Yves Veggie Seafood - Veggie Shrimp

Holy %$#@! This stuff smells, tastes, looks, and chews so much like seafood it's eerie! I swear, as I was first trying it, I had to check the ingredients list about 10 times to make sure it was truly meat-free because it was so disconcertingly fishy.

I found it at Safeway a few weeks ago next to other Yves and Gardein veggie products in the refrigerated section. It was expensive compared to any other veggie product I've ever bought -- about $7 for a 6 ounce package (about 2 servings). I'd never been a fan of shrimp, but the fact that I'd never seen vegetarian seafood before, plus curiosity, plus the fact that I haven't tasted seafood in years all meant that I had to buy it.

The package sat in the fridge for a few weeks simply because I had absolutely no idea what to do with them -- until finally my boyfriend said, "Why don't you just cook them with pasta?" Duh! :) So I did, adding fresh peppers from my garden and a little alfredo sauce. It was a bit of an experiment all around, since it was my first (and possibly only) pepper harvest of the year, and both the sauce and the veggie shrimp were new to me. I'd say it turned out pretty well, though. I had to eat several shrimp before I could get past the weirdness of eating something fishy-tasting, but they did grow on me.

The package mentions two other Yves Veggie Seafood products -- a veggie shrimp scampi and a veggie tuna steak in sesame ginger sauce. I would really like to try the veggie tuna steak, but wish it was available plain -- just because versatility is nice in a meat substitute.

I tried looking this product up on the Yves website to borrow a picture for this post, but I couldn't find it. In fact, there is no mention of any veggie seafood at all. I can't help wondering whether this means the seafood line has already been discontinued (which would make me sad) or if they just haven't updated their website in a while. I may have to contact them directly to find out...

Protein source: Whey
Allergens: Milk, potato
Vegetarian

Gardein Chick'n Scallopini: My new favorite "chick'n"!

As you may already know, when I'm in any grocery store for any reason, I can't help peeking at their vegetarian frozen food section to see if there's anything new and interesting. A couple weeks ago I was doing just that, and stumbled upon a brand that was completely new to me: Gardein (= garden + protein). They only had 3 products on the shelf -- buffalo wings, beefless tips, and chick'n scallopini. I don't really know what "scallopini" is, but the picture on the package appealed to me the most at the time, and I was not about to leave the store without any Gardein to try!




















I followed the preparation recommendation on the package -- just saute in olive oil over med/med high heat until lightly browned (2-3 minutes each side). I don't remember what I ate along with it -- perhaps Annie's Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese (very yummy, by the way)? But I do remember my first impressions of the Chick'n Scallopini -- Mmmmm! :D So tender, so juicy! Two things that most other chick'n products lack. And the flavor? Delicious! It is a tiny bit wheaty, but that's something I've grown to like quite a bit.

There are four cutlets per resealable plastic package, and I just ate the third one for dinner. The second one was with a veggie and noodle stir fry, and it went perfectly with the Chinese-style flavors. The other I ate with cheese ravioli and tomato sauce, and it was great with that too! Definitely a very versatile product, and I can't wait to find other dishes to use it in. I think it would be amazing in Chick'n Alfredo! I also can't wait to try the other varieties I found. :)

Protein source: Soy, wheat gluten
Allergens: Soy, wheat, gluten, amaranth, quinoa, millet, Kamut, pea, yeast, beetroot, carrot
Vegan

Boca Original Meatless Chik'n Nuggets

This was a surprise -- in more ways than one. I was in a Target today to pick up a few things and not even planning on grocery shopping (except to pick up a loaf of bread), but I decided to peek at the little vegetarian section of the frozen foods to see if there was anything new or interesting. I scanned it from the bottom up (meh, I'm short), not seeing anything I needed, knowing I had still had some burgers, sausage, and bacon at home... I was just about to walk away when the bag of Boca Chik'n Nuggets on the top shelf caught my eye. I have never seen this product since discovering my love of Boca Chik'n Patties, so I just had to try it. I figured it's got to be at least as good as the patties, right?

Um... well... insert confused face and head scratching here.

I was eager to have some of these for dinner, so I cooked up one serving (four nuggets) with some nummy MSF broccoli and cheese bites on the side, piled on a plate with a dollop of barbecue sauce. I wanted to get a pure sampling of the new nuggets, so I tried one first without sauce. It was... weird. I chewed on it, trying to figure out what it tasted like, and couldn't put my finger on it. So I took another bite, and it hit me: it tastes like... FISH? Now you see why I was confused!

