If you caught my Lentil and Sausage Stew recipe post last week you’ll know that during Vegan MoFo I won a bunch of Vegusto meat and cheese “alternatives”. Until recently they haven’t been too widely available in shops, and this, along with actually never being a cheese fan pre-vegan, meant that I hadn’t bothered to seek them out. I’ve kept hearing more and more about them though and they seem to be taking the European vegan market by storm, so winning the giveaway I was actually pretty excited to try their stuff out for myself.
I thought I’d share my thoughts on the products and what I made with them today.
Pictured above is the selection of products I won. They’re not too attractive in their packaging, but is uncooked meat and packaged cheese really particularly nice to look at?
-Farmhouse Sausage
-Mushroom & No-Moo Burgers
-No-Moo Melty
-No-Moo, Mild-Aromatic
-No-Moo, Piquant
I was really impressed with these burgers. I haven’t had many meat alternatives before so don’t have a lot to compare them with in that regard, but they certainly have a very meaty texture and flavour, as the sausage did. There are little flecks of cheese in the patty itself which makes them extra juicy. I ate them on homemade spelt/rye buns with rocket, avocado and salsa, and a side of carrot sticks 
Next up was the No-Moo Melty. This is the Vegusto product I’d heard most about so had high hopes. I certainly wasn’t disappointed and it melted like a dream. Tomato soup and cheese on toast are classic comfort foods so on a dreary day here I thought I’d have them together! I whipped up a quick tomato soup, grilled some nice seedy bread in the oven, then popped it back in with the cheese on top to melt.
After my first melting success I had to make a cheesy pizza. I haven’t had a cheese pizza in a very long time. I do occasionally add cashew cheese or tofu ricotta to my pizzas but usually go completely cheese-less and just let the vegetables shine or sometimes add a different sauce like the pesto and romesco pizzas I made this summer.
I didn’t stick to classic cheese and tomato with this one either (you’ve probably realized by now that I can’t resist trying new things!). I opted instead for a “Southwestern” style pizza with a homemade wholewheat crust, BBQ sauce (I use Isa’s recipe which isn’t too cloyingly sweet like the commercial ones typically are), No-Moo Melty, peppers, red onion and creamy avocado. I really loved this and am not sure I will be able to stop myself adding avocado to all my pizzas in the future!
I didn’t go overboard on the cheese, and honestly don’t think I would have missed it here, but maybe should have given it a whirl on a more simple pizza.
The Vegusto website described the No-Moo Mild-Aromatic as a “Cheddar alternative” so I had a think about how I remembered cheddar being used in the past. It’s a very English cheese so I decided it had to be a very English recipe! Afternoon tea is perhaps what England is know best for in food terms, so with this in mind I came up with cheesy scones, more than fit for a fancy afternoon spread!
Bath, the city where I’m now living, has dozens of tearooms, and cheese scones seem to feature on most of their menus. They were very easy to veganize using oil instead of butter, flax instead of eggs and Vegusto instead of dairy-cheese. Despite the changes they turned out beautifully. Lovely and flaky with a prominent cheese flavour.
I like the sweet/savoury combination and served mine fresh from the oven with raspberry jam, but they’d be lovely all on their own just with a cup of tea.
I also liked them as an addition to a little brunch I put together- along with sautéed balsamic mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach.
I don’t really remember the taste of cheddar but the smell of this was exactly the same! Although I was never a cheese-eater, my Dad (and dog!) loved the stuff. When I opened the Vegusto packet it took me right back to childhood lunches and the moment the lid was lifted off the cheese box!
I’ve only tried the No-Moo Piquant on oatcakes so far but surprised myself in enjoying it just like that! The flavour has been compared to a French Gruyère so I’m thinking it would be nice in a simple tart or for a kick of flavour in a potato gratin…
Other than the products I tried there are lots more- a Blue cheese, a Herb cheese and a Walnut cheese (maybe nice for a cheeseboard?), various other sausage and burger flavours, sandwich slices, steaks, schnitzels and mince, as well as roasts, dips and sauces!
Vegusto definitely place an emphasis on quality ingredients, something which is important to me. All their cheeses are made with a base of organic nut butter and for salts and oils they only use rock salt, and cold pressed oils, including coconut, sunflower and rapeseed oil in their products, unlike most dairy cheese alternatives which rely on soya and palm oil.
I would definitely recommend these products and think they’d be especially useful for those transitioning to a vegan diet and looking for more familiar foods. I enjoyed trying them and can see myself buying them on occasion, even if they’re not going to be new staples for me.
Do you like any meat or cheese alternatives? How would you use the Vegusto products?
Disclaimer: I won these products in a giveaway but was not required to write a review. All opinions are my own.
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I am definitely going to try this when I get a proper kitchen. I want to become a vegan.
That’s awesome Talya! Hope my recipes can provide a little inspiration for you on your vegan journey.
I haven’t tried any of the Vegusto products, have lt seen them anywhere yet. I’d like to try a few tho, thanks for the deets!
I’ve heard they’re starting to become available in the US and Canada so keep your eyes peeled
It was definitely fun to give them a try.
