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 miss the Burger King bean burgers, they were so good

Burger King have just brought the bean burgers back.

Give me a bean/pulse burger over fake meat any day.
Long time Veggie here and really dislike how fake meat has become so prevalent, especially when eating out. I really don't want fake meat or faux cheese

I should say as there’s queries on here re tastes of lifelong vegetarians and those that used to eat meat.

Im the later as previous post
My three kids were brought up vegetarian as we don’t have meat in the house as we’re vegetarian.

They ate the pulses, beans, tofu, seitan etc that we cooked and when they went off to uni all carried on with that.
None of them like the fake burgers or sausages made to taste of bbq, beef etc but they are ok with ones with subtler chicken flavours. They, unlike me, are not offended by the word chicken etc on packaging.
They really don’t like fake bacon coloured to look like real bacon tho and don’t like that bbq flavour anyway.

They rarely by the easy packaged processed stuff except for occasionally quorn chunks apparently.

Proof.

I'm a long time vegetarian, but like the meat immitation sausages and burgers - but they are by no means created equal. Occasionally you get a nice veg based veggie burger but they're often dry and a bit shit.

I think it's the Beyond burgers that I like (I only ever have a burger in a pub/restaurant) and for sausages I favour the Richmond ones. I'm also partial to a "fake" nugget. The McDonalds burgers and nuggets (possibly only in Germany) are really good.

I eat loads of veg, beans and pulses, but when I eat sausages or a burger I'm after something texture specific, and flaky, spiced kidney beans etc aren't it.

What irritates me a bit now is that veganism has pushed out the vegetarian options, so there's a lack of cheese and egg on menus.

DH is vegetarian and much prefers the Linda McCartney burgers and sausages. He doesn't eat many substitute meat products but he does like those at BBQ's. Most nights he will have a stir fry with tofu, mushroom omelette and salad, vegetable curry, ratatouille with pasta, macaroni cheese or a vegetable pizza.

Agree
As Vegetarians we were just starting to actually get an option on a menu and now veganism has taken over and once again us vegetarians are left option less with crap fake cheese.

My kids pointed out they can’t get a vegetarian meal deal with a coke at Burger King because they only do a vegan meal deal and coke is made with molasses or something that isn’t vegan.
For gods sake don’t finally decide to serve vegetarians after years of not bothering then suddenly take it all away again.

I won't touch the fake replacements at all. Rather have a bowl of chips or a salad if they're the only thing on offer. God knows I'm a big fan of crap like noodles, crisps and chocolate, so it's not about avoiding processed foods for me. But I won't order a burger unless I know it's made with vegetables or beans.

I'm not a vegetarian, though I was for 20 years and still eat mostly vegetarian food. I'd personally prefer not to have 'fake meat'. It's overly processed and if I wanted to eat something that tasted like meat, I'd eat meat. But I don't, so I'd rather have something that tastes like chickpeas and veg, because I like that.

I definitely prefer vegetables and pulses, also halloumi cheese. I don't like processed food.

And yes, I know halloumi cheese is processed!

I'm in my 40s and have always been vegetarian, since birth - I prefer "not-very-realistic" brown fake meat burgers/sausages to very wholesome mashed veg/bean ones, but I really do not like things specifically and lovingly made to resemble parts of a dead animal (with fake blood, fake anatomy features etc)

I also get the squick from processed vegetarian 'fake meat' sandwich slices that are supposed to be used like sliced ham, turkey etc - because I have spent so long carefully detecting and avoiding food that looks like that, that I am now quite averse to the idea of actually touching or eating it (but tbf I don't think that is a huge loss nutritionally).

Long time veggie here. Always prefer pulses and vegetables. My fav would be portobellos mushroom with halloumi, rocket and tomatoes and some kind of sauce. Not at all a fan of faux meat food.

I like the mcplant every now and then I think it's thr "beyond meat" brand.
I'm a vegan now after being veggie for years , I don't eat many fake meat replacements but they are
Nice to change it up a bit

Neither, fake meat is weird and texturally gross, pulses are dry and unappealing.

I like beans/pulses, husband likes fake meat. Almost like vegetarians are not one big hive mind with the same tastes and motivations or something!

I don't eat
fake meat
or burgers/sausages/ any similar product. I think I have eaten maybe two burgers in my life.
I only eat vegetables and pulses.

I was at an event and was served what turned out to be an Impossible burger. As soon as I unwrapped it, the smell hit me and I pushed it towards DH and said I couldn't eat it. He tasted it and couldn't tell if it was meat or not so called the server over. They explained what it was and I asked them to take it away as it smelled like meat and turned my stomach. I feel queasy just thinking about it!

There are so many fabulous veggie or mostly cuisines in the world which have "real " veggie food. Why would I eat a burger unless there was nothing else? Indian, Sri Lankan, Thai, Malaysian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern..

I have been veggie for about 10 years and sometimes prefer fake meat (preferably pea protein) when it comes to burgers or meatballs if they are to be eaten as the meat version would be.

I do love vegetable patties (such as bean, beetroot, courgette, carrot) though with other things, such as dauphinois potatoes or roasted veg. With that I never eat fake meat. So for me both are aprreciated, just with different things.

Pulses gives me gas and meat imitation is unhealthy

I don't like the taste, texture or idea of meat. Havn't eaten it for 35 years. Not sure why I'd want to simulate something I don't like.

it's a burger, being unhealthy is about 98% of the draw, why should vegetarian = healthy. Wild suggestion, but maybe vegetarians want junk food and treats too?

Been vegetarian for about 20 years and don't mind a meat replacement as long as it's not too realistic. So quorn sausages and pieces are fine, but the beyond burgers etc make me gag, I think it's just too close to meat for my palate now.

Also agree with the other posters that it's really annoying that now we're being limited to vegan options when out. I have a nut allergy as well so often can't eat the vegan option (and vegan cheese and mayo are disgusting) and don't want a sad dry falafel burger every time I'm out.

I don't eat meat for ethical reasons and still enjoy a Burger King veggie burger and meat-free hot dogs and burgers at a BBQ, say, but at home I make falafel, bean burgers myself, so both in answer to the question!