3D-Printing a Plant-Based Seafood Alternative

Grocery stores offer many plant-based alternatives to beef, pork and poultry. But scientists say it’s hard to replicate the flavor, texture and nutritional content of seafood using plant-based sources. So researchers developed a new approach for simulating seafood and used it to make a snack inspired by fried calamari rings from squid. They combined two types of sustainable plant-based proteins, then used a 3D printer to shape the rings and give them a variety of textures to mimic real calamari. The research is being presented at ACS Fall 2023, a meeting of the American Chemical Society.