Unlimeat, a Korean-based food company, is planning to introduce its newly developed plant-based pepperoni and mortadella slices, which contain high levels of protein, to the US. The products, according to the company, can undergo heating without drying out. 

As part of showcasing its technology, the business delved into deli slices for now but has plans to expand the same technology to its sausage line in the foreseeable future. 

“We’ve developed new methods of texturing plant-based fats (from coconut) that bring juiciness to plant-based meats with only one-third the calories of animal fats and zero cholesterol. In developing our deli line, we wanted to create and showcase products that best use our new plant-based fats,” Jey Oh, brand strategy director at Unlimeat, shares with FoodIngredientsFirst.

“Generally, vegan pepperoni is low in fat and burns easily when heated. However, Unlimeat pepperoni can be oven-cooked thanks to its infused plant-based fat. Meat-based mortadella is made from minced pork with diced pork fat, and our new plant-based fat lets us create a delicious plant-based alternative,” Oh further shares.

US expansion

Unlimeat sells plant-based Korean BBQ and pulled pork with Korean red pepper paste (Gochujang) in California. The company is planning to make the products available in the general market. In the pipeline is the launch of the plant-based Bulgogi in Korea. The same product will eventually be brought to the US. 

The plant-based market is gaining traction as of late. Recently, ADM announced its partnership with Benson Hill to develop high-protein soy for its North American market. 

Unlimeat has begun selling its plant-based jerky on Amazon.