Anyone have any ideas or recipes on what to make with TVP BESIDES chili or Sausage. I just got a bunch of it on sale and need some inspiration. I am not a vegetarian but I am temporarily sick of meat. Thank you

Do you like cabbage? Try this version of a Hungarian casserole that my father used to make:

Put one cup of TVP granules in a heatproof bowl.

In a 2-cup measuring cup, combine the following:

- 3 tablespoons oil (corn tastes best but use a light olive oil if you prefer)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Pinch of oregano
- (optional but improves this a lot) 1/2 teaspoon porcini mushroom powder

Fill the measuring cup to the one cup line with BOILING water. Stir and add all at once to the TVP granules. Mix well and allow to reconstitute for at least 10 minutes.

In the meantime, slice a large onion and shred some cabbage (half a large head, or a whole small head). Saute together in another spoonful of oil in a large pan with a little salt and pepper until limp and beginning to turn a little golden. Add two tablespoons of fresh sweet (sweet = not hot) Hungarian paprika and turn down the heat.

While the cabbage and onions are frying, in a separate nonstick pan fry the TVP mixture, including any unabsorbed broth, until all broth is absorbed and the TVP is evenly cooked and hot. Set aside until the vegetables are done.

When the vegetables are done, stir in the TVP mixture and a few pinches of ground caraway (you will probably have to grind the seeds yourself in a mortar, but it doesn't take long). Adjust the paprika and salt to taste. Add a few drops of water if the mixture is too dry (it should not be saucy, but it should be a little moist).

If you can spare the carbs, and you want to make something more like the original recipe (based on egg noodles), consider adding a minimal amount of low-carb noodles to the mixture right at the end, say a quarter-cup (cooked) in each portion.

I also use a little TVP in place of chicken in a "chicken broth" based vegetable soup. Simply add the correct amount of vegetarian "chicken broth" seasoning to boiling water, and add whatever vegetables you like to add to soup (I'll use anything that is low carb except broccoli). When the veggies are nearly done, add a smallish handful of TVP granules to the pot. The TVP will reconstitute itself right in the soup and take on the flavor of the broth. Since the TVP gives you a little of the same chewiness as noodles, it rounds out the soup without the carb hit.

Incidentally, when you buy granulated TVP, look for something called "Textured soy concentrate." The sugar is removed and this results in a far lower-carb product than regular TVP, which is made from whole soy flour.

This is a great idea for Dashi soup, I miss the noodles and this will give me that texture and protein.


The TVP I got is Bobs Redmill and is made from defatted soyflour and has only 3 net carbs per 1/4 cup dry. Can't get much lower carb than that. Thanks for the great ideas for TVP and Seitan.

Cook ON!

Former Vegan here...just a question- does TVP upset your stomach? I know that it is HIGHLY processed and I could never digest it! I did low carb vegan and lived on so much soy...had all of these stomach problems until I cut the stuff out..soy is eeeeevil!

Sunnybloom, most people have trouble digesting the sugars in TVP because they are the "bean sugars" that make everyone, uh, "windy" after eating beans of any kind. "Textured Soy Concentrates" have some of these sugars removed and are easier to digest.

Soy is one of the foods that allergic people frequently have trouble with. There isn't a lot of soy allergy around, but if your reaction is fairly severe and happens whether you eat TVP or tofu or anything made with soy beans or milk, it may be a reaction to the soy itself.

Wow, I haven't been by the forums in forever, and look how much weight I have lost. I honestly did not realize.

My only advice is to start slow if you're not accustomed to it. I can eat tofu or soymilk, but TVP does a real number on my gut.