Now and again I like to do these blogs where I review some gluten-free and vegan items I have bought and tasted. This is just my opinion and I can only taste or try products that are both vegan and gluten-free too.
I receive no remuneration from this.
There will be a variety of products and I will give you an honest opinion.
Plant Based Meat-Free Mince by Asda £2.50 for 400g
Vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian. Contains soy
I tried this for the first time in February. I find it hard normally to find vegan mince that is also gluten-free. The one I had been using for lasagne and chilli was Beyond Mince, but at £4.00 for 300g was too costly to maintain. The Asda one did replicate mince more to regards in looks.
I made a chilli using this and to be honest I was very happy with the results. It does break down into slightly smaller bits. I will keep buying this and It is great value for money.
8/10
OMV Mini Pink & White Mallows by Asda £1.25 for 100g
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and soy free
I normally only buy the mini ones in baking but I find some vegan brands so costly. Since they were going to be used in baked goods such as cereal bars and rocky roads, these were just perfect. Not the type I would want to eat as they are a little hard and not the best flavoured.
5/10
Sun-Pat Extra Crunchy Banoffee Flavoured Peanut Butter £3.00 for 300g
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and soy free
Now most of the time I make my own nut butter. I am the type of person who would happily with a big spoon empty the jar( I do stop myself).
I saw this one advertised and just knew I had to try it. Added to my favourite sandwich, a peanut butter and banana it was sublime. I will be using it in banana bread or peanut butter cookies as I feel it will add a great flavour. Definitely will buy it again.
9/10
PIEMINISTER MOOLESS MOO gluten-free Jackfruit Steak & Ale Pie £4.80 for 275g
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, Contains sesame, soy and mustard.
If you are a carb fan then you will more than likely love a pie. This is shaky ground if you are not only vegan but coeliac. I do have a recipe on my blog but sometimes is it so useless to have an easy ready-made item in the freezer. Not a healthy food and certainly not inexpensive.
I loved this pie, the pastry was crisp and delicious, the jackfruit made a great filling, and the craft ale gravy was rich and unctuous. If you are looking for an old-fashioned, warming and hearty pie then look no further. This Bristol-based firm has it covered.
8/10
La Vie Plant Based Bacon £3.50 for 120g (10 strips)
Vegan, vegetarian but contains soya
Although this is not endorsed by the coeliac society, it does not contain any wheat or gluten. I grabbed this to test because of this reason. I had heard a few good things about this vegan bacon.
The first thing I did like was the fact that this does cook up crispier than any other plant-based bacon. It has a lovely smoky smell and taste once cooked and looks pleasant.
In a bacon sandwich with some brown sauce I enjoyed it. Saying that I do have a few negative points. First is the price, the rashers are not very big and they do break up in the pan. At £3.50 it is certainly on the steep side price- wise. Once opened it has to be used as it is not suitable for freezing. Although it was pleasant enough, it is not something I will buy regularly.
6/10
WICKED KITCHEN Chocolate and Redberry cones £3.00 for 4
Vegan, gluten-free and vegetarian. Contains soy and lupin
I was so disappointed with these as I was looking forward to trying them. I thought the price was reasonable for 4 cones of a decent size.
First off, you could not tell this was chocolate flavour, shut your eyes and it could anything. The cone was soggy in some parts and in other parts it broke apart. The only thing I enjoyed was the berry sauce. Certainly will not be buying these again.
4/10
Nurishh Plant-Based Cubes Greek-Style £2.70 for 150g
Dairy-free, lactose-free, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free
I saw this one when shopping in Sainsbury’s the other day. I bought it because feta cheese was my favourite cheese a long time ago.
Apart from a brand called Daiya I hadn’t had much luck with vegan feta. I used these tossed through a quinoa salad and in a tart and loved these little cubes of salty joy.
The Tofoo co Original Tempeh £3.00 for 200g
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free. Contains soy
It took me a while to fall in love with tofu and a lot longer to fall in love with tempeh. This is the brand that swung it for me. This has a firm texture with a wonderful nutty flavour. Cuts or tears apart easily without crumbling and absorbs flavours and marinades so well. I prefer my tempeh in its original state so I can control the flavour and additives.
I will be buying this one again. My only negative was that it had a bitter almost sour aftertaste but once marinated that disappears. 6/10
The Coconut Collaborative Vegan Double Cream £1.75 for 220ML
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, soya free and dairy-free
We have come a long way in the last few years with vegan cream. This one I think is one of the nicest double creams. I cannot wait to make a Victoria sponge with this and my homemade blackcurrant jam.
I am not a fan of this brand’s ice cream but they do have some great products. It whips up so well and pipes and holds its shape. It is a little sweet but not off-putting. It is great in a vegan mushroom soup and even making vegan ice-cream. I was worried that it may have a coconut flavour but I am that it didn’t.
8/10
Vemondo Lidl Vegan Italian-Style Grated Cheese £1.99 for 100g
Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free
Before becoming vegan Parmesan cheese was a standby in my fridge. It was something I used a lot. Since being vegan I have tried about 3 brands of Italian style parmesan cheese, some were a lot more expensive. Although this is not overly strong and it certainly does not mimic the taste of Grana Padano. It does a great job in both smell and taste. I get asked what parmesan-style vegan cheese I use I always recommend this one. Great in pesto, bolognese, lasagne and so much more.
8/10
BFfree Naan Breads Pack of 2 240g for £2.75
Wheat-free, gluten-free, vegan-friendly and dairy-free
I Tried these for the first time a few days ago and was highly impressed. Finding bread that is gluten-free and also vegan is a hard task. BFree certainly has it covered. Their products, prices, and selection are great. I first tried these as a pizza base, this worked well but it does make the base slightly chewy but tasted good. Used to scoop up a vegan curry it was perfect. These will be part of my monthly shopping haul.
9/10
NOMO Chocolate cookie dough bunny 30g £1.00
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free. nut-free and dairy-free
These little beauties come out after Christmas until Easter. Catch them while you can though. My problem is that they are highly addictive. NOMO is my favourite free-from chocolate so I have no complaints about these.
10/10
Interesting products!
Thank you