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Whether you fancy a night off from cooking or you’re simply looking for a treat for lunch, there’s a wealth of vegan ready meals on the market now. This month, we’ve put some of the best to the test. Find out which ones to stick on your shopping list…
Rice Mac & Cheeze
Verdict *****
Amy’s Kitchen, available at Ocado| £2.50 for 237g
If you’ve been missing Mac & Cheese, this vegan version from Amy’s Kitchen is the ultimate replacement. We’ve found that vegan cheese sauce is hard to get right, but Amy’s Kitchen have nailed it with this deliciously cheesy dish. It’s creamy, not too sickly and very moreish. The ultimate comfort food!
Bang Bang Sweet Potato Katsu Curry
Verdict: ****
BOL, available at Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitress and Ocado| £4 for 410g
We expected this dish to be spicy, with a name like ‘Bang Bang’, but it wasn’t at all. In fact, thanks to the sweet potato and coconut milk, it’s thick, sweet and creamy. Carrots, pink cabbage and edamame beans add texture and keep it from being too sickly.
Yellow Thai Curry
Deliciously Ella, available at Ocado | £4.99 for 400g
This is the most pricey of the meals we tested but it does have that homemade feel to it (it’s made in small batches) and it would happily feed two if served with rice. Creamy yet zingy, this veg-packed curry has the overriding flavour of fresh lemongrass, which we loved. Big chunks of red pepper, spinach and just the right of butternut squash pack in a good few of your five-a-day.
Lentil Cottage Pie
Verdict:****
Kirsty’s, available at most major supermarkets | £3 for 400g
This comes as a lovely big portion and is well worth £3. It’s hearty and filling, almost meaty thanks to the lentils, with a satisfyingly rich tomato-based gravy. The carrot and sweet potato mash adds a real sweetness – perhaps too sweet for some but perfect for kids or anyone with a sweeter tooth.
Nana’s Mushroom Bolognese
Verdict: *****
Wicked Kitchen, available at Tesco | £4 for 400g
We love the Wicked range and this bolognese has to be one of our favourites when we don’t have time to cook. The finely diced king oyster mushrooms create the illusion of a traditional meaty pasta, whilst the sauce is garlicky with a hint of chilli. The tortiglioni pasta is filling and herby. Absolutely delicious!
Asian Teriyaki
Plantifull Food Co, available at Planet Organic and The Vegan Kind Supermarket | £4.50 for 380g
Black beans are the star of the show with this hearty chilli-like stew. We loved the addition of edamame beans, which add texture and a slight crunch, whilst the depth of flavour is amazing – think warming yet subtle spices like cinnamon, cloves and fennel seed. This dish offers something different and doesn’t feel like you’re eating a ready meal.
