To wonder what most vegetarians prefer

[shaniahoo]

I was looking at reviews of a brand of meat free burger and somebody said that they're sick of these meat replacement products and that vegetarians tend to prefer a burger made with chickpeas, beans, pepper etc which is more like real vegetarian food. I'm not a vegetarian but sort of a meat-avoider because I don't like meat very much and prefer vegetarian products, but I still firmly prefer a veggie burger or sausage to taste like meat and I often find the stuff made of pulses to be quite mealy. If you're a vegetarian what do you prefer?
YABU - prefer pulses and vegetables etc
YANBU - prefer meat imitation

I absolutely hate fake meat. I have been a vegetarian for the majority of my life, over 25 years and will not even attempt to eat something that looks like meat. It is so off putting.

I don’t eat fake meat. I stoped eating meat because I don’t want to eat dead animals so fake dead animals really isn’t any more appealing.

I’ve been vegetarian my whole life and I like both. I’d probably lean towards a spicy bean burger with chick peas etc, but you can get some very tasty imitation burgers. Both really fussed either way!

I've been vegetarian for 33 years. I don't eat fake meat. Bean burgers would be the only thing I would eat.

Not eaten meat in 35 years . I never liked the taste and was put off by a graphic article in the Sunday Times about meat production when I was 16.

I do not like fake meat products

I’ve been vegan for 7 years. It’s not that I don’t like the taste of animal products, but it’s because I don’t like the animal cruelty that comes with eating an animal. Therefore I love the fact that there are so many options such as the brand ‘beyond’ that replicate the taste and texture of meat. I understand both sides of the argument where it’s really not healthy as it’s ultra processed, but I’m not vegan for the healthy aspect - I’m vegan for the animals!

YABU
There's no nutrition in these highly processed foods and they're designed to make you crave more. Use high protein, unprocessed foods: tofu, beans, pulses, eggs and cottage cheese.

As long as it's not just a huge mushroom in a bun 🤢

I used to love a nut cutlet, also used to cut them up to use as bolognaise, never see them anymore

I’ve been vegetarian 30+ years and don’t really like meat substitutes, prefer my veggie burgers made from pulses, chick peas etc. that being said I have tried and enjoyed some of the meat free ones but it’s fare.

I absolutely hate vegan cheese. It does ruin a lot of dishes that would be lovely if simply vegetarian.

A lot of people can't eat the fake meat stuff because it's full of pea protein, apple juice, wheat, garlic powder and onion - pretty much has 'IBS' and 'gut pain' in flashing lights all over it, sadly 🙁

I like a good fake meat burger. If I’m having a burger, I want on that’s like a real one. Pulse based ones are good too because they have substance, but they tend not to have good structure. Vegetables held together by potato and called a burger are an abomination.

And I want real cheese too please. None of the plastic vegan stuff.

I've been veggie for most of my life so definitely prefer real veggie food. The fake meat stuff is highly processed so isn't likely to be all that healthy.

This for me.

I’m vegan and don’t mind a meat replacement here and there- especially a ‘fishy’ one. I prefer a bean burger personally just because I like the texture better, and also I find some meat imitations to be too close to the real thing, which makes me feel sick!

edit: I do wonder how many of the vegetarians on this thread complaining about the horrors of vegan food on menus call themselves ethical vegetarians! Surely less animal suffering is the ideal.

I'm not veggie, but I eat a lot of veggie food and I can't bear meat replacements. The texture is just awful, it's often highly processed chemical crap and I don't understand why I can't buy bloody spicy bean burgers any more. They were the food of the gods.

I love meat replacements and I hate bean or chickpeas burgers but that is just me. I used to eat meat but then gave up for ethical reasons. People who don't like the taste of meat would obviously not like fake meat.

Also, people who grew up vegetarian (for religious or cultural reasons) often don't like meat replacements as it still tastes of meat and they aren't used to the taste or find it disgusting. Best would be to just ask them.

Also wanted to add if they are vegetarian for health reasons they might think thst meat replacements are too processed to eat.

Vegetarians are all different and will want and enjoy different things. I’ve been vegetarian for fifteen years, and will eat both. Mostly I eat a diet based on whole foods, but I like the occasional Quorn nugget or Beyond burger. For me, a Beyond burger and a black bean burger are totally different food categories for me, and when I want one, I don’t want the other. I like both though.

I don’t find eating out difficult at all though, and rarely have meat substitutes. The only places where I really notice a large amounts of vegan cheese burgers are in chain pubs, and so I would imagine if they had bean burgers instead, they’d also be ultra processed and straight from the freezer to the microwave/deep fryer. Hardly a culinary or health loss.

I’m vegetarian and quite like meat flavoured burgers.
animal welfare is my reason for vegetarianism so I enjoy fake chicken pieces, fake fish etc.
enjoy the taste without buying into the meat industry

Either is ok. I am not vegetarian but will only eat meat if it’s high welfare, which in reality means eating the veggie options when eating out.

I like a fake meat one because I want it in a burger or roll. The pulse/veg ones already have carbs in them so I feel double-carbs if I have those!

I'd have veg patty ones on their own though.

We veggies were doing very well until the vegans came and ruined it.
Now burgers are made from jack fruit or compost and the cheese, mayo and other delicious stuff of made from more processed crap.
Pulses rule!

I have several vegetarian friends. Some are vegetarians by choice, with many "ideas" regarding animal suffering, climate etc. And others are Hindu, so it's not by choice but by faith. With the first group, I have to avoid fun vegetarian recipes like "vegan roadkill" or "buffalo cauliflower" or "lentil bolognaise", because those mimic the meat dishes and it doesn't align with the idealogical base. With the second group I don't have to worry if honey is ethical and if the cheese is cruel and "impossible burgers" are a hit.

I like both.

Equally, there are products in both categories that taste horrible.

Best veggie burger was in Russia - roasted pepper in a bun.