Toying with the idea of going vegetarian....

Does anyone like the Boca Burgers or any like products? I tried a veggie burger at one of our regular restaurants and it tasted like crap. I'm just afraid there are not enough choices out there for someone who loves meat. And DH is a red meat-aholic - could eat steak every day.

I thought about starting out by trying The Boca Burger or some like product in our spaghetti meat sauce to see if it would fly with DH (wouldn't tell him, just see the reaction). Any advice or suggestions?

**Honey, I think you read my posts on the forum and if this is the case when I try these things out please give it a chance.**   

I like the grilled Boca burgers.  I use Morningstar Farms veggie crumbles in things like chili.  Boca has some crumbles too.  My daughter is vegetarian and I eat meatless sometimes. 

I like the grilled Boca burgers.  I use Morningstar Farms veggie crumbles in things like chili.  Boca has some crumbles too.  My daughter is vegetarian and I eat meatless sometimes. 

Does it have the texture and taste of ground beef?

DH does like the Morningstar Chicken Patties so it may not be a lost battle. He won't go total veg but I think I could manage if there are enough choices. I'm going to take baby steps with it and do some research at my market this weekend.

I'm not cutting out dairy (I use fat free milk and not that much cheese or butter) or fish, just red meat if possible.

I lived off Morning Star Farms stuff. I actually liked it but after 9 months I had the urge to eat fish. That was almost 5 years ago...I haven't touched red meat since. I eat fish & chicken. I literally live off chicken...people don't get how I can eat it as much as i do but it isn't that hard.

Would he be willing to try tofu?? You can do curry or something with chunks of tofu...

Maybe something like this..
http://www.foodreference.com/assets/images/autogen/a_chinese_bbq.jpg


Good luck on your quest...it's hard at first but it gets easier. You'll get to the point where the smell and sight or redmeat makes you want to puke and even if you smell something that smells good and it's been a LONG time since you've eatten it you know your body will go crazy when you first injest it so that pretty much keeps you away lol

I am not a huge fan of some Boca products. I don't really like the taste/texture but there was one burger that was nice. I think it was the grilled one. Morningstar Farms is another big name on the market, and they do nice faux sausage patties. Quorn is prob my favorite product on the market right now.

It's been a long time since I regularly had beef, but I have never thought any of the substitutes tasted like the real thing.

It's really a hit and miss thing. Some products will taste better and some will be awful. Try a few things and don't be afraid to admit if something tastes terrible! Some of them will not be for you and that's OK. Good luck!

I was a meat lover who went veggie (now pescatarian) and it is difficult, but worth it (good karma!). 

I only cook veggie stuff for my boyfriend, and I have got him addicted to Cauldron veggie sausages. These are readily available from big supermarkets.  There is a range of foods by a company called Tivall, which includes burgers, nuggets and cutlets, and they are fantastic.  They make burgers for Sainsbury's, which taste meaty, and the wider ranges can be found in kosher sections at the supermarket (if your supermarket is in North London, you'll have no problem!).  The burgers are like the Veggie burgers you get at Nando's, and they do veggie hot dogs that are fantastic.  Yum!

I've tried every kind of veggie mince, but the best I've found is Realeat, also from Sainsbury's.

I make curries with Quorn chicken style chunks, as they are fairly bland without all the spices so work well in curries but not much else.  Though I usually make a fake-chicken and leek pie for Christmas which is nice.

As has been said, trial and error.  And stay away from Linda McCartney!!!  Their sausages are like cardboard!


Vicky

I don't think tofu will be on the menu as of yet - but it's not out of the picture. I heard that tofu takes on the taste of the food it is added to so that would be good. I'm just worried about the texture of it - I can't stand a mealy sensation.

It depends on what you do with it.  Cauldron do a marinated tofu which is great in salads and stir fries.

Vicky

One good way to prepare tofu for a meat lover or new veggie is to slice it into "steaks" no more than 1/2 inch thick then marinate for at least a couple of hours in soy sauce, lemon juice, chili, garlic - well you can use whatever you like really but soy sauce is essential. Then grill on both sides til the outside goes all blistery and chewy.  Or cut into cubes before you marinate it then put them on skewers kebab style interspersed with cherry tomatoes, small onions etc & grill.  You need a firm tofu for this, the Cauldron one works well, available in most supermarkets.

I am not a vegetarian but I do like All American Flame Grilled Boca Burger.  I haven't tried any their other stuff so I can only speak for that product.  I ate them because they were low in calories not because they were meatless.  I top them with some low cal cheese, turkey bacon (which  you can skip if going veggie) and ketchup.  I'd grill some potato wedges and have myself a tasty meal. 

June

It's been a long time since I regularly had beef, but I have never thought any of the substitutes tasted like the real thing.

I've found it's just the opposite for me, Courtney! I choose not to eat red meat because I don't like the taste or texture of it, and that rules out a lot of veggie substitutes. They all taste far too meaty for me! Boca especially.

Try Quorn. It tastes like meat... Really good.

As has been said, trial and error.  And stay away from Linda McCartney!!!  Their sausages are like cardboard!

I have not had good luck at all with veg sausages.  I'm always finding they're nice on the outside but the inside is all gross and soft, like uncooked.  ICK.  I do not like it.  If anyone has any brands they like, I will give them a try!

I've found it's just the opposite for me, Courtney! I choose not to eat red meat because I don't like the taste or texture of it, and that rules out a lot of veggie substitutes. They all taste far too meaty for me! Boca especially.

Finally!  Someone else who doesn't like red meat!  Being from the South, my family thought that I was insane...red meat...blech 

I have not had good luck at all with veg sausages.  I'm always finding they're nice on the outside but the inside is all gross and soft, like uncooked.  ICK.  I do not like it.  If anyone has any brands they like, I will give them a try!

I like Morrisons own brand, also the Realeat ones if you can find them, they are not stocked in many places.  The Morrisons one are quite dense and chewy.  The Realeat ones are also quite chewy but very porous so if they are really really good if you fry them first and then cook them in gravy mmmm! They are quite fatty though, you'll be amazed as this lard like lump that forms in your frying pan! Oh and the VegiDeli ones are quite good, they are ready to eat when you buy them, great for a sausage sandwich!