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Taythomlau
Active member
Linda McCartney mozerrella burgers are amazing! On a bbq, or in the grill/oven.
Rippedjeanmaybe
VIP Member
Does it need to be a meat alternative or could you do more meat free meals?
we don’t eat meat substitutes, but we do have a few meat free days.
for example:
-homemade pizza and homemade wedges
-jacket potatoes with beans
-tomato soup with bread
-minestrone soup with bread
-vegetable soup with bread
-chips, egg and beans
-pasta with a tomato sauce and dough balls
we don’t eat meat substitutes, but we do have a few meat free days.
for example:
-homemade pizza and homemade wedges
-jacket potatoes with beans
-tomato soup with bread
-minestrone soup with bread
-vegetable soup with bread
-chips, egg and beans
-pasta with a tomato sauce and dough balls
Grizzlybear
VIP Member
Quorn mince is a great place to start for bolognese, lasagne, chillis, shepherds pie etc. Really season if a bit more that you would the meat mince though, as it’s a bit like a sponge!
Quorn also do reeeeaaalllly nice southern fried bites and burgers, which are brilliant in wraps/with chips/salads etc as a fakeaway kind of lunch/tea. They do a family roast which is great with a gravy dinner and good in leftover sandwiches!
I also really rate Richmond vegan sausages. There are loads more but I’m a long term veggie and those are the top ones that my meat eating partner/family/friends take to. Good luck!
Quorn also do reeeeaaalllly nice southern fried bites and burgers, which are brilliant in wraps/with chips/salads etc as a fakeaway kind of lunch/tea. They do a family roast which is great with a gravy dinner and good in leftover sandwiches!
I also really rate Richmond vegan sausages. There are loads more but I’m a long term veggie and those are the top ones that my meat eating partner/family/friends take to. Good luck!
Giggling Squid
VIP Member
Depends what you’re looking to substitute it into.. after trying to do the same, I now prefer a bean chilli to a meat one. Quorn mince is also a good substitute.. made a quorn bolognaise a few weeks back and my other half didn’t even notice it wasn’t beef. Marinaded tofu is nice, but it’s not pleasant without any flavour!
Saddlesoap
VIP Member
Admittedly I haven't read all the replies, but my advice would be not to try and replace it. Just try and eat more grains, beans, and veg.
It's hard to get your head around cos its traditional to pick a meat and then plan veg around it.
Lentils are a fantastic substitute for mince and healthier than a soya alternative.
It's hard to get your head around cos its traditional to pick a meat and then plan veg around it.
Lentils are a fantastic substitute for mince and healthier than a soya alternative.
no-no
VIP Member
Lots of recommendations on the plant based thread for all kinds of meats but with mince I like vivera and M&S plant kitchen ones, although they’re very much ‘grounded mince’. To make a bolognese I prefer to use the Tesco plant chef vegan burgers and if I’m feeling fancy, the Beyond Burgers (only £3 atm in Tesco though). Got the idea from School Night Vegan here:
schoolnightvegan.com
Vegan Lasagna
Vegan lasagna made from beyond burgers in a sweet tomato sauce with a rich creamy béchamel. Perfect for a lasagna emergency!
schoolnightvegan.com
birdiefly246
VIP Member
beyond burgers I find a really good substitute for burgers. They're hit or miss with some people but I love them.
Linda McCartney Sausages remind me exactly of real sausages.
Green Cuisine have really lovely alternatives.
I would say try substitute mince for lentils, and maybe try to shift your mindset? I find a lot of meat eaters centre their meals around meat but maybe centre them around a veg or pulse instead and see where that takes you.
ETA: meat substitutes are strange when you go from meat straight to them. Mainly cause people compare it to meat. If you're going to swap to alternatives treat it as it's own food and not a substitute. Hope that makes sense.
Linda McCartney Sausages remind me exactly of real sausages.
Green Cuisine have really lovely alternatives.
I would say try substitute mince for lentils, and maybe try to shift your mindset? I find a lot of meat eaters centre their meals around meat but maybe centre them around a veg or pulse instead and see where that takes you.
ETA: meat substitutes are strange when you go from meat straight to them. Mainly cause people compare it to meat. If you're going to swap to alternatives treat it as it's own food and not a substitute. Hope that makes sense.
theghosttown
VIP Member
Linda M mozzarella burgers
Plant pioneer chicken pieces (freezer section in sains)
Richmond sausages
We aren’t veggie but we substitute with these all the time. I love them
Plant pioneer chicken pieces (freezer section in sains)
Richmond sausages
We aren’t veggie but we substitute with these all the time. I love them
Magee
VIP Member
I swapped mince for quorn years ago, I too was getting repulsed by the smell and quality of it sometimes! You have to put a bit more herbs and seasoning in I find but it’s well worth it. We have lots of meat free meals (currently doing a pescatarian month), so to keep it interesting and to try new products we do try meat alternatives. Faves are;
- Quorn nuggets (not the southern fried ones), their size, shape and batter is exactly like McDonalds! Put in a wrap, mix with sweet and sour/ curry sauce for a Chinese takeaway Mel at home
- Oomph spiced kebab (serve on flatbreads, salad and chilli sauce). You crisp this up in a pan, the seasoning on it is delicious and tastes like a kebab. They also do a bbq smokehouse one, I added bbq sauce on a bun for a fake pulled pork burger. I didn’t rate the texture of these but glad I tried them. Vivera Shwarma kebab also great.
