Veganuary is the perfect time to unMeat your plate.

UnMeat is a 100% Plant-Based, cholesterol-free, and non-GMO, shelf-stable meat alternative brand. I previously reviewed unMeat Luncheon Style Meat and unMeat Fish-Free Tuna, but this round unMeat sent me their Chicken Style Chunks and Roast Beef Style Shreds to try!

I knew immediately how I wanted to use the unMeat Chicken Style Chunks but took some time wavering on ideas for the unMeat Roast Beef shreds, as I am unsure if I ever enjoyed this pre-veg. Both canned unMeats gave me comfort food vibes so I went with some easy but filling dishes; Mini unMeat Chicken-Style Pot Pies and unMeat Roast Beef Style Sliders.

The unMeat Chicken Style Chunks are perfect for pot pies, casseroles, and slow cooker meals. Since they come in bite-sized pieces they make for a quick toss-in to traditional recipes your family already enjoys. I have a weak nose, but this stuff smells like chicken as soon as you open the can. While this is not as juicy as other chicken alternatives, it offers a firm yet tender texture. The taste is simple offering itself as a staple mix-in, similar to traditional canned chicken. I think the options for this product are endless. I used “accidentally vegan” Pillsbury Biscuits for mini pot pies, and followed an OG Recipe just swapping for vegan ingredients, and making my own condensed soup alternative by creating a flavorful gravy (roux + plat milk + seasoning). The pot pies were a hit and are worth repeating.

Surprisingly, the Roast Beef shreds ended up as my favorite of the two, and since my first taste, I’ve been dreaming up additional ways to use the vegan beef. The Roast Beef Style Shreds are hearty and flavorful, with tender soy beef enveloped in a thick brown gravy seasoned with onion and herbs. Both meat alternatives are made of soy, so the overall texture reminds me of Asian dishes with mock meats I’ve tried. For my unMeat Roast Beef Style Sliders I topped sliced vegan-friendly rolls in an oven-safe pan, with unMeat Roast Beef, dairy-free provolone (I used Violife), caramelized onions, and smothered the top of each slider with a mix of vegan butter, thyme, and garlic powder. Then I heated at 350 F for 10-15 minutes and served with Vegan Au Jus (recipe below).

While the unMeat Luncheon Style reigns supreme, the Roast Beef Style Shreds are a close second in my kitchen. You can find some of the unMeat line-up in Walmart and now at Safeway stores nationwide. unMeat is also available for shipping at Walmart.com and online vegan retailers like GTFOitsVegan.com

Which unMeat product would try first?

Location: Modesto, CA

Meet unMeat

Vegan Au Jus

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 C Beefless Broth (I used Gardein)

• 1 Tb vegan Worcestershire Sauce (I like Annie’s)

• 2 Cloves Garlic (+ oil or butter for heating)

• 1/4 tsp Thyme

Directions:

1. Heat butter or oil in pan, and add garlic. Cook until fragrant.
2. Add remaining ingredients, stir.
3. Simmer until slightly reduced.

unMeat- Plant-Based Alternatives to Meat and Seafood