Insights from traditional fermented legumes towards the innovation of modern plant-based meat analogues

Abstract

There has been a major growth in the development of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMA) in recent years. However, current PBMA often contain ultra processed ingredients and numerous additives to be able to mimic animal-based meat (ABM) including the meaty (umami) flavour, characteristic firm/chewy structure and juicy mouthfeel. In this review, the potential of ancient fermentation techniques as a minimally processed alternative to ABM and current PBMA are explored. Fermented foods including tempeh, natto, dawadawa and ugba are naturally high in protein and umami flavours. The nutritional, aroma, flavour and techno-functional properties are provided and discussed in the context of ABM and PBMA. The fermented foods have potential to be used as whole foods ingredients, or their constituents can be used as ingredients in plant-based foods. Particularly the umami flavours and high protein content combined with the naturally occurring high water holding capacity (WHC), solubility and other material properties make fermented legume foods suitable candidates for use in high-protein plant-based foods. Understanding the sensory characteristics and material properties generated during legume fermentation and their similarities to ABM can aid in stimulating innovations in food technology to obtain a new generation of less-processed PBMA with limited additives.