Vegetarian black pudding

[nigelp]

A lot of folk stop eating meat for environmental reasons and some for health reasons - or a combination of the two. Some are vegetarian and have no meat and fish, others blend it together and still eat some fish or no eggs. Some take up a plant based diet and some are full on vegans who will not eat or use any animal product.
I know vegans who wouldn’t touch any meat substitutes and some on a plant diet who would - to add flavour, texture and because they can.
I enjoy the occasional scrambled egg lunch and the black pudding was very nice with it.
You can find facts and figures on both sides of the environmental debate of plant versus meat or soya milk versus cow milk. Lots of big established industry has high stakes in the game and spend billions to maintain the status quo and keep the narrative onside.
I’m not going to debate the facts and figures because it will all get a bit heated.
I know a lot of folk who practice Bushcraft are vegetarian and might enjoy some black pudding so hence the post.

 

[MikeLA]

Prefer the real thing, much tastier

 

[Kadushu]

I don't understand why meat eaters feel so compelled to p1ss all over vegetarian threads on social media. It smacks of insecurity. It is quite possible for you to eat whatever you want without denigrating other's choices.

Try it.

 

[TeeDee]

I'm going to try to eat more Veg based stuff this year so will be giving this a go for the Shiggle factor - thanks for the heads up

 

[nigelp]

I'm going to try to eat more Veg based stuff this year so will be giving this a go for the Shiggle factor - thanks for the heads up

The Hairy Bikers veggie books are very good. They have some classic recipes without the meat but lots of flavour.

 

[billycoen]

Just tried the veggie black pudding...lovely,my wife also tried some,and reckoned it was tastier than "real" black pudding.

 

[Laurentius]

If you have never tasted real black pudding because you are vegetarian you won't be disappointed by the vegan offering because you won't have anything to compare it to.

 

[nigelp]

If you have never tasted real black pudding because you are vegetarian you won't be disappointed by the vegan offering because you won't have anything to compare it to.

I’ve tasted both and I would say that the vegetarian one is pretty good. The flavour is as good and texture is not far off. Less fat than the original but when heated it has a similar look and texture.

 

[Paul_B]

Not p1ssing on anything just trying to understand nicely explained so now I understand how we learn

 

[slowworm]

I'm not a vegan or vegetarian so why bother switching from the perfect, original version?

I'm not a vegetarian either but I don't like supporting meat from factory farmed animals so would struggle to find a blood based black pudding I'd be happy with. My choice.

I think most people can look at an item and decide for themselves if it's worth trying, it took me a few seconds to Google the list of ingredients. I don't hanker after black pudding but could do with something savoury to add to our home made pizza as Nigel suggested so I'm grateful of the post.

 

[TeeDee]

I'm not a vegetarian either but I don't like supporting meat from factory farmed animals so would struggle to find a blood based black pudding I'd be happy with. My choice.

I think most people can look at an item and decide for themselves if it's worth trying, it took me a few seconds to Google the list of ingredients. I don't hanker after black pudding but could do with something savoury to add to our home made pizza as Nigel suggested so I'm grateful of the post.

Isn't the other way of looking at that to see that regardless of the animals provenance its still using ALL the animal or as much as possible?

I do get what you are saying and I'm not looking to pick a fight but the other similar example could be - would you buy Chicken Kievs from a manufacturer that has implicitly sourced ex-battery hens ( egg producers ) at the end of their lives to utilise the flesh?

Isn't it important to use as much of an animal in death regardless of how it lived or was kept? I'm not into supporting bad animal husbandry or welfare but I can see an issue.

Not sure if I've explained that as well as I want to...

 

[nigelp]

Isn't it important to use as much of an animal in death regardless of how it lived or was kept?

I see what you’re saying but ex battery hens are still battery hens! I’d rather forgo the eggs from battery hens and the meat from them entirely - what little there will be on them.

