Can I pass of Vegetarian replacements as the real thing?

[LadyMaryofDownt0n]

We eat very little meat & I do try my best to keep in non processed however I've been considering just replacing say sausages (I wouldn't replace chicken) with veg alternatives ie Linda McCarthy sausages.

Would they (DH & DD) know the difference? The two small kids couldn't care less & will almost anything. Or will it be so obvious that I won't be able to hide/disguise it?

I'd be doing it for all sorts of reasons but mainly from a health point of view.

i think they taste really similar. Both of my sons will happily eat veggie sausages/burgers etc, but my daughter wont, but then she is funny with a lot of meat too

I reckon you could 95% pass Cauldron ones off if they were in something like a sausage casserole. Probably not just straight bangers and mash though because the texture is a bit different.

I think the Cauldron ones are really nice, and do happily eat those in place of meat sausages.

I don't think it is morally wrong to not declare that the sausages in the sausage casserole are veggie, unless outright asked. It isn't like you always declare every ingredient in food to your family is it?

Fake mince is a bit grim tho, I find it way too spongy.

I like quorn mince a lot and probably wouldn't;t be able to tell the difference to normal mince. Cook it up for a least 30 mins with lots of other lovely chili ingredients and flavorings and its the bomb.

Another vote for cauldron or quorn sausages (the Cumberland or apple ones are nicest, but they can be tricky to find). I'd avoid Linda McCartney, I really didn't like them and neither does anyone else I know that tried them!

As PP have said, unless they're in a casserole you probably won't be able to pass them off as meat, the texture isn't the same..but that's not to say your DH won't enjoy them (my Dad loves cauldron sausages as an occasional treat in a sandwich after he gave up all red/processed meat for health reasons). The veggie sausages are still processed but I don't think it's a problem to have them every now and again, just as you wouldn't have regular bacon or sausages every week.

I love Linda McCartney sausages, but not the rosemary ones.

LM sausage rolls are awesome

Wd did a plate full one new years eve and they went before the meat ones did

Disclaimer:- i don't remember what meat tastes like...dh does and he likes them

Oh I could murder a Linda McCartney sausage roll. The Country Pies had gone downhill last time I had one. I think the sausages are fine - they are usually our banger of choice - but they are not like meat sausages.

I find it interesting how Quorn is marketed these days, i.e. to meat eaters who want to be healthier rather than to vegetarians. Maybe OP's family won't think it's as weird as she thinks?

ellie

We have them on special occasions...i think Halloween may be a special occasion

It's kind of morally bankrupt to lie to them, would you care if they substituted a beef burger when you wanted a bean burger?

I'd say only things you could pass off are: Quorn hotdogs, Sainsbury meatballs (if in loads of sauce with basil etc) and those instant (fake) chicken kiev with garlic in the middle.

There's no way veggie mince resembles steak mince - maybe cheaper stuff but the texture is so different. Ditto veggie sausages v naice sausages, although I think even cheap meat sausages are very different. I think as PP have said, it only works when the meat equivalent is very processed, eg nuggets or hotdogs.

"morally bankrupt"

Hahahahaha. No, just no.

Quorn has made be ill every time I've had it in any form, known or now that's what I was consuming

Sausages are the hardest thing to start with because the taste and texture are so obviously different! The quorn gourmet ones are delicious though, start with the mince as it does taste a lot like the real thing it's all down to seasoning though, I add a touch of soy sauce to mine gives it that savoury meatiness it can lack! I am vegetarian but my kids and husband love meat sometimes we will just eat vegetarian as it's easier if I'm cooking a big meal