Summer's here, and that means BBQ time. Get grilling with Australia’s favourite vegan meat alternatives, as voted by you in the Nourish Vegan Awards!
Demand for plant-based meat just keeps growing, and it’s easy to see why. As people become increasingly aware of the toll meat is taking on our health, the planet, and animals, they are eagerly embracing alternatives that fill that ‘centre-of-plate’ (or centre-of-bun) spot in their favourite meals – but without the down sides. And, as the range of options keeps getting bigger and better, there really is a vegan meat alternative for every taste and occasion.
As we’re in the middle of Veganuary and barbecue season, what better time to recap the most popular alt meats in Aus, as voted in the latest Nourish Vegan Awards? With close to 11,500 members of the Nourish community casting votes in the awards, it’s clear that these winning brands are some of the top favourites that have us firing up the grill time and again.
Beyond Burger
Renowned for its meaty authenticity, Beyond Meat’s celebrated burger looks, cooks, and satisfies like the ‘real thing’ – but comes with all the advantages of a plant-based alternative, including less saturated fat, no cholesterol, no antibiotics, and no hormones. It’s also a good source of plant-based protein with its combination of pea, mung bean, and rice – plus, it’s free from soy, gluten, and GMOs. This Earth-loving burger uses far less water, land, and energy, and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a beef equivalent, and it’s clearly a favourite among the Nourish community, landing Best Plant-Based Burger both years of the Nourish Vegan Awards so far!
Wildly Good
The name says everything when it comes to Wildly Good’s burgers, and our Nourish community clearly agrees – voting these home style veggie patties to the finals for Best Plant-Based Burger in the latest Nourish Vegan Awards. With natural ingredients grown fresh from the earth, Wildly Goods’ burgers are crafted by chefs who know how to turn everyday veggies into something spectacular, unexpected, and brimming with flavour. Their vegan burger range includes Beetroot and Black Bean, Smoky Cauliflower, Spiced Chickpea, and Kimchi-Style Sweet Potato.
Bean Supreme
When it comes to an original range of delicious plant-based options, Bean Supreme have got us covered. Their vegan burger range includes varieties for all tastes, from Beetroot Burgers, Hemp Burgers, and Masala Burgers to their newer Quinoa and Mushroom Burgers, and Kumara Burgers. There’s a great sausage range starring the likes of Parsley, Sage and Rosemary Sausages and their latest arrival: Supremely Savoury Sausages. Completely free from palm oil and GMOs, this range is packed full of nutritious and delicious wholefood goodness instead. No wonder they’ve landed on the finalists’ podium both years of the NVAs so far, across various categories including Best Plant-Based Burger, Best Vegan Sausage, and Best Alternative Meat!
Vegie Delights
Going by their roaring success in the Nourish Vegan Awards, it’s clear that the range by Vegie Delights is loved by everyone! Not only have they taken home the Best Alternative Meat award two years running, but they also won the newly-created Best Vegan Sausage award in 2021, and were honoured as a finalist for Best Vegan Burger in the awards’ first year, too. And, as they continue to enrich lives by creating innovative plant-based foods, it’s easy to see why. Whether you’re after a tasty schnitzel, a sizzling sausage, a wholesome burger, flavoursome meatballs, a classic hotdog, or a veggie roast, Vegie Delights have nailed it. With options like these, meat free is well and truly out of the ‘too hard’ basket.
Herb & Sons
When supermarket giant Coles released a range of plant-based meat products under the name Herb & Sons two years ago, we were eager to try them out, and it was love at first bite! Voters in the Nourish Vegan Awards evidently agree, voting these snags straight to the finals of the new category of Best Vegan Sausage in the latest awards. Options include the original Beef-Free BBQ Sausages and the more recent Beef-Free Classic Sausages. Plus, there’s also the Pork-Free Bratwurst and Beef-Free Chevaps. Satisfying with every bite, this is a super-tasty range made from soy and pea protein. The ‘skin’ cooks up nice and crispy on the outside while the meaty inside remains juicy – just how we like it!
The Fry Family Food Co.
From making nutritious, plant-based meals in their own family kitchen to sharing their passion with the rest of the world, Fry’s continue to deliver on great-tasting 100% plant-based meat alternatives. Some of our favourites include The Big Fry Burger, Pea Protein Mince, Chicken-Style Nuggets, Soy & Flaxseed Schnitzels, and plenty more. It’s clear that this successful range is a favourite among our plant-friendly community, too. After being chosen as nominee in the Best Vegan Burger category in the 2020 Nourish Vegan Awards, they scooped a finalist’s place in the Best Alternative Meat category this time round. All Fry’s products are made with non-GMO, plant-based ingredients, including soy, wheat, and pea protein. They’re also naturally cholesterol free and low in saturated fat – plus they’re full of flavour, and have earned the approval of the brand’s best taste testers: the Fry family kids!
Quorn
High in fibre, low in saturated fat, and cholesterol free, Quorn beautifully mimics the experience of eating meat, but with far less impact on you, the animals, and the Earth. Whatever flavours and textures you’re after, there’s a vegan-friendly option to suit all palates in their range. Whether it’s their Crumbed Fish Free Fillets, Vegan Hot and Spicy Burgers, Vegan Nuggets, or Vegan Schnitzel, great-tasting food is only a few minutes’ cooking time away, and perfect for your summer BBQ! We weren’t surprised to see them landing a finalist’s position for Best Alternative Meat in the latest NVAs.
Fun fact for the alt-meat geeks out there: Quorn are true pioneers when it comes to the fascinating process of precision fermentation: a stunningly sustainable way to make nutritious and realistic alternatives to animal products from fungus. At Quorn, the secret lies in their unique mycoprotein, made from the fungus Fusarium.
For creative inspiration, get your juices flowing with the delectable barbecue recipes from the Nourish collection.
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Learn more about the 2021 Nourish Vegan Awards, and access exclusive offers from a selection of the winners, finalists, and nominated brands – many of which remain valid throughout Veganuary 2022 and beyond!
