Barbecue is a deep tradition in the South, especially South Carolina, where studies have been done to prove that voting lines run along the same lines as what barbecue sauce a specific region of the state prefers. When I saw Barvecue, a vegan barbecue, at a local boutique grocery store near me, I had to grab a bag. Barvecue is made in Cornelius, NC, making this pretty local indeed!
What is Barvecue made from?
Barvecue is made from whole soybeans, textured wheat protein, sweet potato, vinegar, oil, spices, and salts. It does contain both wheat and soy, for those who have allergen issues with those items.
What flavors of Barvecue are available?
It comes in a sauced flavor (pictured), and an un sauced version, and a carnitas style.
Does Barvecue taste like real barbecue?
The taste is pretty spot on. The texture is the closest I'd had, but it's still a little softer than real pulled pork barbecue, but not mushy. I tried to add a little crispiness and structure to it by pan frying it, which did help some. But I don't think you'll be fooling anyone with this if you're trying to totally dupe them. That being said, it's got a fantastic flavor and while the texture is a little soft, it is NOT off putting, like some faux meat textures can be.
I think if Barvecue tried, they could easily turn this formula into a South Carolina style hash that isn't made up of leftover pig parts.
How to cook Barvecue
The bag instructions are pretty simple: it says to thaw in the refrigerator, then heat in the oven or stovetop to an internal temperature of 165 F. Begin by putting the frozen bag in the fridge overnight or for 6-8 hours.
I only wanted to cook a little at a time, and to try and crisp it up a bit, so I spooned enough for two sandwiches into a medium high heated skillet with a little cooking oil spray. I stirred the Barvecue around a little for about 5 minutes, until it was heated through. Some of the smaller pieces were lightly crisped to mimic the varying textures found in pulled pork.
If you want to take this to a cookout, I recommend cooking it at home and wrapping it in aluminum foil or another heat-retaining container and taking it with you. I haven't tried it, but you can probably put the foil wrapped packet onto a grill off of direct heat (aka off to the side, not directly over the flame) once you're at your destination, or it will likely taste just fine at room temperature (as long as it hasn't been sitting out for too long in unsafe conditions for food).
Where to find Barvecue
Their store locator shows all of the places you can find Barvecue, but most boutique grocery stores and health food stores seem to have it. Lowe's Foods is a large retailer that seems to carry it in much of the Carolinas.
Each bag I've found has run between $8-9, making this one of the more expensive faux meats, but this one is definitely worth the cost as far as I am concerned.
Looking for more vegan barbecue options?
