This meatless crumble recipe uses spices and seasoning blends to add flavor. Use a prepared seasoning blend or create your own blend of spices. The spice method is a great way to explore a wide-variety of flavors. See the picture above for some of the spices and seasoning blends that we have used.
The amount of spices used can be adjusted to your taste - test a small portion and adjust the level of flavor before preparing the whole batch. If your seasoning blend contains salt or you are adding flavors to your wet ingredients (e.g., seasoned broth or soy sauce), adjust the amount of salt, accordingly.
These crumbles are easy to make, but there is a little technique to it. The mix can absorb a lot of water, but the more water you use, the softer the final product. The recipe below results in a meatless crumble that is a little firmer and has a little more chew.
1/2 cup liquid (water, vegetable broth or other flavorful liquid)
1 1/2 teaspoon seasoning (your choice), plus 1 teaspoon seasoning to finish
1/2 teaspoon salt, if desired
1 to 2 tablespoon(s) oil
Directions
Put plant protein mix in a bowl. Add spices or seasoning blend and salt. Mix until dry ingredients are evenly distributed.
Gradually add liquid into the bowl, stopping frequently to stir. When the mixture is just moist, stop adding water. If more water is needed, add one teaspoon of water at a time and stir until the dry mix is no longer visible.
Stir gently with a fork to help form the desired crumble shape and size. Break up larger pieces with a pair of forks or your hands. The crumbles should have a sturdy consistency. The texture is correct if you can break up larger pieces with a little bit of give (a little stretch). If the crumbles break up easily, sprinkle a little more mix, stir and rest the mixture, until you get the right consistency.
Heat a wide pan over medium to med-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Add crumbles to the pan in a single layer. Once all of the crumbles are in the pan, fry for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly. For crispier crumbles, add another tablespoon of oil to coat the crumbles while frying.
When the crumbles are brown and crispy, add 1 teaspoon of seasoning and 1/4 cup of water. Stir to distribute evenly and allow water to evaporate.
Remove the pan from the heat and let the crumbles rest for about 10 minutes. The crumbles will start off soft and will firm up as it rests.
Recipe Note
This recipe makes about a 1/2 pound of product (typically a little more) and can be scaled up or down to make the amount that you want.
