Gardein (garden + protein), the meat-free meal company chillin’ in the frozen food aisle at your local grocery store, asked me to tryout a few of their products. Just the other day I was thinking what it would be like to stop eating meat. If you grew up eating hamburgers and steaks like I did the thought of eating something meat-free doesn’t seem very appealing. Some timing, huh?
As I said I was a bit skeptical at first. Almost worried. I headed to the store and picked up two packages: Meatless Meatballs and Teriyaki Chick’n Strips.
For the Meatless Meatballs I decided to pair them with spinach fettuccine and a garlic artichoke tomato sauce. A classic pasta dish. For the Teriyaki Chick’n Strips I decided to go an even healthier, low-carb route by making lettuce cups. In addition to the Chick’n Strips and lettuce I picked up peppers, onions, and some toasted sesame seeds to sprinkle on top.
As I’m writing this I’ve yet to make the lettuce cups, but eager to try them out. Why you ask? Because the Gardein Meatless Meatballs were out of this world. I’m not kidding. If I were to do a blind taste test I’m more than certain I would lose if asked to pick out which one was meat-free and which wasn’t.
What stood out with the meatballs was both the preparation and taste. From freezer to plate, it was as easy as just throwing them in a pan with simmering sauce and cooking for 15-minutes. As for taste and texture, I thought I was eating a homemade meatball. The texture for it being meatless was all too familiar. It was as though I rolled them myself.
In conclusion to my question of whether or not a meat-free meal can taste good I would have to say yes. Well at least if I’m eating something from Gardein. Now I’m eager to try all of their 20+ meals. I challenge you to go out to your local store, pick-up a bag (or two) of Gardein’s Meatless Meatballs, and throw it in a pasta with your favorite sauce. You will think you’re eating your mom’s meatballs, or perhaps a better version of them — just don’t tell her I said that.
Head on over to Gardein’s #MeetChef page and get yourself a $1 off coupon. Then report back here after you tried one of their meat-free meals and let me know what you thought in the comments.
