 (200 g each) packs Veega meat-free nuggets, prepared according to package directions
1 (250 ml) pack Magnolia real mayonnaise
1 (165 g) pack Gochujang (fermented red bean paste)
Procedure:
- Mix mayonnaise and gochujang in a bowl. Keep refrigerated until use. Serve with nuggets.
Easy Veega a la Cubana
Ingredients:
3 tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup Golden fry oil
1 head garlic, crushed finely
2 (200 g each) packs Veega meat-free giniling
1 (200 g) pack tomato sauce
3 tbsp. oyster sauce
1/2 cup water
2 pc. ripe saba bananas, sliced and fried
Procedure:
- Melt sugar in heated oil until brown, and then add garlic. Cook for one minute then add giniling. Once heated through, add tomato sauce, oyster sauce, and water. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Serve with rice and fried bananas or add fried banana slices and simmer once.
Veega Meat-free Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie
Ingredients:
3 tbsp. COOKBEST Coconut Oil
1 (50 gram) pc. onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, finely crushed
2 (200 g each) packs Veega meat-free giniling
1 tbsp. chopped basil
1 (115 g) pack tomato sauce
1 tbsp. liquid seasoning
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. sugar
1 (198 g) can mushroom pieces and stems, drained
1/2 cup grated carrot
Mashed sweet potato:
1/4 cup Dari Créme classic, melted
4 (400 g) pc. sweet potatoes, boiled, peeled then mashed
1/2 cup Magnolia all-purpose cream
1/2 tsp. iodized fine salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup grated Magnolia quick melt cheese
Procedure:
- Preheat oven or oven toaster to 375°F.
- In a pan with hot oil, sauté onion, garlic, and giniling. Add the remaining ingredients.
Simmer for 10 minutes. Drain excess oil and transfer to an ovenproof loaf pan or glass baking dish. Set aside.
- Melt butter in a pan and add sweet potatoes, cream, and half of cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Top over giniling mixture and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until top has melted and browned.
Veega Meat-free Sisig
Ingredients:
1 (200 g) pack Veega meat-free giniling
2 (50 g each) pc. white onion, chopped
1 pc. silinghaba, sliced (optional)
2 tbsp. liquid seasoning or soy sauce
4 pc. calamansi, juice squeezed
1 tbsp. Star Margarine classic
Procedure:
- In a bowl, mix all the ingredients, except margarine.
- Heat up a sizzling plate or a pan and melt margarine. Add giniling mixture and cook until heated through.
Veega Meat-free Balls in Pomodoro
Ingredients:
300 grams spaghetti, cooked according to package directions
Pomodoro sauce:
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup COOKBEST coconut oil
1 (200 g) pack Veega meat-free balls
1 (468 g) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup water
1/2 tbsp. iodized fine salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup basil leaves
Procedure:
- In a pan, heat oil and sauté garlic for 1 minute. Add meat-free balls and cook until browned. Add crushed tomatoes and bring to a boil.
- Simmer over low heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until sauce oils. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Simmer for another minute.
- Turn off heat and mix in basil. Serve with cooked pasta.
