Pleasant surprises in Veganuary

[BoredOfTheBoard]

Could we have a thread about all the surprising and wonderful discoveries people have found this month?

Mine is potato salad from sainsburys. And it tastes like the real thing

Love their potato salad!

I really like the vivera chicken pieces and LInda McCartney duck with hoisin sauce tastes amazing! .

Coconut milk in currys and chillis is yummy never really used it much before.

Oatley creme fraiche is an awesome sour cream. I tend to use Oatly original for cereal etc and really like it.

Haven’t found a nice ‘cheese’ yet, I have a sheesh garlic and herbs which isn’t to bad.

Agree about cheese. Please can someone come on this thread and tell me they've found the perfect cheese

Oh I forgot fry’s chocolate orange fondant bars, taste like Terry’s chocolate orange!

That vegetables, lentils, beans, nuts and tofu taste really good, and you don't need to eat all this fake twattery.

If you’re after cheese, fry the vegan smoked applewood www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/asda-vegan-cheese-applewood-smoked-3384092

Thanks @Ricekrispie22 I haven't managed to get hold of that yet. Does it actually taste like or close to real cheese?

Tried the Greg’s vegan doughnut today... very yummy!

Yes although I haven’t tasted proper smoked cheese in a while so I can’t give a very good opinion!

I’ve just bought vegan tuna in Aldi.
I shall report back. I’ve not eaten real tuna in over 20 years though.

Nandos vegan peri-naise (tastes just like mayo!)

Naturali spreadable butter

M&S 75% dark chocolate

Quorn roast
Oat milk

Quorn roast has egg white in so not vegan sadly!
Some quorn products are vegan though

Tesco Free From NOMO fruit & crunch chocolate bars are nice.

I need a trip to Sainsbury's for their potato salad!

Vegan TUNA? Is that a typo?

Eeek. I didnt know that about the quorn roast.

Vegan meatballs in Aldi made from chickpeas and sweet potato. Really trying hard to avoid any of the meat replacements as I don’t want to eat any of the processed foods. Enjoying not feeling bloated and stuffed after every meal, feel ‘lighter’ somehow!
Jackfruit kebabs - YUM!
And yes the vegan tuna is a thing although we haven’t tried it.

For those looking for cheese, the cheeses from Lafauxmagerie are all excellent. They're expensive though. lafauxmagerie.com/

'fake twattery'? whatever gets people through the vegan door. And I say that as someone who has been vegan for 5 years and doesn't eat much fake stuff because I find it a bit expensive!

My omni DC are happy with the meatless mince from Sainsburys - they are usually snooty but that got a thumbs up.

Exactly ContessaferJones! I've been vegan for over a year now. When I first started the fake stuff was really useful in making the transition. I still have the vegan Richmond sausages every now and then and the vegan quorn sandwich meat too. It may not be the healthiest food in the world but it's better than beef and pork sausages which are known carcinogens.

All the surprising and wonderful discoveries...

That if you are trying to move away from or reducing animal products, maybe you should discover that there is food beyond that rather than trying to replicate it.

Try discovering that vegetables taste amazing, there are so many of them and ways to prepare them.

Try discovering that there are many sources of protein & flavour that do not involve animal produce or a fake version of.

Try discovering texture in vegetables, legumes, pulses, nuts, seeds and grains.

Just try to discover something different.

My favourite discovery so far has been celeriac! Can't believe I've never had it before. Celeriac mash is my new favourite thing.

Also vivera plant shawarma. Game. Changer.

Oh, I know - try roasting veg you'd normally boil. Roasted kale with a bit of oil, salt and tahini (or nutritional yeast if you have it; essentially marmite in flake form) is lush. Also roasted brussels sprouts!

I favour meals with a pulse or bean included, not just straight fruit/veg. While lovely, fruit/veg are not usually big on the protein front. Peanuts and pistachios are astonishingly high in it though (>20%) but the fat content is an issue. I favour the Waitrose flavoured tofu blocks in the quest for high protein low fat vegan food

I'm trying celeriac mash today!

What did you think @Skyejuly?

Aubergines! Of course I’ve had them, but been finding some more exciting things to do with them- stuffing, roasting and making soup (cream of aubergine with garlic- coconut cream of course).