Happy Faux Meat Friday! There isn't often a wide variety of meat alternatives at my local Bi-Lo but recently I came across this new brand, Raised & Rooted, with their nuggets made with plants. It doesn't say anywhere on the package that these are chicken-like nuggets, which I find a funny oversight. They are just... nuggets. The only reference is that they have 33% less saturated fat than white meat chicken nuggets.
Anyways, I followed the package directions and baked these in a 400 F degree oven for 12 minutes, they came out great. Golden, cooked all the way through, with a light crispy crunch on the exterior. The inside is, according to Patrick, "just spot on like a McDonald's chicken nugget."
These are not vegan, as they feature egg whites, as well as pea protein bamboo fiber, and golden flaxseed. I think that these meat alt companies are really hitting their stride with pea protein lately, as the things that are the best all seem to include pea protein. No argument here, I love peas.
Raised & Rooted Nuggets Made with Plants
Brand: Raised & Rooted
Meat Type: chicken nuggets
Taste: Just flavorful enough to know they are supposed to be chicken-y
Texture: Exactly like a McDonald's chicken nugget
Realisticness: ⅘
Rating: ♥♥♥♥ (⅘)
This brand is an offshoot of Tyson, the big meat manufacturers. There has been some noise about their claims that it's plant-based but it contains egg whites and therefore isn't vegan. But come on, what vegan have you EVER known that hasn't over read and over analyzed the label on any processed food? If a vegan accidentally eats these, then they need to be more conscious consumers. Nowhere on the bag does it call them vegan, or 100% plant based. It has the words "egg whites" on the front and back of the bag.
It looks like you can find these at Bi-Lo, Walmart, Kroger, and Target, and probably more regional and national grocers, since again, Tyson is a pretty big brand
Out of many of the chicken-y nuggets I've tried, I'd definitely get these again. I wish they were a little more seasoned, but if you are a nugget dipper, you can solve that issue easily. As a non-dipper, I need the seasoning to be included within the nugget itself, or maybe I need to switch to dipping. There are tons of copycat Chik-Fil-A sauces, and they are supposedly the authority of chickie nuggie dipping sauces. Got any faves?
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