If you’re new to veganism, there is still a very high chance that you have heard about the Linda McCartney food range. Like Quorn, I think Linda McCartney (as a brand I mean, not the actual woman) is one of the most well known and longest running brands for vegan and vegetarian foods. I for one am a big fan of the Linda McCartney brand and their food products are quite a staple within my household and have been for years. Somewhat annoyingly, they tend to label all of their products as ‘vegetarian’, even though the vast majority of their products are also vegan friendly. Luckily though they do also stick a big ‘vegan approved’ logo on all of their vegan friendly products, so it is easy to spot which ones are vegan and which ones are vegetarian.
I have always been a big fan of the country pies, but being the wild woman I am I decided to try something new. I remember chicken and mushroom being quite a good combination back when I did eat meat, and the vegetarian versions I tried were always pretty tasty, so I did have high hopes for this. Luckily I was not disappointed, as this pie was indeed just as delicious as the country pie.
The chicken and mushroom filing is creamy and delicious, and very much full of flavour. The pastry is very flaky and crispy, although I only realised after I had cooked these that it is recommended that you spread some milk over the top of the pastry for the best results. So will definitely try that next time and let you know if it makes that much of a difference. For me, the pastry didn’t seem too dry or dusty, since the pie is very generously filled with the chicken and mushroom filing so it does help add some moisture to the whole dish.
We tend to have this with a little bit of rice and then a load of veggies, our current favourites being corn and broccoli. The pie is very yummy, but it also isn’t overly filing. I definitely do not think that you could eat just this for dinner and be satisfied, it absolutely does need to be eaten along with some other food on your plate to make it a satisfying and filing meal. Hence why we have veg and some rice. With this in mind though, my husband and I do work out at least 5 times a week, so our hunger levels are likely higher than a normal person, so perhaps if you are not someone who works out to the same level as us, I don’t think you would need the rice. Now I think about it though, here in England pie and chips are always a winner, so maybe this could be a good idea for a little comfort meal?
A packet comes with 2 pies and is usually priced around £3.50. I do however shop at Tesco and I find that these pies tend to be on sale very often. I actually bought these for £2.50 when I tried them, and as I say they seem to come on sale pretty often. I think that £3.50 is actually a very good price for these pies, as they are a decent size and as a say make a really tasty meal. Getting them for £2.50 is quite the bargain in my opinion and so you should definitely pick them up. Luckily, they are freezer only so you can stock up and leave them in your fridge for six months!
I cannot say however which pie I prefer between the chicken and mushroom and the country pies. Both are very tasty and I think both are a very good choice. I feel that the country pie is slightly more comforting, in that it makes me think of a traditional pub pie her in England and it also makes me think of winter. But the chicken and mushroom case is slightly lighter in flavour, so might be best for the spring and autumn months, when it’s still a bit chilly outside but you don’t want anything too heavy. I think if anything it will come down to just your own personal preference, but definitely try both.
Taylor Talks Vegan 