If you love cows (and before farmers kick up, there is not enough land in England for everyone to eat free-range). Then it’s mostly vegan if not all vegan, to stop factory-farming, then here are some plant-based recipes and brands for plant-based steak and mince.
This recipe for celeriac steak (The Veg Space) uses a less common vegetable (that tastes like nutty celery). Serve with vegan mashed potato and vegan gravy.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets. You can recycle all soft plastic packaging at supermarket bag bins (keep dry ice away from children and pets).
If you eat beef steak or mince, Compassion in World Farming says look for the words ‘certified organic’, ‘grass-fed’ or ‘access to pasture’ which means the animals have at least been raised outdoors. Labels like Red Tractor and RSPCA are not given much credence on welfare grounds these days.
Vegan Steak Pies (no palm oil)
Magpye is an amazing company in Northumberland, where a couple make vegan pies (without palm oil) then fill them with vegan steak and chicken, and sometimes vegan steak and blue cheese!
Good Vegan Steaks in Supermarkets
Oumph (Sweden) makes good faux meats, made with European-grown sustainable soy. Nearby in Finland, one company even makes ‘beef’ from oats!
Vivera Steaks are simple to prepare, just fry for 10 minutes. Good with new potatoes and salad or vegetables. The same company also makes vegan mince, ideal for a spaghetti bolognese.
Sgaia (Scotland) sells vegan steaks made from ‘wheat-meat’ (enjoyed by Buddhists in Asia for thousands of years). This company was created by two Italian foodies, so everything tastes good!
It’s easy to cook with and cold cuts are good in sandwiches. Once open, keep in an airtight container in the fridge, and eat within a few days. Not for gluten intolerance or allergies.
Homemade Steak Bake (not Gregg’s)
The problem now in England is that we tend to live our lives by marketing. Every single ‘vegan steak bake’ on sale (Gregg’s, Gingsters, Quorn, Aldi) contains palm oil. Which most vegans these days don’t eat. Make your own vegan steak bakes (School Night Vegan) and make your own pastry (to avoid palm oil).
Vegan Steaks from Abroad (to inspire)
These brands are not local, but inspiring to see what is happening abroad.
- Abbot’s Butcher (US) makes steak from yellow peas, flavoured with herbs, spice and vinegars). The ‘ground beef’ is made with onion, thyme and porcini mushrooms (the company also makes faux chicken and chorizo).
- Sons of Butchers (Ireland) are fourth-generation butchers who went from herds to herbs! The range includes faux mince, burgers, meatballs and sausages. And recently-launched vegan cheese (nozzarella and chedda cheats!)
- Sunfed Bull-Free Beef (New Zealand) offers vegan steak along with boar-free bacon and chicken-free chicken! Made with natural high-protein ingredients.
- Veef (Australia) was devised by award-winning chefs, along w ith veef brisket and pulled veef. The company also makes ‘vegan roast chicken’.
