It's funny how I've never spotted Aldi's vegetarian range before and here's me thinking it's brand new. But before I continue to review these products, I feel it's only fair to put a disclaimer out there and tell you that I'm not actually a veggie, but if someone said I couldn't eat meat ever again, I wouldn't be all that sad. As a kid, I'd been unknowingly favouring vegetables; I remember my Dad asking while serving our Sunday roast: "Are you going to eat this meat, or shall I give it to your brother now?". I was always happy enough filling up on lots of mixed vegetables, mash and gravy, so I let him have it.
But when I decided to try being vegetarian (and then vegan for most of my early 20's), I remember Holland and Barrett's fake-meats weren't at all affordable to student living. In fact, the main reason I eat meat now is that it's less hassle to cook separate meals, but in the day when I work from home, it's my kitchen and I fill up mostly on the things I love. No one can grumble.
And thanks to social media and our increasing demands for different eating habits and lifestyles, our choices are forever growing. If you didn't watch Channel 4's What Britain Buys last Monday, there was a bit featuring Madeleine Shaw and it was fascinating. I just wish we had the range back then with what there is today.
So with that in mind, I thought I'd slip in three reviews of the Aldi Vegetarian products I've been eating recently and that none of them break the bank or waistline.
Disclaimer: This is an unofficial page and has no affiliation or endorsement from Slimming World. Slimming World's website can be found at https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/
*Any syn values are personal estimates and not verified by Slimming World.
- Mae's Kitchen Vegetarian Sausages - 1 Syn Each
As with most non-meat sausages, I do feel they all could do with extra flavour, but I loved how these were quick to grill straight from frozen, so no need to defrost overnight and they beautifully expanded like a risen loaf. They kept me full for breakfast and were lovely as sausage wraps with a sprinkling of cheese and chilli sauce. Come to Mama!
- Mae's Kitchen Meat Free Mince - Syn Free
This probably was my least favourite out of the three because it didn't leave a lasting impression on me when I whipped up a really quick Sloppy Joes for lunch in a 60g wholemeal roll. However, I am pretty sure I will change my mind if I swap the chicken of my Syn Free Jalfrezi curry.
- Mae's Kitchen Chicken Style Pieces - Syn Free
I can't believe these are syn free and they're so chunky, uniquely square and filling. They also go great with strong flavours like fresh chilli, lemon juice, sauted vegetables and a quick homemade guacamole that I put together (side note: avocados need to be counted). I also fancy trying these next time with my Carbonara recipe but omitting the salmon or perhaps a Syn Free version of my Pasta Bake.
Are there any products you would like to recommend? Let me know below and hopefully it won't only inspire me but other readers of this post!
phil sinfield
been a veggie 50 years tried maes vegan no beef burgers @vegetable quarter pounders,
NEVER again they were hard, in oven for ten min at 180c
Patrick
How can I order from your company without going through Aldi because I love your chicken and beef no meat burger but they are to slow getting them on the shelve when stocks run out.
Can you help me with this
Asma
The no need burgers just when I finally get to taste one of the best burgers they off-the-shelf now.
Been to Aldi Hamilton Leicester and was told by the manager that they are discontinued. Is that true can you please email me and let me know. PS. They were the best burgers I've ever tasted.
Colin Lawrence
The no beef burgers are amazing 30 years of been a veggie never tasted anything as good can I but mae’s kitchen stuff on line please
Ian Woollard
Just tried the No Beef Burger, and put it in a Brioche bun and added a slice of onion, mustard, chilli sauce and Maggi sauce. Probably not the best burger of my life, but it honestly wasn’t bad at all, I’ve had far, far worse beef burgers. If I didn’t know it wasn’t beef, I wouldn’t have guessed.
Sian
What about the vege burgers and cheese and onion crispbakes how many suns are they
Carole O'Driscoll
I find this all very interesting, I am a member in Slimming World and asked for the syns in Mae's Kitchen veggie burgers., but no one could give me an answer. I am not vegetarian, I just love veg and found these very tasty and filling. Can you help please? Thanks Carole
Karen Alexander Clarke
Not veggies but trying to cut the meat intake, so tried maes kitchen superfood burgers and the nacho cheese veggie burgers. The latter didn't keep their form, turned out more like sloppy joes, but boy were they tasty, so too were the super food burgers. Both had plenty of seasoning with a bit of a kick.