The present invention relates to a process for making a vegetable base
meat analog, which may be used in a variety of vegetarian food products,
such as burger patties and sausages. The process of the present invention
involves sequentially blending methyl cellulose into a water/ice mix to
form a cream, then blending in a modified gluten, a vegetable protein
product having high solubility in water and capable of forming a gel with
mild heat treatment, an oil to make an emulsion base, and a modified food
starch and flavoring ingredients to form a flavored emulsion base. The
flavored emulsion base may be stuffed into casings, and then cooked. The
flavored emulsion base, once cooked, is a vegetable base meat analog and
has a high resemblance to processed meat products having improved
handling properties. The addition of the flavored emulsion base and the
vegetable base meat analog in vegetarian food products improves the
texture, mouthfeel, and juiciness of the resulting products.