- Cauldron sausages - easily the best veggy sausage in the market
- Linda McCartney hoisin duck, you won’t even tell this is fake, great in noodles or pancakes. There’s a bao kit too.
A lot of it is just giving it a go and being creative with the protein, don’t just try to find a like for like replacement, use the meat free protein in a new way with new flavours, I think that’s what has kept it fresh for us. We do love eating veggy meals, loads of inspiration out there xx
- Quorn nuggets (not the southern fried ones), their size, shape and batter is exactly like McDonalds! Put in a wrap, mix with sweet and sour/ curry sauce for a Chinese takeaway Mel at home
- Oomph spiced kebab (serve on flatbreads, salad and chilli sauce). You crisp this up in a pan, the seasoning on it is delicious and tastes like a kebab. They also do a bbq smokehouse one, I added bbq sauce on a bun for a fake pulled pork burger. I didn’t rate the texture of these but glad I tried them. Vivera Shwarma kebab also great.
- Cauldron sausages - easily the best veggy sausage in the market
- Linda McCartney hoisin duck, you won’t even tell this is fake, great in noodles or pancakes. There’s a bao kit too.
A lot of it is just giving it a go and being creative with the protein, don’t just try to find a like for like replacement, use the meat free protein in a new way with new flavours, I think that’s what has kept it fresh for us. We do love eating veggy meals, loads of inspiration out there xx
Definitelyme
VIP Member
Our biggest swaps are probably lentils for anything with mince (bolognese, chilli, lasagne, shepherds pie) and then just veg stir fry instead of including meat, I use broccoli to bulk it a bit.
We try to have 3 dinners a week with no meat. We never use “fake” meat though eg quorn etc
We try to have 3 dinners a week with no meat. We never use “fake” meat though eg quorn etc
Trampoline
Chatty Member
squeaky bean chicken tikka style chicken pieces are 
i love all of the quorn products too x
i love all of the quorn products too xgreenvelvet
VIP Member
Hello! The main thing you find yourself missing on meat free days is protein and iron - as long as you replace this I think you’re usually OK.
In terms of natural substitutes, pulses are good, as are mushrooms, and spinach. It’s easy to make a good vegetarian curry - dishoom recipes are good (try the chickpea curry), I love a vegan jambalaya, vegetarian stir fry...the possibilities are endless! It makes me a bit more of a creative cook as I explore seasoning and ingredients that I wouldn’t “need” cooking with meat. I get an odd box which encourages me to try new veggie recipes. Id never normally buy celeriac but it’s great in soup. Soups are super easy to do well, and healthy - fry onion and some garlic, boil your veg of choice for a while (butternut squash, potato, carrot each make a nice soup for me) til cooked and blend with the onion and garlic, have with a bit of bread and you’re golden. I always avoided soup because I thought it would be difficult, but my partner showed me how easy it is
That being said, I don’t have any kids and I know I was a nightmare with certain veg as a child so maybe being experimental is not at the top of your list with this haha
There are excellent meat substitutes out there - Gro do an excellent line (can buy in coop). I like tempeh and seitan too. The coop range of meat substitutes is excellent. My friend puts Linda McCartney sausages in stir fry and that’s quite nice
In terms of natural substitutes, pulses are good, as are mushrooms, and spinach. It’s easy to make a good vegetarian curry - dishoom recipes are good (try the chickpea curry), I love a vegan jambalaya, vegetarian stir fry...the possibilities are endless! It makes me a bit more of a creative cook as I explore seasoning and ingredients that I wouldn’t “need” cooking with meat. I get an odd box which encourages me to try new veggie recipes. Id never normally buy celeriac but it’s great in soup. Soups are super easy to do well, and healthy - fry onion and some garlic, boil your veg of choice for a while (butternut squash, potato, carrot each make a nice soup for me) til cooked and blend with the onion and garlic, have with a bit of bread and you’re golden. I always avoided soup because I thought it would be difficult, but my partner showed me how easy it is
That being said, I don’t have any kids and I know I was a nightmare with certain veg as a child so maybe being experimental is not at the top of your list with this haha
There are excellent meat substitutes out there - Gro do an excellent line (can buy in coop). I like tempeh and seitan too. The coop range of meat substitutes is excellent. My friend puts Linda McCartney sausages in stir fry and that’s quite nice