FAKE MEAT (MEAT REPLACEMENT PRODUCTS) (545 views)
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 7, 2023 11:17:09 GMT -5
Both my grown daughter and I are moving more to vegetarian/vegan every day. Normally, we don't need or want any meat or replacement. Food is good on its own.
HOWEVER, lately, we've been running into some really decent meat replacemtn products. (Surprise, surprise: husband and I normally hate hate them and just never really wanted. We could choke down fake corn dogs ONLY...given enuf mustard on em. Sorta.)
BUT NOW! I have found two products
- LightLife Hot Dogs - OH BOY, WE ARE enjoying HOT DOGS again!
Field Roast Pepperoni Slices - wow. I made those famous Zucchini Pizza things yesterday and used the pepperoni that daughter brought over. THOUGHT it would be awful..so didn't place on every slice. WAS I EVER WRONG! MAN. THOSE WORKED!!!!! I inhaled them. YES YES YES. Good.
- Daughter also loves (I haven't tried yet):
Field Roast Stadium Hot Dogs - she says they remind her of the hot dogs you get at ball games.
(She also found a decent bacon replacement...I don't know name right now...I found they worked fine in green beans with onion...but as bacon alone I wasn't crazy about em. Will have to try ...bought some more...will report back after a good test.)
Husband and I have always avoided 'fake meats' - the ones we tried just didn't come up remotely to real meat and we were just as happy to not use any. But I am heartened to now believe that there are some really nice ones available. i AM looking forward to try others.
IT's THE FLAVORINGS that make or break. In my humble...
(PS: One (of several) reason we are leaning towards plant-based diet: our medicals (Mayo Clinic recommended) - plus, both of us are showing some fatty liver.) We are trying to eat more anti-inflammatory foods, as well.
I am excited to find more good things. But dang, I'm so fussy. And my husband is even way way way worse. Hate fake tastes. Hate after-tastes. I don't need the texture of meat. I don't really need the taste to match exactly. BUT I WANT EXCELLANT TASTE. Is that asking too much? hahaha NO!!
What YOU got? Which ones are NOT VERY GOOD? Got any good recipes or uses?
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Post by wallycat on Jun 7, 2023 13:42:57 GMT -5
I've tried one and will never try another. I'd rather eat no meat than fake meat. Just me. Editing to add, some of the really early adapters of soy "meat" (boca burger, etc.) were quite delicious and that I would consider. I'm more into "real" food so if I feel like meat, I eat it. Same for fish, etc. And if it is eco or health important, plenty of vegetarian cuisine that is delicious.
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 7, 2023 14:24:07 GMT -5
Exactly both hubby and my feelings before. But now, gee...finding good food that is also NOT meat...is a big plus for some of us...who miss some of those mystery meat things, like hot dogs with all the carcinogens, etc in em. I am so thrilled to eat a hot dog again. AND PEPPERONI. (And many folks nowadays are told to avoid animal based products for health reasons, etc. I have PMR...Mayo says cut out the meat, for instance. HAPPY TIMES FOR ME...the food industry is finally catching up to human taste buds perhaps. I am hopeful.  Catbatty I've tried one and will never try another. I'd rather eat no meat than fake meat. Just me. Editing to add, some of the really early adapters of soy "meat" (boca burger, etc.) were quite delicious and that I would consider. I'm more into "real" food so if I feel like meat, I eat it. Same for fish, etc. And if it is eco or health important, plenty of vegetarian cuisine that is delicious.
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 7, 2023 14:32:59 GMT -5
I don't mean this thread to become a debate about meatless. Please let's not go there.NO for this thread...what I want to do is tell about the GOOD meat replacement taste tests and recommendations. (Edited to add: OR, to hear opinions about those Brands/types that were NOT so good.) That way, those of us who are interested can go look and try new things and maybe fall in love with something new to eat. (I wouldn't mind hearing about the bad ones, either.) Everyone's taste buds and mind-sets are different...we know that... Hoping for help for those of us who want to expand our buying and eating delights for those meat-like products. (IF anyone else cares about that kind of thing, I mean, or has been told they have to change. I am, here on this thread, registering MY OWN surprise to find some really good ones that I actually LIKED eating...after being less-than-thrilled with replacements before.) 
