If you’re new to cooking vegetarian food, chances are you’ve stood in the freezer section at the grocery store, gaping at the Fake Chicken, Fake Bacon, Fake Steak Strips, Fake Ground Beef, and lord knows what else. There are enough choices these days to make your head spin. Some of them are worth your money. A lot are not. Here’s the scoop. Thanks to my friends & family for their help putting together this post!
Two disclosures:
1) None of these products paid me to include them in this list.
2) While I am not a huge supporter of eating fake anything, I do think having a few of these on hand is a big help. Some days, I just don’t feel like making black bean patties from scratch, and neither will you. Be realistic. Buy one or two of these the next time you’re at the grocery store, and cook with them on one of those crazy weeknights. It’s all about balance and moderation.
Five Fake Meats Worth Your Money
Morningstar Sausage
Soy
I go for the sausage crumbles, and add them to scrambled eggs. Freakin’ good. My friends suggested the links and the patties, too.
SeitanWheat gluten
Also known as Mock Duck. This stuff is mad good. Way better than tofu. It has a chewy texture and really soaks up whatever sauce or spice you cook it in. You can buy it in a package like the one pictured above, or if you're extra adventurous, buy it in a can. You'll find the canned mock duck (it's still good, I promise!) in the Asian section of your grocery store, or at an Asian grocery store. It's usually cheaper than the packaged stuff. Try it in a Thai-style vegetable coconut curry.
Quorn
Mycoprotein (fungus)
I tried to pick just one, but all of these are delicious. I love adding the tenders to stir fry or making fajitas with them. The cutlets are awesome as a chicken breast substitute in pretty much anything. The chicken nuggets are addicting as all get-out, especially with buffalo sauce.
Nate's Meatless Meatballs
Soy
These are just perfect for spaghetti and meatballs, or in a meatball sub. Zesty Italian is my favorite flavor. Look for these at your co-op or Trader Joe's.
Morningstar Grillers Recipe Crumbles
Soy
Add to pasta sauce, voila. Dinner. Also great for tacos, lasagna, chili, or any time you want the texture of ground beef.
What would you add to this list? Let me know on Facebook or Twitter.
Best Of
2 Comments
I love-love-love the taste and consistency of Morningstar products. It was actually my meat-and-potatoes exboyfriend who introduced me to their Buffalo fake-chicken nuggets, which are amazing, else I was raised on their soy sausages and grillers. Very delicious for breakfast (or for a quick snack when I’m not going to eat a real meal for a while).
Mock Duck — also great! I haven’t been able to find the canned stuff anywhere in Michigan though, and they don’t serve it at Asian restaurants here like they do in the Twin Cities. It’s something I miss because the canned mock duck is stable for a long time, so you can stock up and then stir fry it or whatnot when you have a chance.
Thanks, Nik!
Hey Alicia!
Thanks for the comment! Sad that they don’t have mock duck in Michigan restaurants. We are lucky here in MSP.
Nik