Best Tasting Meatless Breakfast Sausage?

[Jennalynn]

We're trying to eat less animal protein...

But we still want the taste of our favorites.

So, I know it's subjective... but which meatless breakfast sausage do you all think tastes the most like the "real" thing?

[Demented]

There isn't one!

The definition of Sausage, is seasoned ground meat, take away the meat and it is not sausage, period!

[The Professor]

Oy...details, details. LOL
What should we call it then..."imitation analog sausage-like product"?

Anyway, I know you are just joking (at least I hope you were).
Of course, calling any of these products "sausage" is just a frame of reference. I prefer the real deal too...been making my own for more than 40 years...but some of the imitation grain-based products fill the bill quite nicely thank you, especially as the arteries get older and more fussy. Sorry, but if the seasoning is right and the texture is right, and if my taste buds smile and nod, then if they want to call the fake stuff "sausage" it's ok in my book. LOL.

[LNG212]

Take this with a (rather large) grain of salt since I haven't eaten meat in almost twenty years ... but my favorites are: for breakfast patty-style meat-substitutes, I very much like the Boca brand. They are small round breakfast patties. They have a bit of spice to them and they work great in burritos of eggs, cheese, patties, and salsa. For links, I like the Yves (sp?) brand. I think most of the other links are terrible. One note, as someone above posted, definitely use fat when cooking/heating them. Otherwise they are dry and awful. I use a little butter and olive oil mixed and then quickly pan fry them.

[kchurchill5]

I honestly haven't tried the breakfast, have had the patties or burgers so, next time I will try them.

[dtremit]

I'm going to add to the Morningstar chorus, although I love the patties and hate the links. Be careful how you heat them, though -- they have very little fat in them and are much, much less forgiving than the real deal. Adding a little olive oil and avoiding the microwave are good bets.

[kchurchill5]

Good point, I heat with a little butter or oil and cook light, over cooking dries them out. I use the patties but also chop up with scrambled or in tortilla wraps which I love or breakfast quesadillas which I love.

[Jennalynn]

I was planning on pre-making some breakfast burritos and freezing them... perhaps I'll leave the sausage "uncooked" and then it will be heated for the first time when I nuke the burrito.

[kchurchill5]

I have froze them before and with the eggs done, some cheese and peppers and onions the sausage reheats fine for me. I made them for a camping trip. I heated them wrapped in foil and they were very moist. I have reheated in the micro and not bad if you use low heat. I make them when I have left over burittos all the time. Just cooking them you don't want to cook too long as all. The peppers onions and cheese gave it some moisture. I just let them cool, I did wrap in parchment and then put in a baggie. No freezer burn

[beachmouse]

I don't know how meat-like they taste (been years since I've eaten pork or beef) but I also like the flavor of the Morningstar farms sausage. I'm not really a breakfast person but they're nice to have on hand the times when I feel like I need a quick protein hit.

[KatChow]

My perspective is strictly vegetarian, but I'd add another vote for the Morningstar patties. Also, Trader Joe's has a soy chorizo that is great in eggs, rolled up into a breakfast tortilla, or on pizza.

[free sample addict aka Tracy L]

Check the fridge area of the health food section they usually have sausage made from soy or tempeh. I am a fan of soy-rizo, a vegetarian version of chorizo. It is great with eggs. I second Boca Burger sausages.

[Jennalynn]

Thanks for the reviews so far.

I think I'll seek out some coupons and do a comparison taste test. I'll let you know. But if anyone else wants to weigh in... please do!

[The Professor]

I am in the same situation...still wanting the flavors and textures but looking to cut back on animal protien.
I've tried quite a few, but the best ones I've tried so far are the Morningstar products, widely available in most regular supermarkets (the company is owned these days by Kelloggs). They have both patty and link breakfast "sausages" that are about as close as I've had to taste of the real thing, and have decent texture.

Boca makes some "sausage" products as well, though I find their offerings way too salty tasting. It should be noted though, that many people do prefer Boca...I'm not one of them.

[kchurchill5]

The morningstar for me was just fine. I made it for my friend visiting who doesn't eat meat. It was quite good. I would buy it again

[gordeaux]

I can tell you that morningstar farms "patties" are horrendous. For a snausage, I'd check if Boca makes a product. I have no issues with fake burgers because they aren't trying to be a burger. You KNOW that a gardenburger is not meat, but a bunch of oats and beans and stuff pressed together. Sausage is a different story altogether IMO. I'd assume that boca would make a better product since their burger product actually does a decent job at replicating a burger. Good luck, if you find somethng good, please report back. I'll also be interested to see if someone posts a decent brand to try.

[Harters]

If it was me, I'd be searching for other meals in which to cut down my animal intake. I can think of nothing worse than a veggie sausage at breakfast. However, good luck in your quest.

[virtualguthrie]

There are some veggie sausages that are totally fine. This is coming from someone who eats meat and sausage with enthusiasm. I like the Gimme Lean, it comes in tubes like Jimmy Dean. It's great in scrambles or by itself. Best when a bit crispy. There are also some tempe bacon varieties out there that are decent too. Oh and Soyrizo too.

[stolenchange]

I've been eating Morningstar breakfast patties for breakfast for a few years and I love them. I also use them crumbled on homemade pizza. I'm a very picky eater and was very nervous about fake meat products, but I am addicted to these. And I've gotten my meat-loving husband eating them too.

The links they make are not very good though.

[Jennalynn]

I'm cutting back to one animal protein meal a day... so I don't want to "waste" it on breakfast ; )