What are the best fake meats?

[MintMunchie]

I'm trying to eat less meat and possibly go vegetarian/vegan in the future. This isn't too much of a hardship at the moment as I love vegetables, and pulses, but there are a few dishes that I'd like to try including fake meat in rather than buy meat, even though I'm not planning on giving it entirely for a while.

I'm going to Waitrose tomorrow and I'd love any recommendations for fake meats. I'm particularly interested in substitutes for meatballs, bacon and mince, but I'm open to anything.

Thank you in advance.

Iceland's 'No Bull/Chick' stuff it nice.

When I went vegan I used the Website One Green Planet for suggestions, but if you are on Social Media, your local Vegetarian/Vegan Society will have a page.

Most fake meats are very processed - I’m omnivore and really don’t see the appeal, most look disgusting!

Falafels for meatballs? Heck have a range meat free products now.

www.heckfood.co.uk/website/our-products.php?category=vegetarian&sortBy=lowhigh

Jackfruit is popular as a “pulled pork” style substitute. Even my DH enjoyed it when a vegan friend cooked it. She gets it in Co Op.

Thank you both. I'll check out the No Bull range, the jackfruit,I might try falafel so as meatballs too and One Green Planet.

I'm not the biggest fan of meat substitutes, and most of the time I'd rather have vegetables, but there are a few things that I'm craving especially pasta and meatballs and although I can just have the meat version I'd rather try a vegetarian version and save my meat 'allowance' for something I desparately want.

I've tried the IKEA veggie balls for meatballs and although they're nice in their own way, they're no substitute for a meatball

I like quorn meatballs, they cook well and I like the flavour. Ikea ones break up too easily.

I eat a lot of quorn , I like pretty much all of it as I don't want to eat meat and get bored of just veg . I love Linda mcaartney sausage rolls and
Mozzarella burgers . Also quorn fish fingers are really nice . I think you need to be prepared to throw some stuff away . I usually cook a few quorn roasts every week and cut them up for curry / sandwiches / etc .

we eat a lot of tofu which is cheap from oriental shops and pretty versatile. shops like this also usually have seitan, tempeh and other tinned “mock” meats like duck. for some reason i dislike the term “fake meat” but don’t know what i’d prefer - in america it seems to be called “plant-based” but they have way more options than us. meat/fake meat isn’t needed in most meals, halloumi is a good option if you’re not vegan.

There aren't. They are totally different. They have neither the flavour nor texture of meat.

If you want to go meat free you'll either have to manage without meat/ get used to the substitutes. But if you are looking for something which looks, tastes and feels like meatball or bacon, you will be disappointed.

Vegetables are the best fake meats.

I know they what be exactly like meat. I've tried enough of them to be aware of that, but I'm wondering which are the best, taking into account that none of them would really fool a meat eater.The quorn nuggets were surprisingly good though They aren't something that I'll be using very often, I love vegetables, but just occasionally, like craving junk food. And the options available seem to be improving too.

Thank you all for the suggestions so far. It's very helpful.

They won't be exactly like meat that should say.

I think most Quorn products are good if you want a meat substitute. Their mince, chunks and meatballs all provide a good base for lots of dishes and absorb flavours well. I don't think that falafels would work as meatballs if you are thinking of cooking them in tomato sauce!

I like seitan - the 'chicken satay' chunks from Kind Protein are lovely. Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are fab as well. I've not eaten meat for 45 years though so it's difficult to compare after this long!

Yes I know that vegetables are good. I eat a considerable amount of them. I made a chili with green lentils, kidney beans, sweet corn, peppers, carrots, onions, garlic and chili the other day, but I'm not looking for vegetable suggestions. Not on this thread anyway. There are plenty vegetarians and vegans who eat meat substitutes at times. It isn't that unusual.

Thank you for the new suggestions. I appreciate it I'll pick up some of the items mentioned here tomorrow. I'm particularly curious to try seitan.

I eat quorn mince. I know it doesn't agree with some people but I like it personally. It goes nicely in a chilli or Bolognaise recipe. I make it exactly the same way for meat and quorn when I do one for me and one for the rest of the family. I find the quorn just needs a little extra oil as it doesn't release it's own fat like meat does. I don't like the quorn chicken though, I find it very dry.

There's a product called Oumph, available in Tesco, which is good :)

I wasn't impressed with Waitrose for vegetarian products. Iceland is much better.

There's also a vegetarian chorizo from a shop in Edinburgh called 'Real Foods'. It's under £4 excl PP. It's fantastic. Keeps its texture in a vegetarian version of Quorn chicken pieces and veggie chorizo stew.

I like smoked tofu.

I second the suggestion for Linda McCartney’s mozzarella burgers, the best burger substitute we have found, we only buy them on offer and even then at £1 for 2 they aren’t the cheapest but you pay for the odd treat. I really didn’t like the pulled pork version and neither did my partner - it had a weirdly fishy taste

Not really a fan of Quorn meatballs or the mince here - prefer to just have a vegetable lasagne / bolognaise rather than use those. Similar with curry, prefer just a nice vegetable curry than one with the chicken pieces in, can sort of cope with the older version but the new vegan style pieces are disgusting, they have a horrible aftertaste even after cooking them in sauce.

Lidl do some really good bits, they are limited range in our local one but bigger stores might have more range. They aren’t meat substitutes but I find them nicer - they do things like cauliflower burgers which is cauliflower, spring onion and cheese breaded. Less processed and very reasonable priced but good when you don’t want to make up your own patties or for taking to barbecues and camping trips.

It’s mostly personal taste, so do try them out if you can afford to but be prepared not to like a lot of it, or to find things don’t work in certain recipes

I like Quorn mince and chicken style products. Not keen on the bacon as it was all frozen together, although it's been a while since I tried it. For most of the Quorn products (unless cooking in a sauce or stock) the trick is not to over cook them as they're pretty terrible dry and chewy

I like Linda McCartney’s range, i bought some on offer thinking they were regular sausages and mozzarella burgers lol

Pretty much all Quorn products are good and do taste like meat.. bar their chicken fillets.

We love the chicken pieces, nuggets and burgers.

Smoked tofu is good in a fish less fish pie.

I make my own Seitan.

I've had jackfruit from sainsburys which was lovely in tacos.

Farm foods has OK meatballs

Iceland no bull burgers
Naturli mince from sainsbos
Smoked tofu
Red lentils and minced mushrooms
Linda macartney pies
Sainsbos love veg Red onion sausages

If you are going to Waitrose, try 'Little Willies' from The Vegetarian Butcher. Bloody lovely these are - quite new to market I think.