View Full Version : Tvp?
Has anyone found a way to make good meals with TVP?
Any recipes?
minnesotasmith
01-01-2006, 19:26
I believe it is mostly made from processed soybeans. I consider them to be unhealthy for males to eat, so I avoid it when possible.
Cheesewhiz
01-01-2006, 19:29
spagetti with TVP "meat" sauce! Just FYI TVP causes gas and lots of it
You can use TVP in most any recipe that calls for meat - especially if it calls for dried hamburger. If you use it in a recipe dry, add an equal amount of water to TVP (ie..1/4 cup TVP, 1/4 cup water). TVP works well in spaghetti sauce, rice dishes, stroganoff, with pasta. It picks up the flavors of your food, so a flavorful sauce is a good idea!
Yes, it is from soy protien..and no, you are not going to grow boobs if you are a guy and eat it. Neither is tofu going to do that. For people who buy the soy+men thing...you have to consume a ton of soy isoflavions and concentrated soy protien (which is totally unrelated to TVP and Tofu!) in all the studies..ie..extremly concentrated amounts, like you would have in pills.
Soy products do provide high amounts of protien with no cholestrol, and most times little fat. They are defintely heart healthy! Yes, they can cause gas-but if you are well hydrated and are used to eating soy, it gets better (just like if you eat more beans......). Making sure you eat lots of other ruffage helps also ;)
minnesotasmith
01-01-2006, 20:00
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8039
26) "Soybeans have several chemicals that make me question the wisdom of eating soy and its products when they can be avoided. First, soy that has not been severely processed (miso, tofu) has some antinutrient compounds that inhibit utilization during digestion of some vitamins and minerals; ordinary cooking or drying does not deactivate these compounds in soy as it does related ones in beans and green peas.
Even then, there appear to be analogs to estrogens (certain hormones mainly found in women) in them that will survive such processing. These E.A.s may protect against circulatory system disorders in women to some extent, but there is increasing evidence that these are undesirable for males of any age to consume.
Even soybean oil is likely to have drawbacks. Soy oil is normally partially hydrogenated (made more saturated) to slow down the rate it goes rancid; look on the back of any inexpensive cookie package or baking mixes to check this. However, this produces a chemical not found in nature for which there is no reason to consume it, it being significantly less healthy than the original.
For all these reasons, I try to avoid soy nuts, textured vegetable protein, soy milk, and above all soy oil (whether as the pure oil or as an ingredient in purchased mixed foods), just occasionally having a cup of miso soup or using soy sauce in cooking, which add only a tiny bit of soy to my diet."
Blue Jay
01-01-2006, 20:03
Has anyone found a way to make good meals with TVP?
Any recipes?
If you like meat, TVP with any sauce has the texture and taste of meat. It's very lightweight to carry and expands with water and heat. You don't need recipes, just don't use more than a small handful. Another great tip is to always read what Minnisota says on any topic. If you do the exact opposite, you cannot go wrong.
Lone Wolf
01-01-2006, 20:18
TVP does NOT taste like meat of any sort.
minnesotasmith
01-01-2006, 20:18
I advise people that their health would be better if they substituted whole grains in place of white flour/polished rice/potato products, unsaturated fats (ex.: olive oil/flax oil) for saturated ones (lard as found in Vienna Sausage/bacon/pork sausage, not to mention large amounts of beef fat), choosing Omega-3-oil-containing fish over fried mammal meats most of the time, to maximize their consumption of dark green leafy vegetables, to combine food with different amino acid profiles so as to complete proteins, to stop smoking anything, to not drink booze when weather is cold enough that hypothermia is a risk, to drink (decaf) green tea and purple grape juice, and for men to avoid things like iron supplement pills and large amounts of soy products. If you think that doing the opposite of these would be good advice, well, I'd certainly like to see your sources.
I have tried TVP, in two forms, one was ground (kinda like ground meat) and the other was in cubes (apx 1/2 X1/2 X3/4 inch). Both were very light and would seam to be all hiker answers to meat.....BUT I could not make it taste like anything I wanted to eat. I mixed it with sauces, I mixed it with gravys, I mixed it and mixed it. I even ate it but it was not good. I hope you have better luck with TVP than I did.
Sandy
I've eaten TVP often, and I like it in casseroles. It adds a little vegetable protein to what ever you put it in. I never noticed that it gave me any more gas than the rest of the junk I eat.
I eat plenty of meat, too. But, it's funny how many meat eaters feel threatened when you talk about TVP. It's as if you are advocating taking away their pork chops.
Blue Jay
01-02-2006, 16:47
After rereading my post, it may have sounded like I prefer TVP to meat. I prefer meat, however on the trail TVP is the next best thing.
Nightwalker
01-02-2006, 17:26
spagetti with TVP "meat" sauce! Just FYI TVP causes gas and lots of it
Actually, improperly using TVP causes gas and lots of it. 1/2 cup of TVP, covered with water 10 minutes, then drained before using in your food causes no gas. At least not for me.
It tastes a little like a light rice, and the texture is kinda chewy. It's also the lightest protein that you can carry.
A couple of myths about TVP: (1) You can't digest it without a "helper" like papayan or something similar. (2) It is full of plant estrogens that'll give men boobs and PMS!
