After two extremely disappointing produces from Farm Rich’s Garden Inspiration line, I went into this one more than a little dubious.
Cooking: These are very versatile – listing baking, frying, air frying, bubbling in a sauce – you name it, you can do it. Heck there’s even a slow cooker guide on this package, good stuff!
Taste and texture: Even better than that flexibility. I’m happy to report this one is third time the charm, these are really good meat free meatballs. Finally a product from Garden Inspirations that isn’t a huge let down – indeed, these are the polar opposite.
The meatballs have an enjoyable texture, more smooth than coarse. There’s a restraint in the seasoning, with minimal pervasive flavor, perhaps a little sweet caramel backnote. This makes them perfect in a variety of dishes, they won’t dominate and try to muscle their way in with too much fennel and anise, like some products are want to do.
Overall: If there’s one critique it’s that these are on the slightly smaller size, at least compared to their peers from the likes of Gardein. They are in my book though, much better, and more versatile. Moreover, that smaller size means they can also cook faster too.
Garden Inspirations Plant Based Meatballs cooking and nutrition
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Overall
Are Garden Inspirations Plant Based Meatballs any good
Yes, these are some of the best in class meat free meatballs you can find in the freezer aisle. They have a fabulous texture and restrained flavor that means you can use them happily in a range of dishes.
Hi, I’m Stuart, nice to meet you! I’m the founder, writer and wrangler at Gastronomic SLC – Utah’s biggest and oldest online food magazine; I’m also a former restaurant critic of more than five years, working for the Salt Lake Tribune. I’ve worked extensively with multiple local publications from Visit Salt Lake to Salt Lake Magazine, not least helped to consult on national TV shows.
I’m a multiple-award winning journalist and have covered the Utah dining scene for the better part of fifteen years. I’m largely fueled by a critical obsession with rice, alliteration and the use of big words I don’t understand. I started Shop Smart to catalogue my adventures in the grocery store and kitchen. Follow along on Instagram too!
These are absolutely the most disgusting things I’ve ever eaten. I took one bite and threw the rest out. I have been experimenting with vegetable based proteins to find ones that suit me. I tried another brand of meatballs that was next to these in the freezer case and thought they were almost edible. I hoped these would be tastier. I was wrong.