MEAT-FREE
BANGERS PUT
TO THE TEST
U
nlessyou’vebeenlivingundera rockfor
the past year or so, chances are you’ve
heard of ‘flexitarianism’. The term has
been coined for those of us who follow a largely
vegetable-based diet that still incorporates
occasional servings of meat and fish. In fact,
21% of Britons now claim to be ‘flexi’, while
one in eight is vegetarian or vegan. The increase
is down to health concerns and a growing
awareness about the impact of a typical Western
diet on both the planet and animal welfare.
Manufacturers have responded to the demand
for meat substitutes with new and more varied
plant-based products. But choosing between
similar-looking options can be difficult, so we put
a range of popular meat-free sausages on trial.
Bear in mind that two typical pork sausages
contain 346kcal, 28g fat, 9.6g saturates, 0.
sugars, 0g fibre, 22g protein, 1.1g salt. Here’s
howthemeat-freeversions measured up:THE CLASSIC
Linda McCartney’s Outrageously Succulent
6 Vegetarian Sausages, £2/300g, supermarkets
veganWHAT YOU GET We’re guessing that if you’ve
ever tried swapping your meat sausages for
veggie versions, you’ll probably have tried
these. Seasoned with onion powder, they
have a good flavour and come out crispy
when grilled.
THE HFG VERDICT We like the flavour
and texture, but they lose points for their
salt content, which was the highest of all
the meat-free alternatives we tested.
SCORE: 7/BUDGET WINNER
V Taste 6 Meat Free Sausages with Onion and
Herb Seasoning, £1.50/300g, Morrisons
veganWHAT YOU GET Thanks to the onion and
rosemary flavouring, these make a good
trade-in for classic pork sausages. Try them with
mash and a side of veg, or between slices of
bread for a veggie sausage-sandwich fix.
THE HFG VERDICT These soya sausages
pack in 14g protein per serving, meaning
that they’re likely to keep you fuller for longer.
We think they taste just as good as the Linda
McCartney ones, only with less salt.
SCORE: 9/Per 2 sausages (grilled)
O 153kcal O 7.1g fat
O 0.7g saturates
O 1.8g sugars OJƓEUH
O 14g protein O 1.2g saltALLERGY-FRIENDLY
Gosh! 6 Veggie Sausages With Sage & Black
Pepper, £2.40/270g, Morrisons, Ocado
gluten free veganWHAT YOU GET Firm cumberland-style
sausages, made with chickpeas, green lentils
and butterbeans. Their subtle herby flavour
makes them perfect for a vegan fry-up with
mushrooms, beans and grilled tomatoes.
THE HFG VERDICT There was nothing
revolutionary about these sausages and we
found the flavour a little bland, but we had to
score them up for being free from the 14 top
allergens, including gluten, soya and nuts.
SCORE: 6/Per 2 sausages (grilled)
O 141kcal O 5g fat
O 1.8g saturates
O1.3g sugars OJƓEUH
O 16.4g protein O 1.5g saltPer 2 sausages (grilled)
O229kcal O 11.8g fat
O 0.9g saturates
O 1.3g sugars OJƓEUH
O 6.4g protein O 1g saltAs more of us choose to
eat less meat, new vegan
and vegetarian sausages
are popping up to feed
the need. Niamh Leonard-Bedwell
tries out newbies and old favouritesHEALTHY FOOD TREND
HOW THE NEW-STYLE VEGGIE
12 HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE MAY 2019