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The First Genuine Alt-Meat Turkey Hit the Market Just In Time for Thanksgiving

Kells McPhillips

November 19, 2020

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Photo: Prime Roots

Plant-based eating on Thanksgiving can be kind of a bummer—especially if you haven't gotten a hang of making delicious vegetarian main dishes. This year, though, herbivores everywhere can still eat turkey. Thanks to alt-meat innovator Prime Roots, a faux-bird made from plants can arrive at your doorstep before you've even finalized your sides menu.

On Thursday, one week from Thanksgiving Day, Prime Roots—which has previously created plant-based bacon, chicken, and beef—announced that you can gobble up its 16-ounce turkey roast ($30) as long as you place your order by November 23. You can also choose to order the alt-meat turkey special ($40) in the physical shape of a real turkey.

While the alt-meat may look a lot like the real deal, it has its own slew of nutritional benefits to brag about—including plenty of fiber to keep things moving on Turkey Day. Prime Roots uses koji, an umami-flavored Japanese fungus that’s a mainstay in Asian culture, as the base of all of its alt-meats. The turkey's ingredient list also includes rice, pea protein, pear fiber, rice paper, and vinegar to round out the texture and nutrient profile of the main. What you get? 13 grams of protein, zero grams of cholesterol, and 28 percent of your daily-recommended fiber intake per serving 3.5-ounce serving. A normal turkey, by comparison, contains about 23 grams of protein, about 55 milligrams of cholesterol, and no fiber to speak of (since that particular nutrient is found in plants alone).

**Shop now:** Prime Roots Turkey Special, $40

Because no Thanksgiving meal is complete without a platter of sides, Prime Roots also has the sweet potatoes, roasted green beans and faux-bacon, Brussels sprouts, corn and bacon mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and umami gravy covered. From the site, you can order a bundle that will serve either two to three or four to six people—depending on how you're spending this very unique Thanksgiving.

It's only fitting that a year characterized by alt-meat moving beyond beef would have a turkey finale at Thanksgiving, right? If you're a plant-based eater who wants to leave tofurkey in 2019, make sure to order your bird fast. They're, ahem, flying off the proverbial shelves.

How a dietitian styles her Thanksgiving plate:

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