We experimented with vegan-ready meals during our long weekend in the Derbyshire Peak District in a National Trust cottage. There are two products (plus a third) we recommend, which I’d like to share with you. Normally, we cook our evening meals from scratch and use ready meals when we’re tired or have no time to prepare something. So, our break allowed us to seek out and try new products.
We bought from Aldi two different types of potato rosti. They were Sweet Potato & Butternut Squash and Carrot, Beetroot & Broccoli Rostis. Rostis are made from shredded potatoes, shaped into a small base, and fried or baked with fillings on the top. We shared one of each. So, two rostis make a substantial meal with other vegetables or a salad. They were tasty and looked appetising. We would buy them again. Each packet of two costs £2.99. Good value.
From Sainsbury’s we bought two Crosta Millica Verdure sourdough pizzas with grilled vegetables, Taggiasca olives, and basil sauce. We cooked both pizzas but only ate one. We saved the other for the drive back to Hastings. The pizza was tasty, slightly peppery, and filling. The ingredients were generous, given this is a ready meal when they’re often skimped. Yes, we would buy this pizza again. One pizza cost £5.75. Good value.
In Aldi we also spotted vegan Christmas puddings but no vegan mince pies. I’m hoping Gregg’s vegan mince pies will be available soon. They’re the best! And cheap. But, sadly, last year there appeared to be a shortage of them as they weren’t available in the shops. We did find Belmont Dark Chocolate Filled Lebkuchen. These are like eating vegan bite-sized Jaffa Cakes. But vegan! We’re going to look for more of these!
I'm not a Christmas person, and like you, I generally cook everything from scratch but for the last few years Xmas dinner in my house has either been a vegan fry-up or vegan toad in the hole using the exceptionally good 'GRO' vegan sausages from the COOP - they are made from Pea protein.