No. I have decided to stop eating meat entirely. Regardless of where it is from; I initially cut down purely for health and environmental reasons but now can empathise with those that are concerned with the wider welfare issues.
I didn’t ever eat farmed salmon and went right off cheap chicken and wasn’t a great fan of processed meat. I started with reducing meat consumption and have stopped. I did the same with alcohol and do not drink anymore - that’s another tedious ‘explainer‘; not so much to younger people like my nieces but my age generation (I’m 52) can’t understand it because it’s become culturally imbedded into the society normal - eat meat, drink alcohol, buy **** coffee and drink out of a paper cup Rather than sitting down and enjoying it.

I think it’s great that there are now a range of meat substitute products if folk want them but the biggest gain for me is that I cook wholesome food substitutes rather than swapping processed meat meals for processed non meat meals.
Just imagine what they put in a ready meal (of either variety) so they can bang it out for £2! I’m not going to evangelical about it but we have become a nation of fatties addicted to cheap processed food - reducing or eating less meat seems to limit the fast food options available and then makes you more conscious to plan ahead and cook or prepare food. Also I save a third on my family food bills because I’m buying less meat each week.

I don’t eat any special diets. I maintain health and fitness by eating good healthy food and regularly exercise - not eating meat does not hinder that because I cook most of what I eat and pay attention to eating the correct foods. I still like some crap food but try and make that the exception rather than the rule.
Products like the black pudding will be a treat item or added to a hot pot to give it that taste and texture some vegetable dishes might lack.

 

[TeeDee]

I see what you’re saying but ex battery hens are still battery hens! I’d rather forgo the eggs from battery hens and the meat from them entirely - what little there will be on them.

No. I have decided to stop eating meat entirely. Regardless of where it is from; I initially cut down purely for health and environmental reasons but now can empathise with those that are concerned with the wider welfare issues.
I didn’t ever eat farmed salmon and went right off cheap chicken and wasn’t a great fan of processed meat. I started with reducing meat consumption and have stopped. I did the same with alcohol and do not drink anymore - that’s another tedious ‘explainer‘; not so much to younger people like my nieces but my age generation (I’m 52) can’t understand it because it’s become culturally imbedded into the society normal - eat meat, drink alcohol, buy **** coffee and drink out of a paper cup Rather than sitting down and enjoying it.

I think it’s great that there are now a range of meat substitute products if folk want them but the biggest gain for me is that I cook wholesome food substitutes rather than swapping processed meat meals for processed non meat meals.
Just imagine what they put in a ready meal (of either variety) so they can bang it out for £2! I’m not going to evangelical about it but we have become a nation of fatties addicted to cheap processed food - reducing or eating less meat seems to limit the fast food options available and then makes you more conscious to plan ahead and cook or prepare food. Also I save a third on my family food bills because I’m buying less meat each week.

I don’t eat any special diets. I maintain health and fitness by eating good healthy food and regularly exercise - not eating meat does not hinder that because I cook most of what I eat and pay attention to eating the correct foods. I still like some crap food but try and make that the exception rather than the rule.
Products like the black pudding will be a treat item or added to a hot pot to give it that taste and texture some vegetable dishes might lack.

I didn't / don't want to derail/hijack your thread Nigel and my response was to slowworm but happy you've replied. I will put a more rounded response together later but I disagree and agree with what you are saying in some ways. I think there needs to be a more middle of the road move to raise animal welfare standards ( for all farmed species ) to a point where its still economically viable for family budget ( if they choose to eat meat ) and the farmer raising the animal. I still think all meat regardless of where it comes from ONCE dead needs to be utilised and consumed if it can. Big subject and a very passionate one from both sides with opinions and views that can sometimes come over as irritating and dictatorial - not sure if its going to be best placed here or if you want to have a sensible convo ( I mean the whole forums view ) maybe we can get a nice Mod to split the thread and have a dedicated thread?? Just don't want quality interaction lost in the realms of a Pseudo-Black Pudding.

 

[Mesquite]

maybe we can get a nice Mod to split the thread and have a dedicated thread?? Just don't want quality interaction lost in the realms of a Pseudo-Black Pudding.

