Results tagged “faux meat”

LightLife Smart Deli Bologna Style Veggie Protein Slices

By: Ellen | Sep 12, 2009

Feeling adventurous, I decided to pick up Lightlife Smart Deli Bologna Style Veggie Protein Slices at the grocery store today, in an effort to further expand my meatless horizons. Having tried the Lightlife Smart Deli Pepperoniand liking it, I was optimistic about this too. It didn't hurt that a 5.5-ounce package (2.5 servings) was $2.69 - cheaper than some packages of real deli meats.

I brought home my "bologna" and opened the package. Like real bologna, the meatless kind had a sort of tan-pink color. Amazingly enough, it tasted a whole lot like bologna, too. Each slice was thick and satisfying, and not at all artificial-tasting. How do they do it? If all veggie meats tasted as good as this, I'd be a vegetarian in a heartbeat! I ate the slices by themselves to really get a sense of the flavor, but these would be great on sandwiches as well.

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat

Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo

By: Laura S | Sep 10, 2009

While picking up chicken sausage at Trader Joe's, I saw a product I hadn't tried: Trader Joe's Soy Chorizo. I often need chorizo for stew recipes, and usually just substitute spicy chicken sausage, but seeing a vegetarian option made me curious. Would the extra spice give my stews more flavor? I decided to find out.

Each package contains two large links with five servings each. For my recipe, I wanted to use just one link, but I found the packaging a little difficult to maneuver. First, there was a dark red juice in the package that got everywhere when I cut the package open. Next, I tried to slip one link out of the stiff plastic, but after struggling for a bit, I found that the two casings were tied together. Finally I cut them apart and put the chorizo on my cutting board.

The outside of the package said to remove the casing before cooking, and my recipe said to slice the chorizo. I started by pulling the casing off one end - only to find that the soy chorizo crumbled upon removal of the casing that held it together. On the other side, I tried to slice it with the casing still on, removing the casing after slicing, but even slicing it made the soy crumble out the sides of the casing. Finally, I just put it into my stew as crumbles instead of slices.

In its raw form, the chorizo was quite spicy, but once cooked, it didn't really add much heat to my dish. Unfortunately, it did give a lot of that telltale soy aftertaste, common in products like soy yogurt or ice cream. I was really disappointed with the flavor and consistency.

See more on: Condiments , Vegetarian , faux meat

Yves Meatless Deli Salami Slices

By: Ellen | Aug 21, 2009

I have a long relationship with real salami; I remember eating it on delicious baguettes when I was in Paris, a happy memory both in terms of the food and the company on that trip. However, but I've been looking for a suitable alternative with less fat and fewer calories than regular salami. Yves brand has a slew of meatless options, and although I'm not vegetarian, I thought Yves Meatless Deli Salami Slices would be worth trying.

At first glance, you can tell that this is very different in appearance from 'regular' salami. It's pinker, with a less marbled red-and-white appearance. The taste is also different - it doesn't have that sharp bite that real meat has, yet it was enjoyable. I had it plain so I can only imagine how much more delicious it would be when incorporated into a sandwich.

See more on: Vegetarian , deli, faux meat

Boca Bratwurst Sausage

By: Sarah J | Aug 12, 2009

Meat & Veggie lovers unite! I have found a product you will both agree is fantastic and it's name is Boca Bratwurst Sausage. This veggie sausage is AMAZING! Vegetarians will enjoy the full bodied flavor and meat eaters will enjoy the 'real meat' taste.

Okay - so the very definition of "Bratwurst" is a small sausage made from ... MEAT (pork specifically) - and these are made from soy. But semantics aside ... I can not rave enough about these brats. I eat them plain, on a bun, added to chili, dips, etc. They are great when cooked on the stove as well as the microwave. The spicy flavor is perfect. My mom, a health conscience omnivore prefers these to the real deal. My brother, who is a sausage fanatic, now asks for these instead. Yes - they are really that good .

