Best vegan meat substitutes: meat alternatives that taste great

The amount of vegans the world over has sky rocketed of late, with many looking for the best meat replacements for both ethical and health reasons. And now that the word Veganuary has made its way into the Collin’s English Dictionary, there’s no getting around it - you’ll likely have to cook a vegan meal, whether you are vegan or not so knowing the best vegan meat substitutes is key.

Meat substitutes are a tricky topic. In France, for example, law decrees food makers can’t use traditional meat-related words like ‘sausage’ or ‘steak’ to describe alternatives for fear of misleading the buying public.

It is not just meat-eaters unhappy with animal-free alternatives. In the UK, many vegans grump at the idea of copycat versions of carnivorous food and while these are obviously available, there are plenty of vegans who push for less processed options that don’t resemble the real deal.

What we’ve pulled together, as a result, is something for everyone - list of two types. There are true meat substitutes that actually look, smell, taste and, occasionally, bleed like the animal they’re emulating, and less processed alternatives to be enjoyed on their own merits.

• Get more vegan food inspiration with the best vegan cookbooks, best vegan chocolate and best gifts for vegans.
  

Best vegan meat replacements

£5 at tidd.ly

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£2.95 at WaitroseCreated by two ex-burger chain founders, the brand has worked hard to make plant-based alternatives that have the same taste, texture and appearance of the meat it's replicating. And, we think they've done a pretty good job.These are by far the best slices of bacon we've found - especially when many often resemble something you'd rather line your shoe with. It's also high in protein and contains Vitamin B12 and Iron. Ideal for including in a plant-based Spaghetti Carbonara or Caesar Salad.

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£2.50 at bit.ly

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£3 at tidd.lyIf you’re a vegan who’s never had shawarma, it isn’t too late. Once again, Vivera has come to the rescue with an aromatically spiced vegan alternative to meat shawarma. Its texture sits somewhere between lamb and chicken, but don’t let this mutant meat description put you off.Fry the shawarma kebab for a little over five minutes, layer it into a pita wrap with some salad, chillies and Middle Eastern pickles, lather on tahini and a squeeze of lemon and bam. It's a balanced snack and tastes like a party in your mouth. What’s more, this vegan alternative to traditional kebab meat comes packed with protein, has much more fibre than standard shawarma meat and is even fortified with vitamin B12.

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£2.75 at bit.lyIf you thought tofu was healthy, tempeh is on another level. This stuff is easy to digest and loaded with stacks of fibre and protein. As a traditionally fermented food, it's also a probiotic, great for gut health. 100g of Plant Power tempeh has as much protein as you’d find in a protein bar, 21g. And it can be eaten hot or cold, just like Cauldron's marinated tofu.While tempeh’s flavour and texture can be hit or miss depending on how you cook and season it, Plant Power takes the fuss and risk out of the equation. This tempeh is spiced beautifully and perfectly complements everything from a buddha bowl or salad through to a veggie curry.

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£3.30 at tidd.lyThe Vegetarian Butcher was founded by Jaap Korteweg, a ninth-generation Dutch farmer. After living through the mad cow disease and swine flu epidemics, Jaap became a vegetarian. He worked with pioneering chefs to make mock meats that could satiate his craving for real meat after a lifetime producing and eating it. The result is the best darn chicken burger substitute we’ve ever tried.It’s juicy, meaty and flavourful without being overly seasoned, making a great canvas for condiments, salads and other burger fillings. This is also one of the leaner meat alternatives, at 140kcal per burger. And given it fries up in as little as six minutes, a Chickened Out Burger is a great option if you have hungry vegan or vegetarian mouths to feed, fast.

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£2.50 at bit.ly

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£3 at tidd.lyVivera makes the only sirloin substitute on our list with its convincingly fibrous two-pack Plant Steak. This salty slab of protein is nothing short of a revelation for newbie vegans and can be found in most UK supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Treat it just like you would a standard steak. Fry it off to taste and it makes for a satisfying main event that pairs perfectly with a spoon of creamy mash, braised asparagus and a crack of black pepper over the top.Serve it with a dollop of grain mustard and we doubt even staunch meat fans would complain. In fact, the only demographic who might turn their noses up at Vivera’s steaks are the sodium conscious. Two steaks pack 44% of your daily recommended allowance of salt but, if you can hack that kicker, your taste buds will jump for joy.

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