Recent times have seen an influx of new vegan products onto supermarket shelves in Australia, which means if you are looking for a quick meal, you're certain to find something. Below I've compiled some reviews of a few products I've tried - two are just heat and eat meals, two are packets that just need some rice or pasta to serve over. But this is just a small sampling of what is available these days. Unfortunately, vegan convenience does come with a price. But they are good to have on hand just in case.
Coles recently introduced a range called Nature's Kitchen, which includes several ready meals. Most excitingly, a vegan lasagne with actual vegan cheese. It is a Mediterranean vegetable one, so it does contain some capsicum to eat around, but vegan cheese! The recommended method to heat this is to bake it, but I didn't have much time so I took the microwave option. It was still good! The cheese and bechamel are nice and creamy.
Another in the same range is the Penne and Beanballs, a microwave meal. I've had this twice, because I found it on sale. The beanballs are pretty soft and a bit smooshy, but it tastes good. Especially when I sprinkle nooch all over it.
Coles also has recently released an Eaty Range, which includes several pouch-style meals. Most of them have chili, but I was drawn to the chili-free Teriyaki one. I love teriyaki! It had vegetables (well, carrot and onion) and some chicken style soy strips in it, so you just needed to serve over rice once it was heated up. It says it is 2 serves, but not really. Sadly, this wasn't great. The soy strips were really dense and not that nice, and the sauce was just a bit too sweet.
Finally, stalwart Australian brand Vegie Delights. As well as finally making their entire range vegan recently, they have also added new products. I got this Bolognese sauce with veggie mince on sale, and used it to make a quick lunch. The flavour is fine, but it is super saucy as you can see. You need to add pasta or a grain to serve it over. I think a grain would be better because it would soak up the sauce more.
This is just a fraction of the products currently available in Australian supermarkets. What a time to be a vegan!
Cute Kitty Photo of the Post
Our clinic boy Jed loves his basket! Here he is saying hello, he'd love you to come give him some snugs!
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Yes, what a time! I ate so many ready made meals in my early vegan days, stressed out and confused by the changes I made in cooking. I have a special place in my heart for two of them--a tofu scramble meal that had hash browns and sliced tomatoes, and a vegan schnitzel over rice. Every now and then I still pick one up and it makes me feel oddly comforted, somehow.
ReplyDeleteOh, they sound good. I think the closest thing to a ready meal when I first went vegan was some vegan casserole mince in a can. I do feel oddly comforted when I think about it as well.
DeleteI agree with the student turned doctor! I used to eat a lot of frozen meals when I first went vegan. I still love the Amy's frozen vegan mac and cheese, but it's so many calories for not a whole lot of food!!
ReplyDeleteThe lasagna looks really creamy and cheese-y!
I freaking love Jed!!!! I want to come and give him all the love!!!!!
Frozen vegan meals are only a relatively new concept here!
DeleteJed would love to have your love!
The lasagne definitely looks like a great meal! I'd love to try the penne and beanballs, too!
ReplyDeleteJed has quite a pose there, what a cutie!
Jed is the master of posing.
DeleteIt really is a great time to be vegan! It's amazing how many options are out there and it is so fun to see what other countries offer! The lasagna looks sooooo good and the chicken teriyaki does too! I agree that they are pricey but I like to have some on hand for days where I just don't want to cook!
ReplyDeleteOMG I love Jed so much! How adorable!!!
I feel like Australia is just starting to catch up in the vegan convenience department. After being in awe of the US and UK for so long, it is nice that we have some options now!
DeleteI never grew up on fast pre-packages foods, so it is nice on my wallet. But I always feel a little clueless about them when I DO get them. I think it is great that there are more of them though, as people don't have an hour each day to make a complex curry.
ReplyDelete