The Best Plant-Based Alternatives to Lamb
Pairing vegan lamb with a fresh mint sauce not only enhances its juicy texture but also invites a burst of herby freshness. Look in stores for Linda McCartney’s vegan lamb steaks (above), made from textured soy protein, onion and seasonings.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people & pets (many human foods including fake meats and salt are unsafe around animal friends).
Recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins, if your kerbside does not recycle.
Lovely Lambs (are little Sheep!)
Like their sheep mothers, lambs are intelligent and peaceful creatures, who at farm sanctuaries are known to leap into the air with they see their family and friends, as they can’t contain their joy!
Report concerns of farm animals in the first instance (most will be thankful you did). If you can’t find them (or have no joy communicating regards concerns, call RSPCA (or Crimestoppers if you wish to remain anonymous).
Out walking, always follow the Countryside Code to keep dogs and livestock safe. Learn how to right an overturned sheep or it will die (hold upright until rain has drained off, to prevent it happening again). It’s very simple. You just gently approach, and grab a handful of wool, and right up.
Other Good Brands of Vegan Lamb
MOCK is a company that takes natural ingredients, and through the art of vegan wizardry, turns them into plant-based alternatives to popular animal foods.
Due to the law, you can’t call these products ‘vegan meats’, but this company do offer plant-based alternatives to everything from chicken drumsticks to kebabs.
This brand of mock lamb is sold in dishes at Wales’ vegan pub The Queen Inn. These mock lamb pieces cook from frozen in just 8 minutes, so are ideal for kebab shops and food service. They are also Halal-certified.
Look in stores for PLNT plant-based lamb strips, which are high in iron and protein, and include vitamin B12.
Seitan: Known as wheat meat, seitan is a popular choice due to its chewy texture that closely resembles meat. It’s made from gluten, the protein found in wheat, and can be flavoured to taste like lamb.
Vegan Lamb Cooking Techniques
Grilling adds a smoky essence that enhances the natural flavours of vegan lamb. When you grill, it’s like painting with fire, adding layers of taste that can’t be achieved through other methods.
- Preparation: Start by marinating your vegan lamb to infuse it with flavour. A simple mix of olive oil, garlic, and herbs like rosemary can work wonders.
- Grill Heat: Make sure your grill is preheated to a medium-high temperature. This allows for a nice sear on the outside while keeping the inside tender.
- Cooking Time: Keep an eye on the grill. Vegan lamb cooks quickly, usually around 4-6 minutes per side depending on thickness.
Pairing Vegan Lamb with Other Dishes
- Roasted Vegetables: Think of colourful carrots, tender sweet potatoes, and earthy parsnips. Roasting them brings out their natural sweetness, adding depth and flavour to your meal.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes offer a comforting texture that pairs well with a minty sauce drizzled over vegan lamb.
- Grilled Asparagus: For a touch of elegance, grilled asparagus with a squeeze of lemon can add a fresh, vibrant element to your plate.
My Dad’s ‘not mutton’ Mushroom Curry is a recipe adapted by a vegan blogger from a meal originally made from goat meat.
A Couple of Impressive ‘vegan lamb’ Recipes!
These ‘lamb chops’ are by Aussie ‘vegan butcher’ Zacchary Bird. Also try Chef Joya’s award-winning no-lamb chops!
This ‘vegan rack of lamb’ (Gourmandelle) uses leeks as the ‘bones!’
Enjoy Vegan Lamb Kebabs
Kebabs are England’s fourth favourite takeaway (after pizza, Chinese and Indian food). From the Turkish word for cut-up pieces of meat, those of us who don’t eat meat often feel sick seeing spits roasting pieces of meat.
But whether you are vegan, vegetarian or a meat-eater, try some of these plant-based offerings for some if not all of the time. The lambs will thank you!
These tofu turmeric kebabs (So Vegan) combine the protein-rich bean curd with an Indian spice. Choose Tofoo! in stores (made in Yorkshire from organic soybeans).
Oumph is a Swedish food brand that uses sustainable European-grown soy to create vegan kebabs and other goodies. These spicy offerings are nice with veggies and sauce, served in a flatbread or pita.
What the Pitta! offers vegan döner kebabs to caterers in London and Brighton, inspired by a popular shop in Germany where the founders were so wowed by the taste. Fans include Irish chefs & superstar footballers!
Meet a Middle Eastern (vegan) Prince!
Religious slaughter is very controversial in England, where animals are killed without stunning, in line with religious slaughter rules of both the Islamic and Jewish religions.
Some of the best-selling vegan cookbook authors in the world are vegan. One Arab Vegan is one of the most popular recipe blogs (its founder a practicing Muslim). And Prince Khaled bin alwaleed (above) is so passionate about the lifestyle, he now has invested heavily in the world’s biggest plant-based news website.
The law is also a mess. Compassion in World Farming says that many meats sold as Halal are stunned (so not compliant anyway). And many supermarkets now sell Halal meat without labelling it properly. So people often buy it, not realising that it comes from animals that were not stunned.
Many Jewish and Muslim food brands are now vegan, proving that it’s perfectly possible to eat in line with your religious beliefs, but also enjoy great-tasting plant foods. Doing this abroad also helps (in Australia, there is huge controversy over sheep and goats sent in blistering heat to boats abroad, where they then are religiously slaughtered).
In fact, Israel is one of the most vegan-friendly countries on earth. And the Middle East Vegan Society now certifies foods using its own V label.
