... How can you enthuse over taste and texture so much to fill out a five hundred word review? How can one heap praise over smell and simplicity so much that the late and great Keith Floyd would be impressed? Yet I have wanted to talk about Quorn for a while and I simply must let it out. It is ... Read review
Advantages: Healthier option to real mince. Disadvantages: None
...have wanted to talk about Quorn for a while and I simply must let it out. It is like a volcano wanting to erupt and blast its lava upon the Earth. Well, here’s my Volcano folks, here’s my Etna, my Vesuvius…
First of all, I am not a vegetarian. I tried it for a while, but I have this weakness for bacon, chicken, for Big Macs (only occasional ones) and for sausages (yes, I know what goes in them, but I choose to ignore this, I buy quality ... ...taste. My friend once suggested Quorn to me, don’t really know why she did. Maybe it’s because she is a vegetarian… So I tested it out and I liked it!
I am not saying that I plopped a bit it a pan, heated it and ate it and thought, ‘Yes, cool!’ On its own it is pretty bland, but what do you do with your mince? No, you don’t eat it on its own, do you? I first put it into a bolognaise sauce and, quite frankly, could not tell the difference ... more
When it comes to food reviews, I find it hard to think of what to say. How can you enthuse over taste and texture so much to fill out a five hundred word review? How can one heap praise over smell and simplicity so much that the late and great Keith Floyd would be impressed? Yet I have wanted to talk about Quorn for a while and I simply must let it out. It is like a volcano wanting to erupt and blast its lava upon the Earth. Well, here’s my Volcano folks, here’s my Etna, my Vesuvius…
First of all, I am not a vegetarian. I tried it for a while, but I have this weakness for bacon, chicken, for Big Macs (only occasional ones) and for sausages (yes, I know what goes in them, but I choose to ignore this, I buy quality ones anyway). However, I don’t really care for the fattiness of mince meat, nor its rubbery taste. My friend once suggested Quorn to me, don’t really know why she did. Maybe it’s because she is a vegetarian… So I tested it out and I liked it!
I am not saying that I plopped a bit it a pan, heated it and ate it and thought, ‘Yes, cool!’ On its own it is pretty bland, but what do you do with your mince? No, you don’t eat it on its own, do you? I first put it into a bolognaise sauce and, quite frankly, could not tell the difference between my new found Quorn and real mince. I have since gone on to do more creative things (see the recipes later in this review).
Quorn – what is it then?
Let’s get it straight from the horse’s mouth hey? As per the Quorn website: ‘Mycoprotein, the main ingredient in Quorn, is naturally low in fat, including saturated fat (which can contribute to poor heart health). It's also relatively low in calories overall.’
But what is this myco-thingy-majig?
Well (again, according to the website): ‘Mycoprotein is the main ingredient in all Quorn products. It's made from a member of the fungi family (like mushrooms and truffles) and is a high-quality meat-free protein that's naturally low in fat, with very few calories. It's high in dietary fibre (important for your digestive system) and has the essential amino acids your body needs, with no cholesterol or trans fats at all.
‘This means that Quorn ingredients and meals tend to be lower in saturated fats and calories than similar foods made with meat - as well as being delicious! Our expert chefs really know how to get the best out of mycoprotein, allowing them to create our wide range of ready meals, grills, sausages, burgers and deli slices, as well as cooking ingredients like mince, strips and pieces.’
So, it’s mushroom type of thing. And it also includes (runs to the freezer, takes a packet out and pops it onto his computer desk and hopes it doesn’t defrost): rehydrated free range egg white and roasted barely malt extract. Those salt weary folk (like me) may like to know there is just 0.2g of salt per 75g serving. (Takes the Quorn back to the freezer).
So now you know what goes into the Quorn, I guess you ought to know more of taste and texture and smell and simplicity…
Taste… Basically, it tastes like how your sauce will taste…
Texture… very much like mince, yet leaner and more edible…
Smell… see taste…
Simplicity… extremely simple. Add it to your sauce, and you can use as much as you need… no need to freeze half a pack, take out the packet from the freezer and just add, then put it back. Simple!
Price? Roughly £1.89 at your average supermarket, but you can sometimes BOGOF or find other such deals.
