The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of Spoon University.
I have been a vegetarian for about 11 years now, and looking for good, easy vegetarian food has been a true struggle. There is always a texture, flavor, or price issue with vegan meat, so I usually end up eating tofu or beans to get protein. But now I no longer am forced to push away my love for meat because Lily’s Vegan Pantry makes, in my opinion, some of the closest chicken, beef, and pork replicas while being 100% vegan and 100% delicious. Another thing to note from my review is that I am not a chef and I live in a dorm, so I made these in the least appetizing way: the microwave. I can only assume that when properly prepared, the flavor and texture are further enhanced. It also counts as a testament to the quality of the products that even when only microwaved and not further seasoned, they are still amazing.
Lily’s Vegan Pantry is a New York-based business that is in China Town and collaborates with local restaurants. They also ship nationwide. I was able to find them at Chun Ching Market 重庆超市 in Gainesville, but had never seen this brand elsewhere. So you might be able to find them supplied at other Asian markets.
Lemon Chicken
I thought that this meat had great texture and was what I imagine chicken to feel like. The flavor was also amazing, especially since I did not add anything to it. It was slightly sweet, sour, and spicy, and would be great to cook or add to dishes. I really enjoyed eating this as it really satisfied my cravings, unlike any other brand.
BBQ Chunks
I thought this meat was more reminiscent of pork and beef. While it looks exactly like tofu, the texture is nothing like it. It was decently chewy yet still delicious. The flavor was barbeque and is great if you want to use vegan protein in a non-asian dish.
Teriyaki Beef
I thought the shape, color, and texture of this meat were the best of the five. It distinctly reminded me of the beef in beef and broccoli. Personally, this was my favorite meat alternative I tried, and I think it did the best in the microwave.
Chicken Nuggets
These were not great straight out of the microwave. The texture would be better crisped up in an air fryer, oven, or pan, since the inside was chicken nugget-like, but the outside had a different texture. They also come with no specific flavor or spice, so they need some love to be tasty. This can be a positive thing if you have your own sauce or dip you’d like to use. While I misprepared them, these would be great in any dish as they could take on any flavor.
Citrus Spare Ribs
This unique option is very opposite of the chicken nuggets. I think they had good flavor and texture on their own, but they resembled Chinese-style spare ribs, rather than American. The texture was slightly tough, and there was a honey-like glaze with spice, sourness, and some smokiness. I thought these were also great without having to do any real cooking.
The vegan meat of my dreams
Lily’s Vegan Pantry (formerly May Wah Vegetarian Market) really wowed me and became a staple in my microwavable, easy dinners. I believe meat eaters, vegans, and everyone in between would love this meat alternative and hopefully incorporate it into their meals.