Question about vegie patties and other meat substitutes

[ready2please]

I have been hesitant to try commercial vegie patties and other meat substitutes because the ones I have seen look like meat.  I am okay with eating something shaped like a burger but want it to taste like vegetables.  I haven't been able to tell from looking at the packaging if these things taste like meat or vegetables.  If I wanted to eat

Comments

[lantean_breeze]

Well, I've eaten soy based and grain based meatless products, and it seems like most of them do taste kind of like meat. I'm not sure that this is on purpose because they just use a lot of the same seasonings with tofu/veggies/grain that they would with meat (like with sausage) and I think that accounts for some of the similarities in taste, but not texture. The only thing I've tried that didn't remind me of meat at all (and that wasn't flat out tofu or veggies/grain) was tempeh, but I didn't like it, and then there was a rice based garden burger patty that tasted like rice and veggies, but I can't remember what that was called. You can also try seitan, but I haven't gotten around to trying that so I can't tell you whats what about it.

If I were you, I'd start researching ingredients and then check what you're looking at to buy against what you want in your food. It's a lot of work, I know, but I do that some myself and I think it's a good practice. I hope you find what you're looking for.

[neva_butterfly]

seitan really has no flavor of its own, but is nearly always flavored to taste like meat and the texture is very "meat-like"

[lantean_breeze]

That's good to know, and I'll keep that in mind for seitan you can buy. I have a recipe that I haven't tried that basically flavors it by boiling it in vegetable stock, though. I'm not sure how that will turn out.

[ready2please]

Thanks for the info, I got a lot of responses with quite a few options. I am optimistic that I will find something that I like.

[neva_butterfly]

Mileage may vary, but to me the Sunshine Burgers that my health food store carries taste like nuts and grains and not like fake meat. Some places will sell frozen falafel, which should be pretty tasty. There's always buying those big portobello mushroom caps and grilling or steaming them and sticking them on a bun. My store also carries tempeh burgers but they have a lot of sauce on them--I'm sure you could get a block of tempeh and season however you like. My husband enjoys "bunny dogs" where he peels and microwaves a whole carrot and puts in on a hot dog bun with mustard, ketchup and relish, but I can't say I like them that much.

http://www.sunshineburger.com/

[mai2921]

"Bunny dogs," your husband is brilliant :) I'll have one or four tomorrow.

[kuenzi]

Thirding Sunshine burgers - they're delicious. And as far as I remember, they don't have a bunch of weird ingredients in them.

[ready2please]

Thanks for the advise and link to the Sunshine burger. Hadn't tried or heard of those before. I will check a couple of local places and see if they carry them.

[neva_butterfly]

You could also look at these, I haven't tried them yet, but I was thinking about it after seeing them in the store.
http://www.wildwoodfoods.com/products/meat-alternatives/listings/veggie-burgers

[naeko]

I *hate anything that imitates animal meat and I dig these Wildwood patties. They don't taste like vegetables, but they don't set off my brain's WHY ARE YOU EATING A COW?! alarm bells like so many patties.

I also love Helen's Kitchen tofu steaks! They're just (very firm) slabs of flavored tofu that don't resemble animal meat to me at all. Unfortunately, they seem to be very hard to find. I see them in some Whole Foods, for example, but not all of them.

Field Roast is also an incredible option! The company is based here in Seattle, but I think they ship all over the country (I don't know where you live, but just google 'field roast grain meat'). Their apple sage sausages have forever replaced "hot dogs" for me, and they have a line of holiday roasts, as well as fake cheeses and--just check the site. They're great and not meaty. They're also made with grains and veggies.

Otherwise, OP, I'd say to invest in a tofu Xpress and look up tofu recipes. My favorite right now is these "chicken" fried tofu nuggets. I use a fake vegan broth

[ready2please]

I do live in the PacNW too, so maybe can find Field Roast here too. Now that I have some brand names, I have a quite a bit more to go on than I did before I asked my question. Haven't tried the Wildwood either, but will see if I can find those also.

I had a great Jamaican Jerk flavored tofu sannie in Portland that was breaded and fried and put on a roll. I've never been able to get anything I make to taste even half as good as what I can get in restaurants when it comes to my tofu experiments. But, I'll keep trying.

Thanks for your reply.

[yennafrost]

It's been a while since I had them, but I always found Amy's Sonoma burgers really tasty in a not-meaty way. The picture on the box looks like a stereotypical fake meat veggie burger, but then the taste is all veggies and the texture is very quinoa-ey.

[lantean_breeze]

I second this. They also have a BBQ burger that doesn't taste at all like meat. I haven't had those in so long that I forgot about them, but Amy's is usually pretty good all the way around.

[ready2please]

Sounds good. Count me in!

[ready2please]

Oooh, thanks. Amy's is actually located fairly near where I live so most of the retailers carry this brand. I will definitely try the Sonoma and the BBQ versions. Thanks for the advice.

[suicideally]

There seems to be quite a common generic type of veggie burger called a "spicy bean burger", which tastes of chilli beans (with a mashed bean texture and breadcrumb coating), not meaty at all.

Also, if you're looking to make your own veggie burger, this beetroot burger recipe is brilliant: http://www.theppk.com/2012/02/quarter-pounder-beet-burger/

[ready2please]

I have never tried the spicy bean burger. For some reason the color reminds me of meat. But if you think the taste isn't meaty maybe I'll give them a try. Thanks for the recipe too, I'll check that out.