Here's How Popular "Miracle" Meatless And Dairy-Free Recipes Actually Taste (2024)

Did it work? Yes. And I'm shook. 👀

The results: This BBQ jackfruit, while not quite as smoky and savory as the real deal, was surprisingly similar. To make it: I drained the canned jackfruit, seasoned it with a rub, and then cooked it in barbecue sauce. After about 25 minutes, I shredded it with two forks and was shocked at how similar the texture was to that of actual pulled pork. The jackfruit also completely took on the flavor of the barbecue sauce, and the texture — a little bit chewy, but still tender — made it taste a lot like a pulled pork sandwich. My only complaint is that the jackfruit came out a little bit sweet, which could have been the result of the BBQ sauce I used. Next time I make this recipe, I'd try adding some liquid smoke to the BBQ sauce to try to achieve a slightly smokier flavor.

Did it work? You bet.

The results: I admit this recipe was a bit ~fancier~ than simple spaghetti in tomato sauce, but if you follow the instructions, it's really easy to make. The sauce is made with chopped carrots, onion, celery, and a whole lot of mushrooms, which are simmered in red wine, vegetable broth, and tomato sauce. Once you make the sauce, just toss in whatever cooked pasta you like best, and voilà. The mushrooms gave the pasta the perfect chewy texture, which was similar to meat sauce. I only used a combination of white button and baby bella mushrooms, but when I make this again, I'll also throw in some cremini and porcini mushrooms, and I'll chop the veggies even smaller to better mimic real Bolognese. But for a first attempt, this dish was delicious.

Did it work? Yes! 🌮

The results: This recipe was really easy. You basically just pulse all of the ingredients together in a food processor (or in my case, a blender), toss it on a greased sheet pan, and roast the cauliflower/walnut mixture for about 30 minutes until it's golden brown. The final consistency was really similar to that of ground beef, and the flavor wasn't too far off, thanks to the spices. But be warned: If you don't like walnuts, you probably won't like this because you can definitely still taste them through the spices. My one critique is that the taco-walnut filling was a bit dry, but a squeeze of lime juice or some hot sauce would do the trick to make it more moist.

Did it work? Negative.

The results: Turns out, making chickpeas pass for scrambled eggs is a lot harder than Pinterest makes it look. Despite soaking them overnight, the chickpeas didn't become light and airy like scrambled eggs. They still had a slight crunch to them. If you happen to love chickpeas, give this a try and wrap the scramble in a breakfast burrito or something. But I, personally, won't be making this again.

Did it work? Surprisingly, yes.

The results: This recipe couldn't have been easier. I'm always intimidated by frying foods at home, but anyone could make this. The maple-soy sauce was good, and it really thickened and coated the tofu a slightly sweet, umami glaze. The key to this dish is that you really have to let the tofu drain. The more water you can get out of it, the crispier it will be. I wrapped the block of tofu in a few layers of paper towels and let it sit for about 10 minutes, pressing some of the water out every few minutes. As a result, this tofu turned golden brown and super crispy on all the sides. While it isn't necessarily the healthiest way to make tofu, it's the tastiest tofu I've ever been able to make at home.

Did it work? OMG.

The results: OK, literally sign me up to be a Beyond Meat spokesperson because these are crazy. The burgers tasted so much like meat that I had to go back and double-check the box to make sure these were, in fact, vegan. AND it's not just the taste. Because they're made with beets, the burgers turn red while being cooked just like beef, and they even "bleed" when you cut into them. My boyfriend actually liked these so much that the next night, he grabbed a patty and chopped it up over pasta with marinara sauce to make a meatless Bolognese sauce, which was pretty genius (and tasted awesome, too). I would 10/10 recommend these meatless burgers to anybody.

Did it work? Meh. Let me explain...

The results: This didn't taste bad. But if you're craving that sharp, gritty, cheesy flavor most people associate with mac 'n' cheese, this version will probably leave you disappointed. That being said, this recipe was so creamy and rich, it's hard to believe there's no milk or cream involved. My biggest complaint is that the mixture of pureed sweet potato, butternut squash, and coconut milk was still a bit sweet for my taste, even though the sauce calls for soy sauce and optional nutritional yeast (which I added). As the directions warn, this recipe made a ton of sauce (in fact, the noodles were drowning in it a bit). If I were to make this again, I would definitely go lighter on the sauce. Long story short, this won't replace my favorite cheesy mac 'n' cheese, but I'll definitely keep it in my arsenal for nights when I'm craving something that feels ~indulgent~ but is still semi-healthy.