I have evolved from putting my Quorn into a Ragu sauce and I now find pleasure from creating all kinds of recipes, I have listed a few below for you to peruse before I go…
Spaghetti Bolognaise:
(Must thank Gizmogizmo for her original recipe for this…)
Ingredients:
Quorn Mince Onion Mushroom (optional, my kids don’t like them, so I don’t bother). Tin Chopped Toms Sage Mixed herbs Tube of Tomato puree Glove of garlic (add more if you are a garlic fiend) Spaghetti
Directions:
Chop onion, garlic (thinly or crushed) and mushroom and fry in a large pan until soft. Add the tin of chopped tomatoes and roughly half a tube of tomato puree, plus the sage and mixed herbs. Simmer for about half an hour. Add the Quorn mince. In a separate pan boil your spaghetti. Serve. Lovely! Maybe add some grated cheese here.
Chilli Con Carne
Ingredients:
Quorn mince Tin Chopped Toms Tin of red kidney beans Sage Mixed herbs Tube of Tomato puree Two Chillies (add more if you think you’re hard enough) Rice
Directions:
Chop up your chillies (finely) and add to tin of tomatoes in a large pan with the sage and mixed herbs. Add half a tube of tomato puree and add your red kidney beans. Boil and simmer for half an hour then add the Quorn mince. Boil the rice and serve. As an option serve with pitta bread too. Delicious…
Oh, the prospects are endless… I have used it as a filling for pies (Quorn mince, onions, oxo). I have had it with vegetable and potatoes. But the best things about Quorn mince is that you can use as little or as much as your would like.
Advantages: no gristle or fat,or dead animals Disadvantages: price
...is Quorn?
Quorn is made from a mushroom protein that is produced naturally called mycoprotein.
Available in a variety of guises, mince,cubes and assorted burgers or ready meals, it is a meat free alternative.
-------------------------- Why so good?
Although I am not a vegetarian, I am aware of the fact that this product is a great replacement for dead animals, and in this has many good points.
For those of us who are less concerned on the moral ... ...£1.79 and £1.99,the frozen minced quorn is available from all major supermarkets.
Although this cost may seem a tad on the expensive side, it is for a 300g bag(ample to feed my family of 5),and it is regularly on offer.In the last 12 months at least one of the major supermarkets have offered it in thier BOGOF (buy one get one free) offers,at all times.Hence I have actually only paid a maximum of 99p a bag this year ,and my freezer is heavily stocked!!
...
babajane32 07.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quorn Mince
Advantages: Easy. Versatile. Cheap when on offer. Widely available. Disadvantages: None for me but I'm a veggie...
...spare you the detail! Quorn products are widely available and offer a great alternative to a vegetable based diet and can also be a great substitute to meat in general. My sister first introduced me to Quorn many moons ago, without staking my life on it I guess that was over 10 years ago. I initially purchased some Quorn ready made meals for convenience and was never disappointed with the result however the price left a lot to be desired. Around ... ...one free’ offer on frozen Quorn and decided to chuck a few bags in my trolley I haven’t looked back since.
Available either frozen in bags or freshly chilled in trays QUORN MINCE is readily available form most supermarkets. At between £1.72 and £1.99 (dependent upon where you shop) for a 300g frozen bag I tend to stick with the frozen product as the fresh chilled, trays of Quorn are much more costly and no different in taste. Quorn derives from ...
mizzameII 16.05.2003 (26.08.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quorn Mince
Advantages: Nice if you dont like meat Disadvantages: Can be expensive
...prepared or processed food, but Quorn is one of them. If you have not tried it before you would think that all Quorn is the same, tastes the same but it does not. The Quorn which imitates red meat is different from that which is meant to be a substitute for chicken. Personally I prefer the white Quorn it really does have the texture and taste of chicken, but I prefer not to think of it as a meat substitute more as a food in its own right. For example ... ...I think that the Quorn mince is an excellent ingredient for all kinds of recipes ranging from the more obvious spaghetti bolognaise and shepards pie to something you may have created yourself. It does not behave like meat mince and you have to be careful how you use it, for example if you get a handful of minced meat and squash it in your hand you can mould it into a burger, this will not work with Quorn it will simply ooze through your fingers. ...
jouk04 26.02.2004 (27.02.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quorn Mince
Advantages: High fibre, low fat, suitable for vegetarians Disadvantages: Unsuitable for vegans, slightly strange smell
6th May update: Quorn is currently on a BOGOF offer at Safeway. £2.09 per pack + 1 free. Offer ends 25th May. Don't say I didn't tell you! As you’ll know if you’ve read my (cat’s) ‘A Day In The Life Of..’ op, we’re trying to cut down on take-aways so that we can go on our ‘dream holiday’ next year. There are times, though, when we have very little time to prepare a meal, so I’m always on the look-out for foods that are suitable for ‘quick and easy’ ... ...me, especially Quorn Mince. You can prepare a delicious Bolognese sauce in the amount of time it takes to boil a pan of water and cook some pasta - eat your heart out, Ainsley Harriott!
