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Our top pick of the supermarket meat-free vegan treats to get you through veganuary
Supermarkets' best meat-free treats for veganuary
Giving veganuary a try this month? Our head of food testing ditched the meat and took up a vegan diet eating supermarket only meals and snacks to find your best meat-free eats for the month.
Wicked Italian Style Cold Cuts Subs
The perfect grab and go lunch despite looking a little intimidating at first glance. Stuffed with cuts of roasted celeriac to look like a questionable replica of meat, the sub is actually very tasty. Herby with a spicy kick, smoked dairy-free gouda gives it a punchy smoky flavour. It has a delicious smoked paprika taste and a vinegar tang which works well against the creamy sauce.
BUY NOW Tesco,£3.00
Sainsbury’s Love your Veg Sweet Potato Katsu Curry with Sticky Rice
Perhaps a little too sweet because of the sweet notes in both the sauce and the potato but all in all very tasty. The katsu curry is very much true to its style; gently spiced and served with a side of well-cooked rice. The battered sweet potato has a gentle crispness that is very enjoyable but a tad oily.
BUY NOW Sainsbury's, £3.00
Waitrose Vegan Fish'less fingers
Not at all like a fish finger but so irresistible that a nibble quickly turns into a binge session. Lovely and crisp breadcrumbs coat a soft, yet springy paneer-like tofu. Slightly herby and flavoursome, served with Waitrose’s creamy, lemony Vegan Tartare Style Sauce (£1.99) for a balanced zing.
Waitrose, £3.99
Available in-store from the 4th of January
M&S Plant Kitchen Coleslaw
Just like the real thing. M&S’ vegan coleslaw is a must have during this veganuary season. Crunchy veg, tossed in a creamy sauce indistinguishable to mayo. Its well-balanced zing is deliciously pleasing.
Available from M&S, £1.50
Deliciously Ella Nutty Granola with cashew, almonds and hazelnuts
Sweetened with maple syrup instead of honey, this nutty gluten-free granola is filled with cashews, almonds and hazelnuts. Well-rounded in flavour and not over-sweetened, the nuts really come through. Sunflower and pumpkin seeds add an additional crunch.
BUY NOW Ocado, £3.99
M&S Plant Kitchen Vegan Margherita Ultra Thin Pizza
A real treat, this pizza has a lovely premium taste thanks to the rich-tasting tomato sauce and crisp, flavoursome base. Unlike some vegan pizza’s where the cheese can taste disappointingly synthetic and plasticky this pizza’s cheese has a wonderful creaminess much like béchamel sauce while pesto adds a nice herby taste.
Available from M&S, £3.50
Wicked Spicy Mushroom and Veg Sourdough Pizza
A fluffy sourdough pizza base layered with lots of flavour. Herby pesto in a sun-dried tomato sauce gives depth to this pizza. Though not overly spicy, the oyster mushrooms are delicious and add a little bite along with the pumpkin seeds. The dairy free mozzarella cheese is very subtle but not missed at all thanks to all the flavour.
Available from Tesco, £4.00
Ocado Pieminister Kevin Pie
A comforting winter warmer. So crisp and flaky, the golden pastry is filled with mushrooms and delicious baby onions that had a slight pickled taste. The red wine comes through but doesn’t overpower, delicious but could do with a touch of salt to bring out the flavours more.
BUY NOW Ocado, £3.70
Asda Meat Free Sausage Roll
An easy introduction into the meat-free life, these ‘sausage rolls’ could easily masquerade as the real deal. Almost dismissed as just a tasteless faux meat option but these are anything but. Flaky buttery pastry with a herby, meaty filling. It’s spot on with texture and the slight taste of sage is wonderful.
BUY NOW Asda, £1.50
M&S Plant Kitchen Jackfruit Nourish Bowl
Bright, colourful and an exciting eat. The pickled cabbage adds a lovely sharpness that works well against the sweet, BBQ jackfruit that has a lovely chicken-like texture. Tasty and filling from the edamame beans give this bowl plenty of substance.
Available from M&S, £3.50
Wicked Kitchen Big Bros Enchiladas
This soft tortilla wrap is teeming with flavour. Mixed beans, sweetcorn and sweet potato are smothered in a spicy tomatoey pepper salsa. Fluffy rice bulks up the wrap for a satisfying lunch.
BUY NOW Tesco, £3.50
M&S Plant Kitchen Roast Aubergine with Herby Grains
A light meal but big in flavour, richly seasoned, the fluffy grains have a wonderful spicy flavour with a subtle hint of mint. The sweet peppers pair well with the roasted taste of the aubergine.
Available from M&S, £3.50
Dell'Ugo Spicy Butternut Squash Ravioli
Fresh pasta with a great bite. Filled with butternut squash and sweet potato. This savoury-sweet ravioli is filled with butternut squash, sweet potato and sundried tomato. Well spiced, the cumin comes through nicely.
BUY NOW Ocado, £3.49
Livia's Kitchen Raw Millionaire Bites Salted Caramel
An indulgent nibble, these oat based bites are topped with a crisp raw dark chocolate that cracks enjoyably into the fudgy-soft date centre.
BUY NOW Ocado, £4.99
Janet Leigh is the acting food testing manager at the GHI. From Easter in January to Christmas in July (and all that falls in-between), she leads the taste test team as they munch their way through sample after sample trying to find you the best products on the market. Whether it’s the latest trending foods or your cupboard staples, she covers it all. She now writes for Digital Spy