You were not a cheese fan? Man, I loved my cheeses, from the simplest gouda to the stinkiest blue cheese. So this review makes me very curious indeed. I was never a meat fan I suppose, but you even got me interested in the burger. Mainly because your photographs really make these replacement products shine. I would gladly eat all of it, now I’m no longer fully raw. Note to self: must plan a trip to Bath and let Emma cook for me 😉
I’d be interested to hear what a former cheese-lover thinks of them! I think my tastebuds have changed a lot over the years though (I was super fussy as a kid and now I like pretty much all food!). You’re too kind r.e the pics
And DO come and stay!!
I love the no-moo cheeses
they´re my favourite, along with Jeezinis^^
How do you like to eat them Liane? Any good ideas for finishing them up?
I’ve not heard of Jeezini before…
I like to eat them just as is (on sandwiches, or cut up over salad). Jeezini is made by Vegourmet, and I found it at VX in London. You might be able to ask your local health food shop. Jeezini and No-Moo are good eaten cold, and the best melted I´ve had was the Wilmersburger Pizzaschmelz (also found at VX).
I’ve only sampled daiya vegan cheese because I’m usually pretty happy with nut cheeses. But I’ll have to keep my eye open for these! Thanks for the review!
I do love homemade nut cheese. I’ve seen that you guys have some pretty amazing looking ones available commercially too!
these sound really interesting - I love cheese but have been making an effort to eat less lately so will check out if they are in local health food stores (looks like radical grocery is stocking the brand - yay)
I like the sound of “the radical grocery” !! I’d love to hear what you think if you try them Johanna.
Thats a lot of great stuff you made out of the goodies.. love that gorgeously perfect Pizza and the tomato soup!
Thank you! The pizza was probably my favourite
Every vegan cheese alternative I’ve tried I’ve recoiled as soon as I put it in my mouth - maybe I’ve got some freak anti-vegan cheese gene?! But I’ve heard so many good things about Vegusto, I’m tempted to give it another go!
Haha. Did you like cheese before you were vegan? I definitely think it’s worth giving Vegusto a try
I keep hearing nothing but good things about that cheese, I’m really looking forward to when it (hopefully) becomes avalible in Canada.
I’ve heard that they are going across the pond so hopefully you won’t have to wait too long to try them.
I love Vegusto! They make so many great products. We’re a big fan of the sliced meats - really good in a reuben!
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ve heard Vegusto is available in my local health food store now so I’ll look for those next time I’m in.
i live in Switzerland so Vegusto is my go to brand of vegan cheese. Their Fondue is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never had real Fondue before, but this Vegusto one is awesome. I highly recommend trying more of their stuff. The cheese blocks are really good on toast and stuff for breakfast and the different sausages are all pretty good (I’m not really into vegan sausages but I eat these fairly often). The truffles are also awesome. My husband will eat the whole bag in one day if i don’t hide some for myself. Oh and the lunchmeats are perfect for taking on a hike or day trip.
Wow, I didn’t know they did a fondue! I realize I said I didn’t like cheese pre-vegan but I did like melted cheese! I have fond memories of raclette and fondue on skiing holidays
Thanks for the recs. Oh and are the truffles they sell Booja Booja? Those are AMAZING.
Meat alternatives tend to make my stomach churn (I think because the whole point is that I don’t like meat?) but these sound worth trying. I wonder if I can find them in the US?!
I do really recommend these and have good reports about their other products too. I don’t think they’re in the US yet but there are definitely plans to head stateside….
Oh my gosh - that pizza has my mouth watering!!! Looks delicious! Celeste “The Honking Vegan” - honk, honk!
Haha, you do make me giggle Celeste
It was a pretty amazing pizza. I’ve now got homemade BBQ sauce at the ready in the freezer too which is a nice bonus!
Wow look at all these cheesy vegan food porn! The cheesy pizza looks fantastic with the avocado and I like little flecks of cheese in the patty - I don’t think I’ve seen any vegan burgers like that before (especially in the U.S.)
I love all sorts of vegan meat & cheese alternatives. It’s hard to list them all. I would use the Vegusto products in burgers, pizzas, and quesadillas. I tried one of their Vegusto cheese before, No-Muh Krauter, it resembled a soft cheese block with herbs, and it’s great on crackers/bread, but not for melting.
I’ve never had a cheesy quesadilla before but now I want to try one! I’m sure you’d love the Vegusto products. Can’t believe you didn’t try more of their stuff while you were in Europe!
I received dozens of vegan Greek cheese, and I can’t even finish them in one month!!! I will try them next time I am in Paris in December do you have a favorite place/eats?
I wish I could get my hands on vegusto here in the states! Those scones look like heaven.
Thanks Kristen! I’m pretty sure there are plans to move stateside so keep an eye out 😉
Yay! I’m super excited you enjoyed the Vegusto products and thank you for writing such a great post about them. I love that you made cheese scones and cheese on toast, two of my favourite things to make with Vegusto! Yum!
Thanks for being in charge of the giveaway
I’ve just found out that they’re selling the Vegusto range in my local health food store so am going to have to try some of their other products!
BBQ-sauced cheezy pizza…yumza! And I want those melty toasty bread boats!
I loved this pizza! That BBQ sauce of Isa’s is truly fabulous
The tomato soup looks great! I couldn’t find your recipe though, am I missing it somewhere on your blog? Thanks!