I've been unable to find verification of either of those from any legitimate website or source. You'll hear them lots, but no USDA or other good backup. As a matter of fact, the FDA website (http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2000/300_soy.html) has a good article speaking of the isoflavones controversy, and somewhat specifically saying that whole soy proteins, like TVP, are healthy and heart smart!
Two Speed
01-02-2006, 18:11
Hey MS
If TVP and soy products cause men to grow boobs shouldn't most asian men wear bras?
May the four winds blow me safely to Maine.
Cheeswhiz-------Eat some of that TVP----------You'll make the 5th wind to get you to Maine :D
I was looking at the herbal remedy my wife takes for menopause, and soy isoflavines is the number one ingredient. I will skip soy products from now on, I don't need any estrogen.
I was looking at the herbal remedy my wife takes for menopause, and soy isoflavines is the number one ingredient. I will skip soy products from now on, I don't need any estrogen.
Skylark..soy isoflaviones are concentrated from the soy plant. It is NOT the same as soy food products. TVP and tofu are food, made from soy.
You have little to fear.
Thing is, even men need estrogen. Heck, women need testerone to survive!
what is tvp? i dont think it was explained in this thread. least i dont know what it standsfor.
David
what is tvp? i dont think it was explained in this thread. least i dont know what it standsfor.
David
Textured Vegetable Protien. It is a soy product, has no real taste, high in protien, low in calories, sodium and fat. It comes in tiny and chunky sizes. And is very affordable and light.
generoll
01-07-2006, 10:05
a couple of thoughts on this subject.
are you certain that TVP is made from soy? i thought it was made from wheat gluten.
TVP by itself is like tofu in that it basically has little flavor. it gets its flavor from whatever sauce you cook it in.
TVP granules can be used anyplace where you'd use ground beef and doesn't require any refrigeration. i've used it with a bakepacker to make an acceptable meatloaf on backpacking trips. it tasted pretty good at the end of the day, but i did have to stop early enough to gather wood to make a fire for cooking.
TVP, like every other food is subjective. some will like its utilitarian nature and others will hate it. try it for yourself and make up your own mind.
a couple of thoughts on this subject.
are you certain that TVP is made from soy? i thought it was made from wheat gluten.
No. TVP is made from Soy.
What you are thinking of is Seitan. Also called "Wheat Meat". It is my favorite meat substitute. It takes on the spice flavor of what you are cooking and has a better texture than any of the other substitutes, IMO.
It also does not have the "Soy taste" to it.
You can make it yourself.
Alligator
01-07-2006, 14:04
No. TVP is made from Soy.
What you are thinking of is Seitan. Also called "Wheat Meat". It is my favorite meat substitute. It takes on the spice flavor of what you are cooking and has a better texture than any of the other substitutes, IMO.
It also does not have the "Soy taste" to it.
You can make it yourself.
A Texan who knows how to make Seitan? That just doesn't seem right.
How do you make it? Does it take long? It's very hard to find in my area.
I was looking at the herbal remedy my wife takes for menopause, and soy isoflavines is the number one ingredient. I will skip soy products from now on, I don't need any estrogen.
FWIW, a male friend of ours who has been through prostate cancer treatment, as part of his post-treatment regimen, is supposed to eat soy-containing foods several times a week. Several years into this, he is neither wearing a bra, nor has he stopped shaving.
I experimented with TVP for a while. It doesn't taste like much...but I grew to recognize its subtle flavor, and to dislike it. I don't mind eating it once in a while, especially in something strong-flavored like veg. chili, but I wouldn't want to have it every day.
A Texan who knows how to make Seitan? That just doesn't seem right.
So I have been told. :o
Well I went through my 21 Vegetarian cookbooks and couldn't find the right recipe. I know Arrowhead mills makes a "quick mix" but that's not what you want.
How do you make it? Does it take long? It's very hard to find in my area.
I did a google search and got a lot of hits but some of them weren't the right way. I did find one though.
http://www.innerself.com/recipes/entrees/seitan.htm
Only thing is, I don't think you would wnat to carry it too long in the pack.
I don't see why you couldn't dehyrate it though. Something to experiment with!
:sun
LostInSpace
01-08-2006, 17:25
It doesn't taste like much...but I grew to recognize its subtle flavor, and to dislike it.
Ha ha ha ha! Is this a "cultivated" dislike? This discussion reminded me of some of my wine drinking friends have "educated" their taste in the same way. To each his/her own. I agree. If it doesn't taste good to me, then I would not eat it either. I have found TVP to be a good way to provide balance in one pot dishes. My hiking partner disagrees!!!!! :D
minnesotasmith
01-09-2006, 15:11
I've eaten TVP often, and I like it in casseroles. It adds a little vegetable protein to what ever you put it in. I never noticed that it gave me any more gas than the rest of the junk I eat.
I eat plenty of meat, too. But, it's funny how many meat eaters feel threatened when you talk about TVP. It's as if you are advocating taking away their pork chops.
I say it would be more accurate to state that vegetarians are more threatened by anyone pointing out that their diet is incomplete (most vegans run zinc deficiencies if they don't take regular supplements to take the place of what they would have gotten via the meat they are supposed to have eaten some of, and then there's B-12, rather sparse in plant products). Certainly, vegetarians think more about omnivores than the reverse, so there's no question which group is more obsessed with how the other eats.