Consumers have spoken. They want to put the “plant” back in plant-based. Whole Foods Market’s Trends Council’s top 10 food trends of 2024 list shows that walnuts are just one of the “new and emerging protein-forward products” that are on consumers’ wish lists in place of meat alternatives.
Yes, walnuts are a plant-based meat alternative that can be used in everything from a taco to a vegetarian burger to a pizza topping. In fact, there is already a great product on the market that uses California walnuts.
Glenda’s Farmhouse Walnut Crumbles are made with walnuts and other whole ingredients with names that everyone can pronounce. There are three different flavors — Original Savory Mexican Inspired and Asian Inspired — each with walnuts as the base ingredient.
Two of the products are comprised of 70% walnuts and one is 60% walnuts. Shiitake mushrooms and oats round out the base, and depending on the flavor profile, there are varying whole ingredients like beans, corn or red bell pepper to round out the ingredients list.
We recently chatted with Kristin Coley of Glenda’s Farmhouse to gain insight into how walnuts can be used as the perfect alternative meat.
“When you cook the product, it does look like meat,” Coley said. “But we’re not trying to claim that we are meat; we are a meat alternative, not a meat substitute. This is for the plant-based consumer who knows what they want.”
Walnuts paired with whole food ingredients like beans and mushrooms create a meaty-like texture that often is missing in current meat alternative products. This ingredient mixture also provides protein. Each variety contains four grams of plant-based protein per serving. One ounce of walnuts contributes toward your daily intake of good fats, offering 18 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of monounsaturated fat and 13 grams of polyunsaturated fat including 2.5 grams of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – the essential plant-based omega-3.
Walnut Crumbles’ Versatility
Another interesting facet of Glenda’s Farmhouse Walnut Crumbles is their shelf stability. The products don’t require freezing or even refrigeration, something completely novel in the plant-based meat alternative space. When it’s time for meal prep, consumers just have to open the bag, add water and sauté to warm the crumble up.
As for how to use the product, the options are limitless for integrating into family meals at home. The products are perfect in stuffed bell peppers, sloppy joes and even shepherd’s pie. In pasta sauces, walnut crumbles can add depth of flavor and texture into a vegan bolognese.
“Mexican-inspired walnut crumbles in nachos, which are an easy social food, are a perfect pairing,” Coley said. “The idea of eating a plant-based meat alternative is still kind of a reach for some people, so if we can make it as easy and simple as possible, helping them come up with solutions beforehand really paves the way for that introduction.”
Glenda’s Farmhouse provides a sneak peak at the potential of walnuts in the meat-alternative space. For more information:
- Visit Glenda’s Farmhouse
- Download our White Paper on Walnuts in Plant-Based Foods
- Email us to schedule a formulation ideation with walnuts
These products are mentioned for informational purposes only and inclusion does not imply an endorsement.
