Thanks everyone for comments about the old photos, not ever so interesting to other parts of the country but a good look at Edwardian life - and villages everywhere would have looked similar I guess.
Having discovered that Aldi do a mozzarella vegetarian burger that sounds just like the Linda McCartney ones I've tried and enjoyed in the past I though a comparison would be a good idea.
Price-wise Linda McCartney were £2.50 for the two from Morrisons. Aldi's were £1.75 for two
Above is how they look when still frozen. There is an obvious difference. The Linda McCartney is thinner and darker with visible pieces of mozzarella, while Aldi's on the right is thicker and pinker.
Ingredients in the Linda McCartney are Soya Protein, rapeseed oil, mozzarella cheese, onion, chickpea flour, flavouring, yeast extract, stabiliser: methyl cellulose; garlic puree, malted barley extract, onion powder,salt, garlic powder.
Calories 266 after cooking
The Linda McCartney looked like this, nicely browned after 25 minutes in the oven
.
And in a bread roll with a little mayo, my red tomato relish and lettuce with fresh beetroot and my homemade cucumber pickles on the side
As usual it was nice and moist with lots of flavour , making a filling meal.
Then a week later I tried the Aldi Burger..............
Ingredients in the Aldi burger are Soya Protein, mozzarella cheese 9%, rapeseed oil, thickener: Methyl cellulose; shea oil, flavourings, bamboo fibre (!), rice flour, coconut oil, chickpea flour, dried yeast, yeast extract, onion powder, barley malt extract, colour:beetroot red; sea salt, maltodextrin, cornflour, salt, dextrose.
Calories 211 when cooked.
When cooked the Aldi one looked like this.
and I used the same accompaniments in a bread roll with lettuce, a smidge of mayo and my homemade red relish. With homemade cucumber pickle and fresh beetroot on the side.
I found this just about OK but a bit too thick and rather dry. Not a huge amount of flavour so I was glad of all my extras. Quite filling and enough for a meal.
So you pays your money and makes your choice! Mine is the Linda McCartney brand, and Not every week either!
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What is Soya Protein, is it just Soya Beans ground up and are other beans as high in protein. I get the beetroot burgers from Lidl but can only eat half of one they are so filling. Your meal does look good and thanks for eating the comparisons so the rest of us don’t have to! Sandra.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteA very helpful comparison review. Both seem to have a lot of additives. Thankyou for taking the time to photograph and describe the test.i really enjoy such posts, but for the blogger it can feel a bit like writing up science homework!
ReplyDeleteIt didn't terrify me like science homework did back in the day. I never understood a word of physics!
DeleteIt pays to do such a good comparison because, if you compared Swedish style vegan meatballs, you might find the Aldi come out better. Or again they might not. You pays your money and you takes your choice, or chance!
ReplyDeleteSeemed a good idea to try both. Not something I buy often
DeleteI found the LM burger too sickly for my taste. Used to love her plan 1/4lb veggie burger but then they made it vegan. Tastes completely different and to me, unpleasant. Back to trying to find a decent commercial veggie burger. I know I can make my own but one of those things I've never got round to.
ReplyDeleteI like the proper Aldi veg burgers that are not pretending to be meat, I have them more often than these above
DeletePLAIN! Fat finger typing
ReplyDeleteNot keen on the Linda McC version, never tried the Aldi one. My personal favourite is the Quorn Quarterpounder. It's moist and very tasty on a burger bun. Currently on offer at £2 for 2 at Sainsbury's so a bit pricier,
ReplyDeleteAngie
That's not one I've tried
DeleteI can’t seem to eat soya any more as it really upsets my gut. It cuts out a lot of options for non meat food so I try to go for vegetable or bean burgers when I fancy a burger. Thanks for reviewing the two burgers. Catriona
ReplyDeleteIt's anything bean, chick pea or lentil that I can't eat which also cuts out some choices
DeleteThanks for doing this comparison, it's really useful to know. For me, just the look of them raw speaks volumes.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I wouldn't have known there was such a difference in how they looked if I'd not opened both at once to see. The Aldi one is a bit too pink!
DeleteI have never had either of the burgers as I can't eat cheese, but I do buy the Linda McCartney 1/4lb burgers and have them probably a couple of times a month. I do add lots of sliced onions, ketchup, a dairy-free cheese slice and mayo to the bun along with some lettuce, so it makes a complete, and very filling, meal for me. I think in moderation these can make a good meal, and it's nice to compare what seemed to be a bargain version with your usual. Sometimes you get what you pay for don't you.
ReplyDelete