Fragrance and flavor house MANE is shaking up the kebab industry with its launch of a vegetarian version of the well-known snack known as shawarma, doner or gyro and is debuting a range of flavoring blends for red and white meat.
Tapping into the rise flexitarians across Europe, the 100 percent vegetarian kebab follows a recent survey conducted by MANE of more than 1700 consumers in Germany, France and the UK, aged 18 to 65. It found approximately one quarter of Europeans wish to reduce their meat consumption within the next five years and believes a vegetarian kebab could be an appropriate meat alternative appreciated by many consumers.
“To meet continuing demand from the meat industry, MANE is launching traditional and innovative solutions for kebab manufacturers. The kebab is present in many different forms across the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa),” says the company.
“Our MANE meat experts have been developing solutions that meet “classic” kebab needs (from a functional and flavoring point of view), as well as those that require more innovation.”
Two types of production processes were analyzed; the most traditional and widespread method in which raw meat is placed on a skewer and then put in the freezer and the final user then fixes the skewer onto a rotating grill to cook it. The second, less common method, consists of cooking the marinated meat under casing before putting it on a skewer. It is then stored at +4°Celsius.
MANE has assessed the different varieties of kebabs that exist in the EMEA region as well as the latest market trends, and used this information to develop functional solutions with binding properties that can be integrated into a meat blend for traditional raw and frozen kebabs and cooked and fresh kebabs.
Its flavoring blends have been created for classic, as well as more innovative tastes with a range of eight different seasonings, from the ever popular “Kebab” to on-trend “Chimichurri” and “Souvlaki” profiles; all eight seasonings are compatible with both red and white meat.
MANE adds that its new kebab range demonstrates a deep understanding of the market and ability to provide creative and differentiating solutions for its customers.
Source: Food Ingredients First
