How 2021 made room for the ‘meat analogue’ in India

Accelerated by the pandemic and powered by environmentalists, we look back on a 2021 that saw launches of appetising alternatives such as plant-based kebabs, eggs and other ‘mock meats’

Pea protein mince, soy meat patties, legume-based eggs, plant derived fish fingers... the meat analogue platter is growing.

“There is a huge tailwind for plant-based meats in India,” says Abhishek Sinha, CEO, GoodDot, a plant-based meat company from Udaipur that introduced UnMutton Keema on World Vegan Day, November 1. It took his company nearly three-and-a-half years to develop the product and the R&D team is in the final stages of launching plant-based scrambled eggs, omelette, fish fingers and shrimp cutlets.

Similarly, to commemorate the day dedicated to veganism, Chirag Kenia, founder, Urban Platter, a platform for all gourmet and culinary requirements, in Bengaluru, too introduced meatless plant-based burger patties. He says, “The plant-based market in India is hungry for diverse options, especially in protein alternatives and we’re just getting started.”