Vegan chicken thighs created by plant-based food company THIS have launched in Tesco stores across the UK.
THIS has launched a brand-new product that it says ‘delivers the perfect balance of flavour and texture’ – vegan chicken thighs.
The mock meat has been crafted into ‘hyper-realistic’ thigh-shaped pieces with a ‘meaty fibrous texture, made possible through the company’s innovative extrusion technology’.
The vegan chicken thighs even have ‘skin’ made from seaweed to mimic the texture of chicken skin.
Made from a mix of soya and fava bean protein, the vegan chicken thighs are high in both protein and fibre.
The ‘succulent’ vegan chicken thighs, which the brand claims are the first to be nationally distributed, hit supermarket shelves today (May 13).
According to THIS, they are ‘perfect for multiple occasions’ and are recommended for use in dishes including traybakes, curries, and stews.
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THIS uses cutting-edge technology to bind plant protein fibres together to mimic the tissue structure of meat and give the thighs a hyper-realistic texture. Photo © THIS
Vegan chicken thighs
Describing the challenge in creating whole-cut animal meat products (which can include items like thighs, legs, and wings), THIS notes that they have a ‘complex three-dimensional architecture’.
This comes from the way protein fibres are bound together by a network of connective tissue and intramuscular fat, a structure that makes the meat juicy and gives it its texture.
THIS says it mimics this juiciness and texture in its thighs by binding bundles of soy and fava protein with olive oil-based fat.
This latest product from the London-based food company follow a number of releases so far this year, including THIS Isn’t Chicken Shawarma; THIS Isn’t Chicken Wings; THIS Isn’t Chicken Breast and frozen THIS Isn’t Beef Mince.
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The thighs can be pan-fried or oven-cooked and are available to purchase from Tesco now. Photo © THIS
‘Reinventing’ vegan dining
As well as being suitable for recipes, the thighs can be pan-fried or oven-cooked.
In addition, THIS says they are not only satisfying when it comes to taste and texture, but they are also ‘excellent…for those aiming for a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle’ due to the protein and fibre content.
In a statement sent to Vegan Food and Living, Mark Cuddigan, CEO of THIS, said: “We’re reinventing the way people experience plant-based dining and we’re incredibly excited to share our latest product launch, THIS™ Isn’t Chicken Thighs.
“We’re on a mission to lead a revolution to change what people eat, to protect animals and the environment – and with our ridiculously delicious and nutritious plant-based food we’ve got you covered with the ultimate plant-based chicken thigh.”
THIS Isn’t Chicken Thighs are available in packs of four from Tesco now, retailing at £3.80.
Are you keen to pack more veggies into your diet but still want that meaty element? Try these vegan mushroom recipes
Featured photo © Composition by VFL