Quorn, a vegetarian substitute for minced meat, ‘is made with mycoprotein, a nutritious member of the fungi family’. According to the packaging, it is low in fat, helps maintain normal cholesterol levels, satisfies your appetite for longer on fewer calories and it ...
battiest 24.04.2003 (06.05.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quorn Mince
Advantages: Good texture, easy to cook with Disadvantages: It's not a bacon sarnie!!
...be bothered defrosting meat. Quorn is perfect for me, just get it out the freezer, chuck it in a pan and away you go - what could be easier?!
If you've read any of the Quorn ops (or if you're generally in the know!!), you may have gathered that Quorn originates from mushrooms and is meant to emulate the texture of meat in various forms. Quorn, produced by Marlow Foods in North Yorkshire, is available in burgers ( I recommend the Southern Style ones), ... ...such as lasagne, cottage pie, Quorn tikka etc. Perhaps the most adaptable of the quorn products though, are the Quorn mince and the Quorn pieces. Basically, they can be used in more or less any dish that you would normally use minced meat (not the mince pie sort!) or chunks of chicken/turkey. Since Quorn does not have a whole lot of taste to it, it works best in dishes that have plenty of flavour and/or seasoning. Mince is great in bolognese sauces, ...
EmmyW 28.11.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quorn Mince
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Advantages: Cheap, quick and healthy Disadvantages: A bit soft to chew
Not so long ago I wrote a review on this site about the QuornMince variety and whilst thinking of my latest review I thought, Why not review the other Quorn product I use, which is the Chicken Style Pieces.
Those who read the mince review, will know I am not a vegetarian (I?m afraid I can?t resist the lure of a bacon butty), but I do like the Quorn varieties for other reasons than vegetarian, such as the fact they work out cheaper and they are also quicker to make. They will recall how I enthused over the wonder that is Quornmince. However, the chicken style pieces are, although very nice, not quite as good. That is not to say they are not worth it!
So, what do you get?
Well, the brown and orange packaging also depicts a mouth-watering plate filled with a stir fry dish full of golden chicken, peppers and other such mouth ...
than 3%)! That's less than half as much as a meat cottage pie and around three quaters less than a measly cheese sandwich! It also contains fibre, which is important in a diet and contains no artificial colouring.
Here is the nutritional information of a 300g Quorn cottage pie...
Energy (kj/kcal) - 742/176
Protein - 7.5
Carbohydrate - 27.0
(of which sugars - 2.4)
Fat - 4.20
(of which saturates - 2.70)
Fibre - 7.8
Sodium - 1.2
INGREDIENTS
Mashed potato, milk, butter, salt, flavouring, white pepper, water, Quornmince (8%) [mycoprotein, rehydrated (free range) egg white , roasted barley malt extract], onions, peas (3%), carrot (2%), modified maize starch, tomato purée, vegetable bouillon (salt, yeast extract, flavourings (with celery), wheat flour, hydrogenated palm oil, onion powder), maize starch, salt, sugar, yeast ...
I first discovered Quorn sausages a few months ago when I joined slimming world. I have eaten Quorn in place of mince beef for as long as I can remember but had never tried the sausages. So firstly what is Quorn? Well basically Quorn is made from mycoprotein a member of the fungi family. Quorn sausages also contain rusk, onion and herbs. It doesn't sound too appetising I admit but when compared to what is in your average sausage I think I far prefer the Quorn variety!
Quorn sausages look like a pale version of the meat variety. They come in a cardboard packet and can be found in the chilled or frozen section of most supermarkets. They are easy to cook and can be fryed with a little oil, grilled or even cooked on the BBQ. Unlike meat sausages there is little smell when they are cooking. They only take a few minutes so are idea as ...
anwar 30.05.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Quorn sausages