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat, sausage

Yves Meatless Pepperoni

By: Ellen | May 14, 2009

When I read Jessica's review of Lightlife Smart Deli Pepperoni, I couldn't wait to try it. I love pepperoni - on pizza, in sandwiches, as well as by itself. Since I could easily see myself eating an entire package, the fact that would only be eating 200 calories worth of protein-packed goodness was highly appealing. When I went to the grocery store to look for the product though, I couldn't find it! What I did find, however, was Yves Meatless Pepperoni. At $2.49, the price was comparable to Jessica's find.

As for the taste, I found that like Lightlife Smart Deli Pepperoni, it wasn't exactly like pepperoni; it lacked a certain something unique to real meat, something I couldn't put my finger on. The spices were really good, but the texture was very "imitation meat." It also left a strange aftertaste in my mouth, something that I wasn't too happy about.

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat

Lightlife Smart Deli Pepperoni

By: Jessica | Dec 1, 2008

As a vegetarian, I am constantly on the lookout for cool veggie protein sources. I am extremely picky, however, so when I find something I like I remain loyal. My favorite brand for most meat alternatives is Lightlife. I don't even like the taste of real meat, but somehow I very much enjoy many of Lightlife's wide variety of substitutes. While stocking up on Mori Nu tofu the other day, I found a coupon for $1.00 off of any Lightlife product, so I decided to try something new instead, and settled on Lightlife Smart Deli Pepperoni. At $2.19 ($3.19 originally, minus coupons savings), it didn't break the bank.

Being impatient and starting to get a little bit hungry, I opened the box and tried a couple slices as my friends and I were walking out of the store. Also, I took the slices out and ate them cold, and my friends laughed at me. "Pepperoni is meant to be eaten warm, cooked, heated up! It will taste better then" they said However, they each tried a bit, and said it wasn't bad, but they we agreed that heated pepperoni would be better. I tried it hot once I got home, and they were right. It was pretty good, though I thought it was fine cold too.

It was an acquired taste for me though, as I am not originally a huge fan of pepperoni flavor in general. It definitely has a very strong flavor, though not exactly spicy. The texture is pleasant, not tough to chew. A little stronger than lunch meat slices, but not like actual cuts of meat. These would go great on a vegetarian "pepperoni" pizza, and could possibly fool the carnivores in your life as well (though I am not sure of this as I haven't eaten pepperoni since I was about 3 years old). There is a little bit of an aftertaste, as one might expect from any kind of pepperoni, meat-free or not.

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat

LightLife Smart Menu Veggie Bolognese

By: Tanya Patrice | Mar 12, 2008

Bolognese is one of my favorite Italian dishes so I was really excited to try LightLife's vegetarian version. LightLife Smart Menu Veggie Bolognese is part of their Heat'n Eat category, which are foods that are extremely fast and easy to prepare. You literally tear a vent in the pouch and pop it in the microwave for a few minutes. The Veggie Bolognese has black olives, green pepper, chunks of tomato, and Lightlife Smart Ground to zesty marinara sauce and pasta. I poured mine out onto a nice plate and added some shredded parmesan cheese to make it look a bit more appealing.

The marinara was flavorful and the dish felt warm and hearty. The soy protein had a good texture and more closely resembled ground meat than I thought it would. I'm not a fan of olives but they were big and therefore easy to pick out. The only thing I would change is that the pasta was tiny - picture ziti pasta cut in half. I would have liked larger pasta, but the texture was right on (a benefit probably from never being frozen).

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat

Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Veggie Protein Strips

By: Caroline Yoder | Jun 4, 2007

I am what you call a last-minute cook. I almost never plan exactly what I am going to eat for dinner until five minutes beforehand, when I realize that I am famished. Because of this lack of forethought, I often rely on brands like Morningstar Farms to provide healthy, meat-free protein sources.

Morningstar Farms produces a line of meat alternatives called Meal Starters, which, as the name suggests, makes mealtime much easier for spontaneous cooks such as myself. They come in four varieties: Chik'n and 'Steak' strips and Sausage style and Ground Beef style crumbles.