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Post by karenw on Jun 7, 2023 18:51:24 GMT -5
I have nothing personally against meat substitutes so I am not going to debate them, but personally I do not use them. I am not vegetarian nor will I likely ever be 100% vegetarian but my diet is largely plant based and has been for years and years. I hated meat as a kid but ate it because that is what was served until I was old enough to do my own thing. When I cook with meat now, it is added for flavor and not the main component of the dish. Rather, the dish would be "bulked" up with vegetables, beans, and/or grains/pasta. So for this reason (i.e. I don't care for meat in the first place), I don't seek out or desire to use meat substitutes.
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Post by Catbatty on Jun 7, 2023 21:10:51 GMT -5
Anybody recently tried any and liked em? Anybody try and didn't like? If they taste just lousy, I don't really want to find out the hard way. (I am now greatly encouraged by the ones I've tried this week. I was GREATLY surprised, having never cared for most of them.) It's not like eating meat so much. I've never been a meat lover particularly. (Well, bacon and beef...ok...do like both.) It's like finding good tastes without stressing about whether they are meat or not (for restricted diets). It's more about finding good eats, for me. I'm really thrilled to have found em. I am hoping to get my eating a bit better. After this battle I've had with PMR, I am trying to be so happy with food...and not think too much about the sugars and junk food I've had to lessen. I am LOVING finding things that work. (Remembered PEANUT BUTTER in CELERY the other day. QUITE THE TASTE TREAT! Ah, memories. Even thinking CHEX MIX, mit butter, might be better than the bags of junk I often bring home.) |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2023 10:04:17 GMT -5
This is a GREAT time to be experimenting with plant-based faux meats!! LightLife, agree, great hot dogs! I saw the Field Roast pepperoni slices just once at my store, and didn't get them. Next time, they were gone, never to return.  My favorite "bacon" product is Morningstar Veggie Bacon Strips. And right now, with summertime fresh tomatoes...OMG!!!! BLTs!!! Life is good! Cookouts? Gotcha covered! My life changed when Beyond Meat and Impossible Burgers finally hit the stores. The taste and mouthfeel is uncannily as I remember real burgers tasting. Personally, I choose Beyond Meat burgers, as it's a "cleaner" product (no GMOs) but either brand is incredible. Like sausages and brats? My favorite is Beyond Meat with Italian sausage. I use it in my spaghetti sauce, or grilled/sauteed with onions and peppers, in lasagna. Favorite breakfast sausages are Beyond Meat patties and Morningstar patties. I'll use them also in sausage gravy and biscuits. I enjoy making stir-frys and Asian noodle dishes and like using plant-based "beef" as a protein source. Beyond Meat recently came out with a seared tip "steak" product that has a really good flavor. I just used it in an Asian Tomato-Onion-Green Pepper stir fry and it was great! Morningstar also makes a "beef" strip product that I like. Now, all this said...let me point out that these products, while (usually) high in protein, can be high in sodium and fat. No cholesterol, but fat nonetheless. Everything in moderation. Nothing wrong when you want a burger or hot dog/sausage like regular people...grin. Hope this helps Ilene |
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Post by Catbatty on Jul 22, 2023 17:59:23 GMT -5
Oh, ilene! SO HAPPY YOU HAVE JOINED OUR FOODIE GROUP HERE!! I am just now reading your post here. Should have come here before writing an email to you just now... Oh well. (Folks, Ilene and I met via a food mailing list group that we both belong to. Ilene, are you the owner or moderator of that group?) groups.io/g/DeliciousLowBudgetRecipesBack to the topic (I easily get distracted): MEAT REPLACEMENTS -- I'm thrilled to see the ones you have tried and liked! Granted we all have different likes...but reading about what folks like is a great starting place for those of us wishing to eat something meaty but plant-based. WELCOME TO THE GROUP, Ilene!!! |
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Post by Catbatty on Jul 22, 2023 18:12:15 GMT -5
