TVP means Textured Vegetable Protein

Again, as stated before, why do vegan foods have the most bizarre names ever? I think textured vegetable protein sounds ghastly. When you say it, it just conjures up images of knobby vegetables. Well, it does for me.

Instead of saying textured vegetable protein, we like to shorten it to TVP. Better, but not great. I think when most non-veg folks hear it, they get scared and run away. This is pretty much the same way I react when I walk into McDonalds or Outback Steakhouse.

However… fear not! There is a better name for it, Defatted Soy Flour Protein!

My Chubby Vegan Crown

Okay, maybe not.

Let’s just call it, “That Good Stuff that comes in the Box.”

YES! Success! *kneeling for my crown*

Fortunately, there is a line of easy to make vegan (and some non vegan) foods, featuring TVP,  that are prepackaged in a box. Many of them are made by Fantastic Foods or other similar brands and are an easy and cheap option. TVP is a by-product of soy made after making soybean oil. It is an excellent protein source, low fat, and SUPER EASY to work with. It comes in a box or a bag and needs to be re hydrated. So just think of it like vegan astronaut food. Using TVP pretty much makes you the vegan Buzz Aldrin. 

Most of my experience with TVP has been with boxed vegan chili… This is explaining the name, “that good stuff that comes in the box.” 

Recently I tried some vegan sloppy joe’s which feature TVP as a primary ingredient. The recipe on the box only requires you to add some oil, water, tomato paste and the bag of TVP (and spices) in the box. However, I spiced mine up with a little bit of brown sugar, chili powder, caramelized onions, and love.

Instead of putting it on a sandwich bun, I put my sloppy joe’s over some garlic mashed potatoes with a side of steamed asparagus.

Simple, easy, and cheap... A chubby vegan trifecta!

Check out more pictures and the full recipe after the jump.

Mama's Sloppy Joes

Source: Fantastic Foods

Ingredients:

1 package Fantastic World Foods ™ Sloppy Joe Mix

1 Tbsp butter or olive oil

½ medium white onion, chopped

¼ cup chopped fresh basil (I used a few pinches of dried because I didn’t have any fresh)

¼ cup diced tomatoes (I didn’t have any so I went without, but I think this would be great)

2 Tbsp Woodstock Farms® Organic Brown Sugar (I only used one and a half)

3 Tbsp chili powder (Only used two)

Hamburger Buns

Makes 5 hearty Sloppy Joes. 1. Prepare Fantastic World Foods Sloppy Joe Mix according to package instructions. 2. In a sauté pan, heat 1 Tbsp butter or olive oil. 3. Add chopped onion and let caramelize for approximately 2 minutes at medium heat. 4. Add brown sugar, chili powder, basil, and prepared Fantastic World Foods Sloppy Joe Mix. 5. Place mixture on buns of your choice. Enjoy!

Sloppy Joe Prep

Simple Ingredients

"The Awesome Stuff from the Box" Re-hydrating

Onions- one of my favorites

Brown sugar, chili powder, onion mixture

Potatoes, garlic, salt, vegetable broth

Mixing it up

Done and done... nom nom nom

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