Last night, I had a delicious dinner. And while I have the chef to thank for it largely (thanks again!), I also have the people at Gardein as well. Actually, come to think of it, I have them to thank for a lot of my most special meals over the last couple years. Today though, we’re just going to talk about their ground be’f. So let’s get to it. 

   I’ve been eating Gardein Ground Be’f for a long time. Since before it was called that, actually. (Which hasn’t been that long, really, now that I think of it.) Back when it was called Gardein Beefless Ground, I discovered it. And I’m really glad I did. 

The cons of Gardein’s beefless ground

   Okay, so to get the negative out of the way first, I don’t love this trend of vegan products just misspelling words and saying “there’s our name”. It’s such a petty thing, and I know that. So I won’t hold it against you, Gardein. But to lay all my cards on the table, I do miss the old name. 

   Also, like any other vegan meat substitute, it isn’t super cheap. If you’re on a shoestring budget, this is not going to be a frequent treat for you. (Which, if you are looking for a guide to eating vegan for cheap, take a look at my post on that here.) However, as far as faux meats go, the price is pretty reasonable. 

The pros

   As I already mentioned, this product is a favorite of mine, and has been for a while. There are a few reasons for this, other than the fact that it’s relatively cheap (for a faux meat) and easier to find where I’m at (the United States). 

   The product is really versatile. You can throw it into some vegetable chili or make a bolognese or a shepherd’s pie just like you would with ground beef. The flavor is mild and seasons up pretty similarly to ground beef, so you don’t have to worry about the fact that it’s a vegan substitute when you’re thinking about your flavor profile.

   When I make this for nonvegans, I don’t get a bunch of complaints about vegans and their weird food. This is an inoffensive substitute that looks, tastes and smells familiar in a taco or lasagna recipe. While it’s not an exact replica of ground beef, it isn’t different enough to break any hearts, and I like that. It’s delicious and reliable. 

Cooking Gardein Ground Be’f

   So let’s talk about how it cooks up. Because if you’re used to cooking meat from an animal, this may be where things get unfamiliar. When you open your package, it’ll look almost like you took some ground beef, cooked it and froze it again. Usually I break up the frozen mass through the package first. Either by squeezing it with my hands or whacking it on the countertop. This isn’t a necessary step, but it helps me get out my aggression after a long day, and it makes it cook faster. (The second point being the reason why I actually do it, the first being a welcome side effect.)

   Once it’s broken up, I’ll put it straight into a frying pan to cook with some oil and spices. For me, this is a necessary step, even if I’m trying to make a more stew-like dish. I fry it off first because when I do that, it gets a more tough texture. This way of getting more of a chew to it makes it mimic meat more, in my opinion. And if I’m going to put it in a stew or chili (or something similar), I’ll even try to get it a little bit burnt for the extra texture. 

   From there, I’ll add whatever I want to it, whether that’s beans or vegetables, to round out the meal. My personal favorite is frying it up with taco seasoning and then adding a can of chili beans (with the liquid) and letting it cook until it’s dry enough to be a taco filling. Of course, I’ll serve it with some guacamole, cilantro, lettuce, onion and corn tortillas. (And vegan cheese, if I’m feeling really fancy). I’ve never gotten a complaint from a nonvegan on this meal. While it’s a little bit different from cow meat, it’s close enough to be an appropriate stand-in. Even for picky eaters. And remember, people don’t really miss meat. They miss the foods, the textures and flavors of their favorite foods. If you can give them that, they won’t be sad that it’s vegan. (Usually. I’ll admit, there are exceptions.)

My review, in short

   Like I said, I really love this product from Gardein. It’s versatile, on the cheaper end of vegan meats, and is really easy and quick to add to a meal. I know that if I have a packet of this in my freezer, I’ll have one less disappointment for my nonvegan loved ones. And for me, I’ll get all of that nostalgia for the foods I used to love. Just without the death of an animal. So for anyone missing meals with ground beef in them that doesn’t want to eat a dead animal, I’d really recommend giving this a try.

   I’ll still call it beefless ground, though. 

   As always, thanks for reading my thoughts. I hope you have a great day. And go try to eat something vegan today!