The invention provides novel food compositions having a realistic meat-like appearance and texture. The compositions comprise from about 50 to about 98% functional proteins, from about 0.05 to about 2% of one or more cross-linking agents, and from about 2 to about 50% of one or more humectant plasticizers. The compositions are produced by heating a preconditioned mixture of the food components under pressure and then expanding the heated composition to form the food composition.