A few more we tried: 1. THE VERY GOOD BUTHER'S (is brand name) - plant-based butchery products...lots of them. I've only tried: -- Maple Bourbon BBQ Ribs --- To die for. Made in Canada...recently closed down due to lack of funding.  These ribs seemed almost real. Great flavor. FIRST INGREDIENT: Jack fruit! IF YOU CAN FIND A PACKAGE, LIKE I RECENTLY DID...LUCKY YOU! (But now, I don't know WHERE I purchased. Kept in freezer for coupla months.) 2. FIELD ROAST (brand name) - BUFFALO WINGS -- (plant based) not bad...spicy ok, not great sauce (but never been into hot wing sauce) - DH ill tolerate. If you love buffalo sauce, this might work well for you. 3. ALPHA FOODS (brand name) - THE ALPHA POT PIE (plant based) - very yummy! (tried 'Beefy Chedd'r, then Chik'n Veggie) Normally, I don't care for meat replacement products, but these were divine! 4. TRADER JOE'S MEATLESS MEATBALLS - long ago. thought they were ok. (Can't really remember much now.) |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2023 7:35:04 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome, Brenda! I am a Moderator on the three Prudent-Living lists. And thanks for the group link plug  The Very Good Butcher...I've heard about that but could never find it here. But your mention of "ribs" jogged my memory...I remember ribs from (I think...Yves?) that were incredible. Yves has a nice line but can't get it here anymore...they had a sliced pepperoni and salami that made excellent sub sandwiches. Alpha Foods Pot pies...YESSSSSS!! I'd also be interested to hear what others have tried and liked/disliked Ilene |
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Post by Catbatty on Oct 11, 2023 2:07:37 GMT -5
Trader Joe's -- I tried both of their beef replacements! The one I/we (family) went crazy for was the cheapest one. 1 pound of ground beef-like. (The one that sells for about $3.00 -- has stuffed bell peppers on cover.) FANTASTIC! (FOR KICKS I ALSO PURCHASED THEIR PRE-MADE CORN TORTILLA TACO SHELLS. I never do that. We always ALWAYS fry up our own tortillas. But OH BOY, these were so good and fresh for the first 2 nights.) I called my daughter and begged her to come over for a taco. She came and went nuts, too. She went there and bought both of us each 4 packages. NO SHRINKAGE was a big plus!! I got at least 10 tacos and a coupla small rice/meat dishes from it!!! Talk about saving money vs buying real hamburger! Course, I didn't just heat up the product. I put oil in a saucepan, and some chopped onion, various spices (cumin, etc)...until they were the flavor we really liked. Later filled with shredded cheddar, black olives, ancho chiles, tomato, lettuce, OH SO GOOD. Good on anything, btw, too. I plan on always using this product for anything I would normally use ground beef for. DH loved the tacos ...(fried corn tortillas by this time) I will buy the pre-made taco shells again for rush meals, so fresh and so crisp. (Heat first at 350 for 5 minutes before filling.) (They were best first 2 nights.) Anyway: there is hope for ground beef. For 3 bucks, head to TJ's and give it a try. You will be blown away, I predict--especially if you have been yearning to find a delish ground beef replacement!! This stuff is just good if you want to have some CHEAP food on hand. |
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Post by traildoggie on Oct 17, 2023 17:15:42 GMT -5
I like vegie burgers as long as they don't mimic meat. I'm a lot like karenw. my diet is mainly plant and grain based, with a little chicken and fish thrown into the mix. turkey breast roast for thanksgiving. we were ovo-lacto vegetarians for decades but it was hard to eat out in restaurants then, especially in small towns, and especially hard visiting at peoples homes. a lot of people go into brain lock when you say "vegetarian".
I like white meat chicken and a few fishy things. I don't like meat that i ate as a child. its cruel, environmentally unfriendly, boring, the same-old, same-old. I did Impossible burgers once from costco. I used to like the morningstar vegie burgers they had and thought these would be similar. well, they arent. I took one bite,spit it out,threw the package away. I dont like the taste and texture of meat, so not planning to try anything that tries to imitate it. the range of foods that dont use meat is vast and full of variety. I use eggs and dairy but also soy products and every grain or seed.
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Post by McClaudeHarper on Nov 26, 2023 21:38:32 GMT -5
It's awesome to hear that you're exploring more plant-based options, and it seems like you've discovered some excellent meat replacement products that work for you! Flavor is indeed a key factor when it comes to enjoying these alternatives.
My friend Chetta Apipatana had a similar experience with trying various plant-based products, and one brand that's often worked well for her is Beyond Meat. Their burgers and sausages tend to have a satisfying flavor profile that makes them a great addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet. As for recipes, you can get creative with these meat replacements. For example, Beyond Meat burgers are fantastic on the grill or in a skillet. You can load them up with your favorite toppings and condiments for a delicious plant-based burger experience.
Keep exploring, and you might discover more tasty options that suit your preferences. It's all about finding what works best for your taste buds and aligns with your health goals.
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These ribs seemed almost real. Great flavor. FIRST INGREDIENT: Jack fruit! IF YOU CAN FIND A PACKAGE, LIKE I RECENTLY DID...LUCKY YOU! (But now, I don't know WHERE I purchased. Kept in freezer for coupla months.)