I don't think you need to have the thread split as what's been said links to the original product Nigel brought to our attention but equally is a debate in itself.

Maybe just start a new thread about the ethics, pros and cons of raising animals in todays consumer market around their welfare and put a link to this thread?

 

[Paul_B]

The other side is to buy reputable meat suppliers. I buy meat from a local supermarket chain known for high standards of the produce it sells. Aiui the black pudding they buy is also from a responsible source. Not intensively reared. I know some of the farms they buy from and they're all from small farms in the areas the store operates from. I also know an online retailer who stocks various meat products from similarly high quality, well reared animals. It's a myth that all meat production is unethical and factory farming.

This last point that night be classed as political but I'll make it anyway. A lot of the anti meat / vegan / animal welfare activists use real gory and terrible images or videos of animal cruelty. I'm not saying it doesn't happen but there's been too many cases where such images have been traced back to the farm itself. Often of not all in other countries from Asia to to South America. Very rarely do the images relate to current, UK farming. But that's not how they portray those distressing images.

PS I used to work in the finance department of the superstore I buy meat from so I know where they used to and aiui still buy from. I've actually walked on footpaths on the land of a few of them and seen the cattle. That's why I have confidence in the quality and welfare of the meat I eat.

 

[Broch]

A point of detail - pasture fed is not grass fed. A pasture fed beast is fed cereal derived feed as well as grass. Grass fed must only be reared on grass. It may be important depending on one's food preferences, allergies, and concern about cereal growth use of pesticides.

 

[mikehill]

I’ve tried the real stuff and it’s putrid ! The vegan version could only be better

 

[TeeDee]

A point of detail - pasture fed is not grass fed. A pasture fed beast is fed cereal derived feed as well as grass. Grass fed must only be reared on grass. It may be important depending on one's food preferences, allergies, and concern about cereal growth use of pesticides.

This kind of the thing I mean. We are still unclear on various standards of food production , diet intake , terms , related conditions - not just for Chickens and Beef - but every other animal type raised for food intake.

Good shout Broch .

 

[slowworm]

Isn't the other way of looking at that to see that regardless of the animals provenance its still using ALL the animal or as much as possible?

I do get what you are saying and I'm not looking to pick a fight but the other similar example could be - would you buy Chicken Kievs from a manufacturer that has implicitly sourced ex-battery hens ( egg producers ) at the end of their lives to utilise the flesh?

Isn't it important to use as much of an animal in death regardless of how it lived or was kept? I'm not into supporting bad animal husbandry or welfare but I can see an issue.

Not sure if I've explained that as well as I want to...

I've nothing against using as much of the animal as possible but I don't wish to support farming practices I don't agree with in any way.

It's easier talking about chickens as we've kept them and it's something I feel more strongly about. I don't want to have anything to do with battery farming or whatever it's called now. Since we lost our last laying hens we very rarely even buy eggs now*, especially since the bird flu lockdowns. Even buying old laying hens is supporting a practice I don't think should exist so no I would not do that. If I buy chicken to eat I would pay a premium and buy one from someone I know looks after their animals, I'd raise my own or shoot game.

But what I find strange is why people always bring up meat eating and ethics in a simple vegetarian food thread. You don't see people raising the question of ethics when someone posts up a pic of a nice steak for example; you don't see people saying 'I hope that was free range and you didn't waste the rest of the animal etc, etc.'

* If anyone is interested, we use 'Tesco Egg Alternative' for simple baking. It's mostly bean and pea and usefully easy to store and has a long shelf life.


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[TeeDee]

But what I find strange is why people always bring up meat eating and ethics in a simple vegetarian food thread. You don't see people raising the question of ethics when someone posts up a pic of a nice steak for example; you don't see people saying 'I hope that was free range and you didn't waste the rest of the animal etc, etc.'

To be fair I HAVE seen that kind of thing.

Just for parity. Soapboxes on both sides of the street for those that choose to use them I think.