Local chefs’ tips to navigate meat deficit
There are many ways, dishes that can be helpful in crisis.
The coronavirus has produced a mix of challenges for Americans, who are finding themselves adjusting their lifestyles in more ways than one.
Now there’s a meat shortage to deal with after multiple large meat-packing and processing facilities closed or are cutting back production due to outbreaks of the disease. National grocery chains, including Kroger and Costco, are limiting quantities of some meat items that can be purchased per customer.
For Americans who were perfectly fine eating meat with every meal, there are some surprisingly tasty alternatives out there.
How to get started? Local chefs gave us their advice.
Meats that might not be on your shopping list
Many Americans have been raised on a meat-heavy diet, and may not feel comfortable not having meat with meals. Chef Elizabeth Wiley, who owns Meadowlark Restaurant and Wheat Penny Oven and Bar, suggests turning to turkey, canned fish, seafood and your local meat producers.
“I am not a vegetarian, and so I do tend to add meat to my meals, even if it is not a lot,” Chef Wiley said. “Eat local meats. The small Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana producers aren’t having the problems that the big boys are. You can even get all kinds of chicken, beef, pork and lamb products delivered right to your door once a week.”
Chef Wiley suggests using Market Wagon, a supply-chain website based in Indianapolis that connects consumers with local farmers. “I get burger patties, Italian sausage, beef cuts, etc., as well as cheese, dairy and produce,” she said.
In addition to eating local, Chef Wiley has opted for turkey over chicken lately. “We have an amazing, all-natural turkey producer right here in our region, Bowman Landis,” she said. “Have you ever braised a turkey thigh? Flavor-wise, it beats the hell out of a chicken thigh. I also cook with a lot of ground turkey as well.”
Chef Wiley is also a fan of canned seafood. “Canned tuna is amazing in pasta,” she said. She really likes the clam spaghetti recipe that Dorothy Lane Market recently featured in its newsletter. She also recommends making salmon patties with Trader Joe’s boneless, skinless canned salmon for a delicious weeknight dinner.
Try cutting back on meat altogether
Before the coronavirus pandemic set in, there was already plenty of reasons for Americans to rethink their meat consumption, particularly red meat. Going meatless has been proven to be good for our waistlines, hearts and cancer risk. A study published Feb. 22, 2013, in Cancer Epidemiology found that eating a vegetarian diet reduced the overall risk of all cancers compared with eating a non-vegetarian diet.
Going meatless is also great for the planet. Raising livestock causes a cascade of environmental issues, from methane emissions and water pollution, to destruction of rain forests for grazing land. Environmental activists have long encouraged Americans that simply adopting a
small change in lifestyle, such as “meatless Mondays,” has an outsized effect on our carbon footprint.
How meatless meals can taste good
Chef Anthony Head of The Chicken Spot turns to a classic dish, beans and rice, when he wants to go meatless. Beans and rice is a versatile and filling meal that offers endless amounts of combinations, between varieties of both beans and rices, as well as herbs, flavorings and addons like onions, peppers and avocado.
Fully exploiting mushrooms is Chef Head’s other piece of advice. “They are little flavor sponges, and when cooked right give a wonderful texture,” he said. “Mushrooms are perfect for savory rich dishes with plenty of goodness to absorb, either to stretch meat out, or replace it all together.” If you’ve never experienced the meaty goodness of mushrooms, try Chrissy Teigen’s Thyme Butter Roasted Mushrooms.
Tempeh is an interesting soy-based vegan product that many people are unfamiliar with. Its use originated in Southeast Asia, and it boasts a firmer consistency than tofu. Tempeh has a nutty flavor, and tends to absorb the flavors of the food or sauce to which it is added. For an easy dinner idea, try slicing and marinating tempeh with your favorite stir-fry recipe.
If it’s hard for you and your family to shift from the tradition of using ground beef in your pasta dishes, tacos, chili, or sloppy joes, perhaps try a “ground meatless” alternative. These high-protein, vegan products are an easy substitute to those dishes.
It’s also worth noting that veggie versions of hamburger patties have come a long way over the years. Products like
Beyond Burger are plantbased and boasts the “satisfaction” of a traditional hamburger. Have kids who love hot dogs? After you add ketchup, kraut, relish, or veggie chili, they may have a hard time telling the difference between regular hot dogs and the new veggie versions.
In a surprising turn for one of the veggie world’s most boring vegetables, cauliflower has become a popular substitution for hot wings, of all things. It’s a healthier way to get all of that yummy buffalo flavor, without feeling weighed down.
There was one piece of advice that was unanimous: be creative. You might just find that you like these new foods and recipes enough to keep them in your diet after the pandemic passes.