As an omnivore, I loved eating fish. The smell, the flavor, the texture... It is still the only meat that I miss (except for the whole used-to-be-a-living-creature part). But there isn't any meatless faux fish that I'm aware of... so finding a vegan product that has a sort-of fish-like flavor -- even if it was supposed to be chicken-like -- is an interesting discovery. I'm still scratching my head over it, though.

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Lightlife Smart Ground Mexican Style

I've been on a Mexican food kick lately -- after making my spinach enchiladas three times in the space of about a week, I picked up some flour tortillas and made some "chicken" quesadillas (one using Boca chicken patty, another using Quorn -- and the Boca one was better!). And after that, I have made several variations of a veggie super-taco. The first super-taco, made with Morningstar Farms Grillers burger strips cooked with taco seasoning, was super-yummy. Then, for something different, I decided to try a new fake ground beef product: Lightlife Smart Ground Mexican Style. It comes pre-seasoned with Mexican seasoning, and all you have to do is heat it up and throw it in your taco, burrito, or whatever.

It has a real ground beef-like appearance and texture, more than the Morningstar Farms crumbles I'm used to. The flavor is very wheat-gluteny, but I'm starting to get used to that, so it didn't bother me much. My only real complaint is that I wish it had just a little more seasoning added, but I can always mix in a little extra when I'm cooking it for myself.

The price (in the store where I usually shop) is about the same as a package of Morningstar Farms Grillers Crumbles, but you actually get 12 oz. of the Smart Ground, while MSF's deceptively larger package only has 8 oz... but either one is plenty for several servings.

Lightlife has many other fake meat products, including plain ground beef and ground sausage. Since I was fairly pleased with this one, I'm looking forward to trying more in the future.

Oh, and it's got 9 grams of vegan protein per serving.

**Edited to add: According to the Morningstar Farms website, the MSF Grillers Recipe Crumbles comes in a 12 oz. package. Even though I distinctly remember comparing the two products in the store and deciding to try the Lightlife product because it had more in it, I thought I should mention this in case the MSF product comes in different sizes... or in the unlikely even that I was wrong. ;) Because I don't have any MSF Crumbles in my freezer at this moment, I cannot say for sure.

Protein Source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Gardenburger Black Bean Chipotle Burgers

My first thought when trying this new veggie burger was, "Mmm, this would be really good in a taco!" The tasty chipotle peppers and spices give it a Mexican sort of flavor. I immediately wished I had bought some lettuce along with these burgers so I could try out a Black Bean Chipotle taco!

I was worried that it would be too spicy, but it's really pretty mild. The texture is similar to other vegetable-y veggie burgers, like Gardenburger's Veggie Medley patties (another one of my favorites). Color-wise, it doesn't look much like the burger on the package -- it's a lighter, more orangey brown. Cooking it on the stove (or a grill, I assume) darkens it a bit, but not as much as on the package. It's not that the color bothers me, just that the photo is sort of misleading...

Another funny thought I had while trying this product: As I was enjoying the aromas filling the kitchen as the burger cooked on the stove, I started thinking about all the yummy nutritious things so many meat-eaters are missing out on! There are really only so many things you can do with a ground beef burger. I mean, look at the menu at a fast food restaurant. For the most part, all their "different" hamburgers aren't -- they're just different combinations of the same old meat, cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles, tomatoes, ketchup/mayo/mustard/sauce. But think of how much more variety you can get when you throw in a completely different kind of protein! And sadly, most meat-eaters will never give meat alternatives a chance, and will never know what they are missing. And restaurants won't, either. But that's another rant for another day.

So... overall, I really enjoyed this product and would recommend it if you like Mexican-type flavors. I can see it being another type of versatile veggie burger/meat replacement.

Protein source: Soy
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Yves Deli Slices

It's amazing (or scary, depending on how you look at it) how much they can make food taste like meat without actually containing any meat these days. Yves Deli Slices are a good example of this.

They come in a variety of flavors: Turkey, Ham, Bologna, Salami, Roast without the Beef, Smoked Chicken, and Pepperoni. I have tried all of them except the Roast Beef and Smoked Chicken (only because I can't find them) and have enjoyed them all, but my favorites are definitely the Turkey and Ham. It's eerie how much the Ham tastes like ham...

