Tata Plant-Based Awadhi Seekh Kebab Review – A Big No-No

Faux meat, meat analogues are nothing but meat-like food items made using vegetarian/vegan ingredients like paneer, tofu, soy, and mushrooms, to name a few. 

With the aim of replicating the iconic Awadhi Seekh Kebab, Tata introduced a plant-based version. The flavors, texture, aroma, appearance, and more are decoded in Mishry’s Tata Plant-Based Awadhi Seekh Kebab review.

Would we go back to the real deal after this?

Quick details on this product are mentioned in the table below.

What were we looking for in the Tata Plant-Based Awadhi Seekh Kebab?

How close does it come to the meat-based counterpart, in terms of taste and texture?

1. Taste

Awadhi dishes are loved for their subtle, delicate flavors layered with hint of spices. 

Could Tata’s plant-based version replicate the same flavors? Or did the flavor of the base ingredient overpower the seasoning? Were these fresh-tasting?

2. Texture 

Seekh kebabs prepared using finely minced meat have a soft, succulent bite. Adding some fat enhances the juicy texture as well the flavors. Is the texture and mouthfeel of this plant based kebab similar to a meat-based seekh? 

Can a plant-based kebab beat this?  

3. Main Ingredients

What is the base ingredient used? What are the seasonings and spices? Fat sources?

4. Other Parameters

Non-tasting parameters like price, packaging, convenience were noted in this section. 

Mock meats you can try – Imagine Meats | Shaka Harry | ITC

Taste & Texture

These kebabs were almost inedible. They had a very synthetic, industrial taste. The flavors were fairly odd and this was just bad tasting. Only the salt was well-balanced, otherwise this had an unappetizing flavor profile. 

Visually, the texture looked just like meat-based seekh kebabs. However, the bite and mouthfeel were disappointing. 

These cylindrical kebabs looked like the original, meat-based kebabs but the aroma was very off-putting. Industrial and prominent on clove.

How we made it?

The pack mentions three methods- grilling, air frying, and baking.

We grilled our kebabs in a non-stick pan. The surface was brushed with some oil and the kebabs were cooked until they were golden brown. Even while cooking these, the aroma was extremely off-putting. To put it into perspective, everyone in and around our test kitchen popped in to ask what are we experimenting with.

Main Ingredients

Water, Textured Vegetable Protein (22.5%- Soy Protein, Wheat Gluten, Soybean Oil, Natural Flavors), Refined Sunflower Oil (Antioxidant INS 319), Awadhi Seekh Kebab Seasoning (6%- Spices and Condiments, Starch, Natural Flavoring Substances, Nature Identical Flavoring Substances, Maltodextrin, Yeast Extract, Hydrolysed Vegetable Protein, Iodized Salt, Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Flour Binder (Refined Wheat Flour (maida), Stabilizer (INS 461), Starch, Wheat Fiber, Dextrose, Iodised Salt, Yeast), Onion, Coriander, Garlic Paste, Ginger Paste. 

Price & Packaging

One 200-gram pack holds five thick cylindrical pieces and is priced at Rs 350/-. It has a shelf life of nine months. Inside a red-white carton, there is a plastic see-through pack in which the kebabs were placed. We noticed some oil floating. We were surprised to read that this doesn’t need to be frozen when unopened.

Here are some interesting FAQs on Tata Awadhi seekh kebab.

Mishry does not recommend Tata plant-based Awadhi Seekh Kebab. All key parameters like aroma, appearance, taste, and texture were disappointing. This product is not worth your money. There are much better, fresher tasting plant-based meat option in the market. 

Have you tried faux meats? How was your experience?