Why Hearts Of Palm Works Wonderfully As A Meat Alternative

Tofu and seitan are great meat alternatives for vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians alike, but sometimes it's nice to switch it up. These classic alternatives pack in a lot of protein, but in certain dishes, they don't always have the right texture for the meat they're trying to replace. If you're looking to add a new plant-based ingredient to your meat-free repertoire, consider hearts of palm. 

This vegetable is exactly what it sounds like. It comes from the center of certain species of palm trees, including the palmetto, coconut, and açaí palm. These palms are grown and harvested in Florida and throughout Central and South America. Called "palmito" — which translates from Spanish to little palm — it's most commonly used raw in salads or cooked as a side dish.

While the center of a tree may not sound super tasty, hearts of palm are soft and easy to chew, much like an artichoke heart. In fact, it has a flavor similar to artichoke hearts or asparagus, as it's nutty and slightly briny. It is normally sold packaged in a can, with the vegetable itself looking like a tubular piece of string cheese. In recent years, heart of palm has become popular for those looking to cut down on carbohydrates or calories in their diet. Hearts of palm is low in both of these and is used to make a naturally gluten-free pasta substitute. 

Hearts of palm is one of the best alternatives to seafood due to its texture and relatively neutral flavor. Making a vegan-friendly ceviche is a must with this ingredient —chopped in small chunks, the vegetable remains uncooked and stands up nicely against the acidity of the lime juice. When mixed in with a creamy dressing, hearts of palm can be transformed into an incredible fish-free lobster roll. It's good anywhere else you might use lobster, like in a mac 'n' cheese, bisque, or even just seasoned and served along with melted vegan butter. Vegan calamari, po' boy sandwiches, and scallops are just a few more alternative seafood ideas where hearts of palm would shine. 

Hearts of palm work for meat replacement too — shredded and cooked down with a salsa of your choice, you can have yourself a filling for some pretty amazing tacos. Due to its firm, sturdy texture, this tropical vegetable can be seasoned and put on the grill to impart a smoky flavor and char, such as BBQ meat. If you need more inspiration, remember that this vegetable maintains a firm texture when cooked, so use it to replace meat in curry, stir-fries, stews, and salads. In the countries where hearts of palm is native, many different methods are used to cook hearts of palm to make a tasty side dish, including pan-frying, searing, and roasting.