Top 5 Tastiest Vegetarian ‘Meats’

There is a whole heap of vegan and vegetarian meat-free alternatives out there to try, but some are much better than others. Find out which proteins are simply too delicious to pass up in this handy guide.

I’ve been vegetarian for over 20 years and during that time have tried my fair share of good, bad and seriously dire meat replacements. I’ve also been guilty of ignorantly eliminating protein from my meals altogether, which, of course, affected my health over time. However, in the past couple of years I have become increasingly interested in food nutrition, macros, supplements and upping my protein intake thanks to my work at a sports nutrition company. Now I rarely make a plate of food without ensuring protein features somewhere on it.

I am what you might call a fussy vegetarian. I happen to dislike a lot of the naturally high-protein foods that could help balance out my meat-free diet. But, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and there are in fact a multitude of delicious meat-free proteins on the market that will not only elevate a plate of food in terms of taste and texture but, more importantly, deliver the right amount of protein for a healthy diet. I am not recommending these in place of essential foods such as nuts, pulses, eggs and grains, but they do work exceptionally well alongside them.

If you’re just starting out as a vegetarian, pescatarian or vegan, or are looking to cut down on your meat intake, it can be challenging to find meatless alternatives that deliver in taste, texture and high protein content simultaneously, which is why I’ve taken the time to share my personal favourites that I think have it all. Some are brands and some are generic proteins you can find almost anywhere. Enjoy!

1. Beyond Meat

The premise behind this plant-based brand is to 'build' meat from plants for the good of the planet, animal welfare and improved human health. Beyond Meat’s core products include plant-based burgers, sausages, beef and crumbles all made using the building blocks of meat (protein, fat, minerals, carbohydrates, and water) but out of plants such as peas, mung beans and rice, resulting in foods exceptionally high in protein and iron. Each of the products share a similar nutritional profile to meat but without harming any animals in the process.

As Beyond Meat products are stored in the fresh meat aisle of the supermarket, it has caused some controversy with vegetarians and vegans who find the products too close to the real thing. However, Beyond Meat products are 100% vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and soy-free, and while they do look similar to meat, which doesn’t sit well with some, I personally find them to be the tastiest meat-free protein on the market. They’ve even passed the test with my carnivore husband who actually prefers Beyond Burgers over beef.

Currently, in Australia, Beyond Meat has only launched their burger range, which is available to buy exclusively at Coles or ready-cooked at Grill’d. In the USA, the full range is widely stocked, and in the UK Tesco sells both Beyond Burgers and Beyond Sausages.

2. Linda McCartney’s

I have been enjoying the delicious meat-free delights from the Linda McCartney’s brand since I was a young child. Founded by the wife of Beatles star Paul McCartney, Linda was a proud animal activist and is considered one of the original meat-free pioneers who believed meatless meals could be just as tasty. Linda sadly died of breast cancer in 1998. Still, her food legacy continues to live on through her range of fresh and frozen vegan and vegetarian products made with TVP (textured vegetable protein) soy protein.

You’ll find everything from soy-based country pies and sausage rolls to meatballs and pulled pork, but my personal favourite is the Linda McCartney’s Vegetarian Mozzarella Burgers. These moist, perfectly chewy burgers are rich in flavour, high in protein and cook beautifully in the oven, on the barbecue, in a pan or under the grill. I have sampled the whole Linda McCartney’s range over the years and can confirm all of it is delicious! Not all products are vegan, but over 75% is, and you’ll find a selection of the range available in the freezer department at all Woolworths stores in Australia.

3. Quorn

Quorn was the first meat-free brand I ever tried, back in the late Nineties. Made using mycoprotein, a meat replacement protein derived from a type of fungus, Quorn products are often low in fat with a simple ingredient list, and while fungus doesn’t sound very appealing, Quorn can be fantastic for replacing texture and consistency in recipes featuring mince and chicken. I find most of their products to have a neutral taste, which makes them perfect for adapting most meat recipes and incorporating your own flavours through the addition of sauces, spices and herbs.

Alongside their frozen range, Quorn also makes some delicious fresh food including tasty escalopes, mini ‘sausages’ and even Scotch eggs, though sadly their fresh range is very limited in Australia. One staple I always keep in the freezer is Quorn mince, which is low in fat and high in protein. My favourite recipe to make with it is lasagne thanks to my mum, who makes the world’s best homemade lasagne and has perfected a vegetarian version just for me.

4. Tempeh

Moving on from the brands, tempeh is something I only discovered two years ago when I moved to Australia, perhaps because it originates from this part of the world, in Indonesia. Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans and can usually be found in supermarket refrigerators in patty form. It has a firm, chunky texture and rich, nutty taste that makes it ideal for marinating and replacing several different types of meat. Slice it on salad, grill it on the barbecue, chop it up in curry, stir fry it… the possibilities are almost endless!

Tempeh is 100% vegan and boasts over 30g of protein per cup. You’ll usually find it blended with brown rice or seeds in supermarkets, and you’ll likely see a whole range of flavours to try too. I have discovered Coles has the biggest range of tempeh, usually found in the refrigerated section of vegan and vegetarian speciality foods.

5. Jackfruit

Jackfruit has become a bit of a buzzword on the plant-based scene. It’s an impressively versatile tropical fruit famed for its stringy, meat-like flesh and unique ability to mimic pulled pork.

Jackfruit is a species of tree related to the fig, mulberry and breadfruit family that originates from India and produces the world’s largest fruits. When unripe, jackfruit has a firm, meaty texture and neutral taste ideal for cooking with strong flavours. You’ll usually find the whole fruit on sale at Asian markets; however, it is also readily available in tins from most supermarkets, which is far more convenient than hacking away at the enormous fresh fruit. Jackfruit is lower in protein than the aforementioned meat-free alternatives, however, it is rich in fibre, vitamin C and calcium, so still proves an excellent alternative for a vegan or vegetarian meal.

Honourable mentions

If I jotted down all the meat-free alternatives I’ve loved and loathed over the years this blog post might turn into a book, so I’ve tried to keep it concise at five main proteins. Still, then I realised there were a few other extra tasty options worth mentioning in the footnotes, just in case you need a little more inspiration.

Nature’s Kitchen – This Coles-own plant-based brand is on a mission to prove that meat-free doesn’t mean flavour-free. The large range includes sausages, tofu, tempeh and burgers, but my personal favourite is the ‘Meat-free Chicken Style Tenders’. The tenders have a nice firm texture that works exceptionally well with marinades. The flavour is mild but pleasant, and I really love making my own ‘chicken’ burgers with them.

Next! – This plant-based brand sold exclusively at Coles offers a range of high-protein, healthy alternatives to meat. The company’s small product range includes plant-based bacon and two types of plant-based chicken that look, feel and taste very similar to meat. The brand is marketing to those looking to cut down on their meat intake, but their products are 100% vegan, found in the refrigerated meats aisle in the supermarket.

Tofurky – Made from a base of, you guessed it, tofu, Tofurkey has a wide range of delicious meat alternatives usually found in the refrigerator aisle alongside vegan cheese and hummus. However, some of the products can also be spotted with refrigerated meats. Tofurkey’s products are all vegan and include the likes of tempeh, sausages, hot dogs, burgers and deli slices. I personally really like the Smoked Ham Style Slices as they work really well in wraps and salads, and I often chop them up to go in stuffed peppers and mushrooms too.