March 11, 2025 2 min read
Plant-based Koji pepperoni cooks, tastes just like the meat version expanding menu options for health-conscious, vegetarian and vegan customers
Pepperoni is America’s favorite pizza topping and now there is a plant-based alternative that cures the craving with less environmental impact and better nutritional benefits. Prime Roots Koji Pepperoni strikes the perfect balance of natural umami flavor, salt, and spice. Crafted using the same epicurean methods and tradition as classic beef or pork pepperoni, the texture and taste of Prime Roots Koji Pepperoniare incomparable to what one would expect from the average plant-based alternative. Even the most adamant meat lovers will be challenged to detect the difference, and attendees of the International Pizza Expo & Conference are invited to visit Prime Roots at Booth #533 to experience Koji Pepperoni.
Prime Roots was founded to address the environmental impact of producing pork, beef, and poultry deli cuts and charcuterie without sacrificing flavor, texture, or dining experience. Koji, a mycelium which is grown through a fermentation process and is like a mushroom root, is naturally fibrous. This is a sharp contrast to the crumbly texture of vegetable protein. Koji has the microscopic structure necessary to be fresh-sliced at varying thicknesses making it the ideal ingredient to craft plant-based pepperoni, salami, and other deli meats.
Prime Roots Koji Pepperoniis the first and only plant-based pepperoni that cups and crisps and has a fatty flavor profile. It can be cooked at high temperatures and was made for foodservice usage.
Prime Roots Pepperoni Nutrition Facts(Serving size: 1oz):
· Calories: 60
· Total Fat: 2.5g,
· Cholesterol: 0mg
· Sodium: 470mg,
· Total Carb: 6g
· Protein: 2g
Ingredients: Koji Culture, Water, Yeast, Konjac Root Flour, Natural Flavor, Pea Starch, Coconut Oil, Sea Salt, less than 2 percent of: Rice Bran Oil, Spices, Rice, Garlic Powder, Natural Smoke Flavor, Paprika Extract for Color, Natural Lycopene for Color, Calcium Carbonate, Hydrated Lime, Sodium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Sesame Oil.
“We have been piloting our Koji Pepperoni at pizza restaurants throughout the Bay Area and have had wonderful feedback from restaurant owners,” said Prime Roots Co-Founder Kimberlie Le. “Chain operators have told us it is the top selling plant-based topping and it has been bringing in incremental traffic of Prime Roots fans who are excited to have a new way to enjoy their favorite plant-based meat.”
Unlike many plant-based alternatives, Prime Roots Koji-Meats do not contain gluten, soy, GMOs, artificial ingredients, colors, flavors, or preservatives. The ingredient list is short, simple, clean, and free of all animal products.
Compared to animal protein, crafting Koji-meats uses 92% less water, has 91% lower land impact, eliminates 9kg of CO2 production per kg of Koji-Meat, and causes 89% less water eutrophication. Koji-meats can be enjoyed cold or hot, and while they do not need to be cooked, they can be substituted for meat at a one-to-one ratio in any recipe.
A cut above the rest, Prime Roots Koji Pepperoni is made for and by meat lovers and plant lovers. For more information, visit: www.primeroots.com.