Abstract: A food product is prepared by taking an undried or dried extruded piece of fibrous material, and combining the said piece with a protein based brine, flavors, salts and optional colorant, The extruded chunk and brine are combined under vacuum conditions for a period of time whereby the brine and soluble proteins therein are carried into the fibrous structure of the extruded chunk. This process is continued with gentle agitation of the product under vacuum until the required quantity of the brine is absorbed into the chunk. When the said absorption of the brine is complete, a known moisture content of the chunk will be achieved, with equal distribution of the solubilized proteins.