The Turkey is delicious in a toasted cheese-and-turkey sandwich. In fact, for dinner tonight I had a fake Superbird (one of my old favorite items from Denny's) -- Yves Turkey + Morningstar Farms Bacon strips + Havarti and Pepperjack cheese + buttered bread + toasting until melty = veggie heaven!

The Pepperoni looks just like the meaty kind, and is pretty tasty added to a cheese pizza. I also like to add a couple of slices to a sandwich with another fake meat product -- it really helps to liven up a Nature's Burger.

All of the Yves Deli Slices have a bit of a wheaty flavor to them, since wheat protein is one of the main ingredients. However, it's not as strong as in other wheat-meat products I've tried, and the overall quality of the product makes up for it. Plus, they are a good source of protein and vitamins.

Protein Source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat (made in a facility that uses egg products)
Vegan

Boca Original Chik'n Patties

So, this is the third brand of breaded chicken-style patty I've tried thus far. To be perfectly honest, I didn't expect much from it. I found Boca burgers to be very bland and boring, and figured this would be, too. However, I was quite pleasantly surprised.

Actually, the breading on the patty was on the bland side, but for me, the flavor and texture of the "chicken" made up for it. It had a nice, chickeny bite to it, and was actually juicy. I am glad I purchased these instead of the MSF chik'n patties I almost bought tonight; if the breading had a bit more seasoning to it, I think these could actually give Quorn chik'n a run for its money. And for me, that's saying a lot. In fact, because the breading stays on better than with Quorn patties, these might be a better choice for using in a dish that requires sliced chik'n -- salad, tacos, quesadillas, stir fry... Hmm, I'm gonna have to buy some more...

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan?

Morningstar Farms Grillers Recipe Crumbles

Two nights ago, I made myself a tasty vegetarian lasagna using MSF Grillers Recipe Crumbles. It was relatively simple and came out pretty well, if a little overcooked. The Grillers Crumbles really made the dish for me, and it wasn't far off from my old favorite meaty lasagna.

I didn't use a recipe or measure anything, but it was something like this:

- 12-14 wide lasagna noodles, cooked
- 1 jar of vegetarian spaghetti sauce
- 3/4 of a bag of Morningstar Farms Grillers Recipe Crumbles
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 2-3 tbsp of grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
- garlic powder, oregano, and basil to taste

Preheat oven to 350F.
While noodles are cooking, mix ricotta, parmesan, and herbs/spices in a small bowl. Also, thaw Crumbles in microwave (30 seconds at a time, then stir; don't let them cook) in a medium bowl, then stir in spaghetti sauce, reserving about 1/4 cup. Spread reserved spaghetti sauce over the bottom of a 13"x9" baking pan, and lay out one layer of noodles. Spread a thin layer of cheese mixture over noodles, then a layer of sauce mixture. Continue layering, ending with top layer of noodles, sauce, and grated mozzarella. Bake about 40 minutes, or until hot all the way through. Don't judge doneness by appearance of mozzarella cheese on top! I was waiting for the cheese to melt, and it never happened -- thus my top layer ended up overcooked.

I think this product would also be delicious in tacos, or other Mexican dishes. MSF also makes a crumbled sausage product, which I would love to try but can't find anywhere...

**2/25/09 Edited to add: This stuff is also really good sprinkled onto a cheese or veggie pizza!

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
Vegan

Gardenburger BBQ Riblets

I have never eaten real ribs, so I can't really compare this product to the real thing, but...

I've been a fan of this product for a while now -- pretty much ever since I discovered that I love barbecue sauce about a year or two ago.

Unlike many other veg*n convenience foods, you only get two servings per package. Each veggie riblet comes in a plastic pouch, which is microwaveable. Be very, very careful when you microwave this product! It is very easy to overcook, especially if you have a powerful microwave oven. I only have to cook mine for about half the recommended time for it to be heated through. If it is overcooked, it will chewy and tough to the point of being inedible... which is very sad when it smells so good!

The sauce is delicious -- sweet (but not too sweet) and spicy (but not too spicy). I think they should bottle it and make it available separately. The riblets are tasty too, and have a sort of chunky texture. I have eaten the riblets as a sandwich on a long roll or toasted bread with swiss cheese, or as-is with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Yum.

And yes, it's even vegan! Yay!

On my last shopping trip, I noticed a suspiciously similar product from Morningstar Farms. I purchased it, not realizing that I already had a box of Gardenburger riblets at home. I compared the list of ingredients on the two boxes, and sure enough, they were identical. I wonder what this means..? Did MSF purchase Gardenburger? Hmm...

