Lidl goes veggie! The vegetarian range has tripled
Vegans and vegetarians can rejoice, because Lidl has added no fewer than 27 vegetarian products in one fell swoop! As a result, 21% of the chilled selection in the meat, chicken or fish aisle is vegetarian or even vegan. I put it to the test.
Nuggets, Schnitzel, Tempeh, Sausages, Bacon Strips, Mushroom Burger, Juicy Steak, Beetroot Burger, Carrot Pumpkin Burger, Meatballs, Cheese Shell, Falafel, Vegetable Schnitzel, Vegetable Patty, Hamburger, Cheese Schnitzel, Crispy Chicken Schnitzel, Chicken Pieces, Minced Meat, Oriental Patty, Shawarma, Spinach/Cheese Rondo, Tofu, Tuscan Carre, Wok Pieces, Fresh Mince, Fresh Burger; a real champ who can’t fish something delicious out of the new vegetarian range.
There are cheese- and vegetable-based products (such as the Carrot Pumpkin Burger), products that resemble meat (such as the Sausages), pure products (such as Tempeh) and products that need to be prepared (such as the Chicken Pieces). These are my favourites:
Genuinely tasty meat substitutes
For people who do enjoy meat and its characteristic texture and flavour, the new meatballs are an absolute must-try. Lovely texture, great flavour, not too meaty. Perfect on a drinks board with a delicious truffle mayo, for example. A sauce like that adds a pleasant creaminess to the meatballs. Also highly recommended: the ‘Next Level Meat’ vegan burger. Fry it briefly, or even better: grill it, on a brioche with your favourite topping (for example, the Big Mac sauce!) and you really won’t miss meat. The meaty texture, which is barely distinguishable from real meat, is also striking.
Beetroot Burger
There are also plenty of people who want to eat veggie(n), but have no desire whatsoever to eat something that resembles meat. That’s the category I belong to myself. I tried various burgers, such as the Beetroot Burger, the Carrot Pumpkin Burger and the Mushroom Burger. All three have a striking bite. Nothing limp or mushy, but firm. The Beetroot Burger and the Mushroom Burger were especially well received. Mushroom, already packed with umami in its own right, is a perfect meat substitute as far as I’m concerned. You can also eat the burgers as individual patties, but I personally think they’re best in a good bun. Don’t go for a hard hamburger bun, but choose a bun sturdy enough not to collapse under the dripping sauce you’ll undoubtedly slather on it.
Finally, the falafel is a welcome addition to the range as far as I’m concerned. Tip: deep-fry them! That turns an ordinary falafel into a truly delicious falafel. Serve with homemade hummus.
Vegetarian cold cuts
In time, vegetarian cold cuts, meal salads and ready-made meals with vegetarian alternatives will also be added. Well done, Lidl!
Images: FavorFlav and Rec&Raw
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