What Is Textured Soy Protein (TSP or TVP)?
Usually packaged to replace meat, textured soy protein or TSP (also known as Texturized Vegetable Protein or TVP) can be found in the form of flakes, granules or chunks. When hydrated, TSP can be used in numerous recipes to create low fat and appetizing dishes. Textured soy is made from soy flour, it is a rich source of isoflavones, protein (TSP contains around 70% of protein), fiber, iron, and zinc. Soy flour and water are used to make textured soy protein in a process that is called ‘extrusion cooking’. In addition to its benefits, TSP is very quick to cook and if bought in bulk comes out to be quite inexpensive. When rehydrated, its appearence is very close to meat. TVP can be found unflavored or flavored with different type of meats (chicken, beef, etc). Using textured soy as a meat substitute can give vegetarians a new set of recipes, adding burgers, chilis, meatballs dishes, etc to their repertoire.
