This post is not just a bonus post to give in to my vegetarian guilt, but also a product review. I’m always on the lookout for non-soy based meat substitutes (recap: soy messes with my hypothyroid medicine) and I found Quorn while perusing the aisles of my local Whole Foods Market (let’s be honest; any time I’m at Whole Foods Market, I’m hardly perusing. More like merrily frolicking.)

80% less fat than ground beef
High in protein & fiber
No cholesterol & 0g trans fat
Fully cooked – just heat and serve!

The website for Quorn has a whole dog and pony show about everything and anything Quorn and since I don’t want to steal their thunder (re: content) here is a mere excerpt:

The principal ingredient in all Quorn products is mycoprotein (“myco” is Greek for “fungi”).

- Mycoprotein is a fungus which contains high-quality protein, enabling us to offer an alternative, purely vegetarian source of protein to meat. It is high quality because it has all 9 essential amino acids.

I decided to use Quorn for one of my favorite childhood comfort recipes, Sloppy Joe’s.

QUORN SLOPPY JOE’S

Empty Quorn in a large skillet and heat thoroughly over medium heat.

Stir in a 6oz can of tomato paste, 1 c. water, and 1 package of Sloppy Joe’s seasoning mix (I use McCormick).

I also added: garlic powder, 2 drops of Tabasco sauce, onion powder, sea salt, black pepper, pinch of cinnamon and ground mustard.

Bring mixture to a soft boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Serve in sesame seed hamburger buns with a side of French fries and veggies.

sans fries and veggies

RESULT: The texture is just fine, and the taste is lighter than it would have been with beef and way tastier than Morning Glory soy fake ground beef I used in Sloppy Joe’s (before I knew I needed to be avoiding soy.) The seasoning adapts rather seamlessly, but I would definitely season it more next time. Additionally, my leftovers held up very well.

Overall, I highly recommend Quorn for your meatless and soy-free culinary needs! If you’re interested in giving Quorn a go, but aren’t a fan of Sloppy Joe’s, head over to the Quorn website for more recipes. Be sure to also check out the original UK Quorn website for even more recipes!