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Food/Recipes

Subbing Quorn mince for beef mince

17 replies

BedStuy · 29/02/2020 08:42

Wanted to make my normal chilli but with Quorn mince instead of beef mince in an attempt to cut down red meat... can I simply use frozen Quorn mince in the recipe or do I need to do anything else to it (cook it for less time, cook longer etc)? Never used it before!
This is my recipe
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chilli-con-carne-recipe

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BedStuy · 29/02/2020 08:42
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SkaLaLand · 29/02/2020 08:44

It doesn't need browning like beef mince but otherwise treat as normal.

We do this all the time and I can't tell the difference if I add a beef stock cube

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BedStuy · 29/02/2020 09:00

Thanks!

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Ricekrispie22 · 29/02/2020 09:00

Make the sauce first, then add the Quorn in the last 10 minutes of cooking. Quorn mince often needs more liquid than other dishes, so a little more stock or passata (100-200ml) than usual should do the trick.
I use this chilli recipe www.quorn.co.uk/recipes/chilli-con-carne-quorn-mince

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BedStuy · 29/02/2020 09:02

Ah great, that's helpful. Feels weird to not be browning it first!

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BrightonBB · 29/02/2020 09:03

Try making it with tinned green lentils too - either all lentils or just add a tin to your mince to reduce the amount of mince used. Tastes delicious.

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Arthritica · 29/02/2020 09:21

If it's possible, make the sauce the day before. Quorn has no taste of its own so the longer it sits and absorbs flavours, the better.

(I tend to make bolognese and choilli on the weekend to eat in the week because the flavour is better, but if you're in a rush it's will be totally fine.)

No browning, no cooking through - all it really needs is heating up as it's perfectly safe to eat straight from the bag. Much faster than meat cooking.

I add a heaped spoon of Marmite to add the depth of flavour missing, but as a PP said, a beef stock cube would also work ig you aren't needing to keep it veggie.

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BedStuy · 29/02/2020 09:56

Forgot to ask: can I freeze the chilli once cooked if I use the frozen Quorn?

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/02/2020 15:35

Yes, once something is cooked it's irrelevant whether it was frozen before cooking. Watching with interest as I have some frozen Quorn in the freezer that needs using up!

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Arthritica · 29/02/2020 22:06

Yes, no problem, OP.

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MrsJamin · 29/02/2020 22:13

Something else you might need to adjust too is a little more olive oil as quorn doesn't have oil in like beef mince.

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BedStuy · 29/02/2020 22:15

Thanks! All for naught tho as couldn't find any Quorn mince at all in shops! Ordering some from Ocado for next time tho. I can't really get a handle on whether you're actually cooking it or just heating it up!

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MunsteadWood · 29/02/2020 22:16

In addition to what PPs have suggested I always add extra fat to quorn dishes, as quorn lacks the fat content of meat (some may see this as a good thing but in general fat = flavour). A big glug of good olive oil or a knob of butter stirred through at the end of cooking will make your chilli extra yummy Smile

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PurpleDaisies · 29/02/2020 22:16

I would use Sainsbury’s veggie mince instead. It’s much nicer.

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blueskys72 · 29/02/2020 22:21

I think Vivera is nicer than Quorn.

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safariboot · 29/02/2020 22:22

In that recipe it should be fairly easy. As mentioned you don't fry the Quorn like you do beef mince, you make the sauce then drop the Quorn in. So in a recipe that calls for frying the meat in spices it can be awkward if you're not frying any meat!

Also agree Sainsbury's do a nice soya mince as another option, that one you do fry like beef.

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Queenoftheashes · 29/02/2020 22:32
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