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat
100% vegan

Morningstar Farms Chik Patties Original

I bought these one day while at a grocery store that doesn't carry my beloved Quorn "chicken" products. I knew it wouldn't be the same, but I thought trying something new might be good. Morningstar Farms has rarely ever disappointed me. Besides, the Chik Patties now have received the Chef's Best award... though I'm not quite sure what that means (and I wonder what other fake chicken patties they could have compared this to? Hmm).

Overall, this product was about what I was expecting. They do have a different sort of "chicken" flavor and texture than Quorn or Gardenburger; I'd say it resembles more of a dark meat chicken flavor -- only more, um, blah. The "meat" flavor and the breading reminded a bit of something like Banquet chicken nuggets.

The product does stay together better than a Quorn patty -- the breading doesn't just fall off -- so it does have that going for it. Oh, and it cooks at a lower oven temperature, so the oven preheats faster, thus you can eat it sooner (always a bonus in my book!). And, though it still may not be quite as good IMHO, it is nice to have a little variety once in a while.

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat, milk, egg
100% vegetarian

Quorn Chik'n Patties & Nuggets

I'm going to review both products in this post since they are basically the same thing, in different sizes and shapes. :)

Quorn products are made in the UK, and are apparently much more popular there. If you visit their UK website, you'll see that they have a ton more meat-free products available, from the common burger and chicken-style products to turkey, lamb, sausage, pork, and some interesting British dishes. Not only is the range of US-available Quorn products more limited, but they can be much more difficult to find in grocery stores than other vegetarian brands.

Of all the vegetarian meat analogs I've tried, these win the award for Closest Resemblance to Meat. They have the perfect chicken-like texture and feel, and a flavor that could be mistaken for lean chicken. The breading is nice and crispy with a light seasoning that complements the chik'n flavor. My only complaint about these products is that the breading has a tendency to fall off, especially if the patty/nugget gets stuck to the baking sheet while cooking.

The patties make a delicious sandwich with cheese and lettuce, and the nuggets are yummy served with barbecue sauce. But they're good for much more than that! I've cut up patties and nuggets to mix in a green salad, made vegetarian chicken parmesan (YUM), and chicken quesadillas. And I'm sure there's much more that could be made with them as well!

I highly recommend both these versatile products.

Protein source: Mycoprotein (mushroom), wheat
Allergens: Wheat, milk, egg
Vegetarian

Morningstar Farms Grillers Prime Burger

This has been one of my favorite veggie products since I started sampling vegetarian foods. Of all the beef burger substitutes I've tried (Boca, Gardenburger, Amy's, and MSF), this has the most burger-like flavor. It doesn't taste like vegetables or have visible vegetable particles like other burger substitutes, and it has a good texture. It's definitely my first choice when I'm craving a big, juicy cheeseburger. Yum. :)

Obviously, if you're a vegetarian because you don't like the taste of meat, this would not be a good sandwich patty for you. But if you do sometimes miss hamburgers, I absolutely recommend this product.

Protein source: Soy, wheat
Allergens: Soy, wheat, milk, egg
Vegetarian

Seitan Quick Mix

Last Thursday I cooked seitan (a meat substitute made from wheat gluten) for the first time.
I used "Seitan Quick Mix" from Harvest Direct. The process was pretty easy, but I can't say whether or not it turned out right since I have no previous experience with seitan! I know it didn't look anything like the burger on the package...


I made the dough according to the directions, formed it into a sort-of log shape, and simmered it for an hour in a vegetarian beef-flavor broth. After an hour, I cut into it and it still looked doughy in the middle. So I cut it into four segments and simmered it for another 15 minutes.

I ate one of the segments with a big helping of mashed potatoes. Not surprisingly, it tasted like... wheat! The texture was quite firm, dense, and meat-like, though. I was hoping it would have absorbed more of the flavor of the broth, since it smelled so good as it was cooking. Maybe next time I'll try using broth to make the dough instead of water...

I stored the leftovers in broth in the fridge as directed on the package. The next evening I decided to cut up another portion and cook it in a stir-fry with some veggies I had on hand - carrots, peas, corn, green beans, bell peppers, celery, and onions. I cut up the seitan into small strips, and it seemed to absorb some of the flavor of the veggies as it cooked. I ate it with some white rice, and it was delicious!

I don't know what the white stuff is in the photo. It appeared in the broth after being refrigerated for a day. Something congealed, I guess...?

Protein source: Wheat
Allergens: Wheat
Vegan