While the crumbles are versatile in their own right, I much prefer the strips for creating more inspired dishes. The strips mimic the real deal so closely that I have had my family members ask me, "Oh, are you eating chicken again?" and "Since when do you eat steak?" They smell and look just like their intended meat counterparts. The texture is similar, although they might be a bit chewier than meat. Taste wise, the strips present a pleasant saltiness to the palate, and the chik'n strips have a slight southwestern seasoning to them.

Both the chik'n and steak strips lend themselves particularly well to fajitas, stir-fries, casseroles, and pastas. Most recently I used the chik'n strips to make a vegetarian version of chicken and gravy over rice; I often use them to top salads as well. All it takes is a quick zap in the microwave and a little inventiveness to make a delicious and healthful meal

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat

Quorn Meat Free Dogs

By: Tanya Patrice | Jan 5, 2007

The latest 'applicant' in my quest for the perfect "meatless hot dog" is Quorn Meat Free Dogs. "Quorn" is made from a "mycoprotein" (a member of the fungi (or mold) family). That would make Quorn dogs suitable for vegetarians, except that this product also contains egg and milk ingredients. So if you are strictly vegan - this might not be for you.

This also might not be for you if you want something similar to a plump, juicy and tasty hot dog. Unfortunately Quorn dogs just don't make the cut. They are thin and wimpy and don't plump on cooking. The taste is bland and almost like cardboard and they cook to a very unattractive brown color.

So far, the best "meatless dog" I have reviewed is Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs and I also love Morningstar Farms Corn Dogs - but that's more of an after dinner snack. The worst I've tasted so far is Boca Soy Sausages - and Quorn dogs are not far behind.

See more on: Meaty , Vegetarian , faux meat, hot dog

LightLife: Smart Bacon (Meatless)

By: Tanya Patrice | Apr 28, 2006

Since that Morningstar Farms Veggie Bacon Breakfast Strip fiasco, I have been very hesitant to try another 'meatless bacon' product. From the comments, it seems like there are quite a few people who loved the Morningstar Farms Veggie bacon, but I stand by my statement that I thought this was a horrible cardboard tasting mess! For those of you who loved MStar, let me introduce you to Smart Bacon. It is so much better!

Now, from the looks of it, it does not resemble bacon in the least, which left me full of doubt that this would actually taste like bacon. Then, I had kept it in the freezer, and it was all stuck together. I tried running hot water over it to loosen the pieces, but this only helped me tear apart small bits and pieces of the 'bacon', and I couldn't get one long nice strip. So note to other potential users - keep it in the refridgerator, not in the freezer!

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat, veggie bacon

Morningstar Farms Corn Dogs

By: Tanya Patrice | Oct 29, 2005

Morningstar Farms veggie corn dogs are A++. In other words, great! And you're not just taking my word for it. I made one of my strictly carnivorous male friends taste one, and he loved it! First, the outer crust covering has a sweet, corn bread taste to it. Then the 'faux sausage' part in the middle tastes like meat, although it's made from soy. This is so good that it's hard to just have one - in fact, I had 2. There are two ways to make these corn dogs - 20 minutes in the oven, or 2 minutes in the microwave. I did it in the oven, so I'm not sure if it would taste different if done in the microwave.

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat, hot dog

Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs

By: Tanya Patrice | Dec 8, 2004

Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs look like 'regular' meat wieners, and they taste just as good as well! After trying the Boca Soy Sausages which were not good - which is putting it mildly - I was skeptical about how these would taste. Luckily, I need not have worried because these cooked up almost as juicy, and certainly as tasty as all the other good hot dogs I've had. Most meat eaters will be able to detect a slight difference between these, and regular hot dogs, but I don't think it will be an issue.

See more on: Vegetarian , faux meat, hot dog

Morningstar Farms Veggie Bacon Breakfast Strip

By: Tanya Patrice | Nov 6, 2004

It is simply a travesty that they include the name bacon in this product. It vaguely resembles bacon, and certainly doesn't taste like bacon. In fact, it is extremely bland, tasting mostly like a thick piece of paper. It doesn't look like meat, nor does it taste like meat, so why are they trying to pass this off as a meat substitute? I couldn't stomach not even a piece of a strip.

See more on: Vegetarian , bacon, faux meat, veggie bacon