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We were named Best Vegan “Meat” at the VegfestUK Awards 2021

We were awarded the Best Vegan “Meat” award at the annual VegFestUK awards this week.

Bringing to the fore the best of the best in the vegan community, the annual VegFestUK awards spanned 21 categories, such as best Vegan “Meat”, Vegan Mylks, Media Publications, Vegan Fashion & Footwear and Vegan Community Project all voted on by passionate foodies, vegans, flexitarians, and plant-based eaters from around the UK.

We took just under a quarter of the votes in the hotly contested category from vegan and vegetarian food fans from across the UK. The VegfestUK Awards enter their 15th consecutive year in 2021, spanning an era that has witnessed the explosion of plant-based diets and ethical veganism.

2021 has seen tremendous growth for us, especially after having recently joined forces with other leading vegan food brands Oumph! and LikeMeat as part of the LIVEKINDLY collective.

When announcing the best vegan “meat” substitutes category, VegFestUK founder Tim Barford, said: “The Favourite Vegan “Meat” Category is a hotly contested category to compete in because of the large amount of investment recently in the meat alternative sector.”

Our plant-based meat alternatives are extremely versatile and can be used in a number of vegan recipes. Our range includes our Chicken-Style Nuggets, Pea Protein Mince, Golden Crumbed Schnitzels, Big Fry Burgers, and so many more.

We are a family of vegetarians and vegans, and since day one it has been our goal to make great tasting, high protein vegan food; initially for ourselves, and now our customers all over the world.

VegFestUK has been such a huge part of our journey as a plant-based brand, from our family kitchen in South Africa, to the shelves of some of the biggest supermarkets in the UK, so it’s an honour to be recognised by such a prestigious institution within the vegan community.

This award gives us great motivation to continue our commitment to creating the best tasting, most innovative, ethical, and plant-based meat-alternatives for our customers. 

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Festive Meal Planning Made Plant-based

The festive season is here so it’s time to throw the diet plan out the window, ready the almond milk for Santa’s arrival and start planning your Christmas dinner ideas. Whether you’re plant-based yourself, have vegetarian guests coming or just want some delicious vegetable-based recipes in your festive cooking arsenal, we’ve got you covered with our best meat-free Christmas menu ideas.

There are so many reasons to eat plant-based this festive season. It could be to reduce your carbon footprint, to save animals or for your health. But going plant-based doesn’t mean that you have to miss out on a delicious Christmas dinner. You can recreate what you would normally make, but make it vegan. While meat and dairy are cornerstone ingredients of the traditional feast, your vegan Christmas dinner can include all of your favourites without sacrificing the flavour of the food you love.

Here are our top delicious Festive recipes and tips that will make this season’s eatings full of joy and merriment:

Appetizers:

FULLY LOADED BBQ BOAT

NUGGETS WITH BUFFALO SAUCE & VEGAN BLUE CHEESE-STYLE DIPPING SAUCE

VEGAN GRILLED LAHMACUN INSPIRED FLATBREADS

VEGAN CORN CHOWDER WITH PRAWN-STYLE PIECES

For the Main Table:

GARLIC AND SAGE FRY’S SAUSAGES

MEAT FREE LANIERES DE POULET

WARM BUTTERNUT AND SWEET POTATO SALAD

Desserts:

VEGAN CHRISTMAS PUDDING – recipe from The Veg Space

VEGAN MINCE PIES – recipe from A Virtual Vegan

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Vegan Burger recipes to try these school holidays at home with your kids

Gone are the days where a burger meant a beef-only patty. This round up of our favourite plant-based burgers will leave no person behind, even the most dedicated carnivores. These recipes are great if you are looking for easy vegan meals for the whole family. We’ve got recipes for the biggest of appetites, easy veggie burger ideas to whip together on a lazy night, and some recipes that are a bit over the top. Hamburgers everywhere we salute you; you’re our idea of the perfect meal.

We have tons of vegan burger patties to choose from in our range. From vegan Chicken-Style Burgers, to our famous Big Fry Burgers! Have a look at our full range of burgers here.

Find your favourite plant-based burger recipe:

ALOHA BURGERS

Aloha burger

Our Big Fry Burgers are cooked over the BBQ or on the stove in a delicious BBQ sauce. We bet you won’t be able to tell these are completely meatless burgers!


FRY’S CHICKEN-STYLE BURGER WITH BBQED MUSHROOMS, BASIL & WILD ROCKET PESTO & GRILLED PINEAPPLE

fry's braaied mushroom burger

We swap out classic burger buns for these ridiculously meaty BBQed mushrooms which pack in a hearty, smoky flavour.

LEBANESE INSPIRED BURGERS

Lebanese burger

Jazz up this meatless hamburger recipe with this wholesome hummus and sun-dried tomatoes.

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Finger Food Recipes That Are Perfect For Super Rugby Viewing

These quick, easy snack ideas are so delicious it’ll be hard for even the pickiest eaters to say no. These quick snack recipes are perfect for the rugby season – we guarantee people will be munching away without realising these snacks are completely vegan. Best part: they’re healthy and fun to make too. We’ve got classic favourites as well as fresh, creative ideas like our lettuce cups. If you’re ready to take on some easy finger food recipes that are also crowd-pleasers, take a look through some of our favourite healthy snacks ideas right here.

FRY’S PRAWNS & TOMATO SALSA

Fry’s Prawns & Tomato Salsa 2019

The perfect easy snack idea for adults! Just throw our Prawns-Style Pieces in the Airfryer basket and cook them for about 8 minutes at 185°C. Serve with any dipping sauce like this homemade vegan tzatziki.

CHEESY VEGAN NACHOS TOPPED WITH NUGGETS AND SALSA

Cheesy vegan nachos topped with nuggets and salsa 2019

An easy vegan nacho recipe made with our Rice Protein and Chia Nuggets  and served with a vegan cheese sauce and salsa. An easy finger food idea that the whole family will love!

CRISPY ASIAN CHICKEN-STYLE LETTUCE CUPS

A low-carb snack option for the healthy eaters to much on!

MEZZE WITH TUNA-STYLE DIP

mezze 2019

This recipe can easily be adjusted and cater to any crowd. Just add some meat-alternatives like our Meat-Free Polony and serve with your favourite veggies and a dip. Spread on biscuits as a pate. Put in vol-au-vent cups or pastry for delicious canapes. Or serve on wholewheat brown bread to make a sandwich, layered with lettuce and crunchy veggies.

RUGGA BUFFALO NUGGETS WITH BUFFALO SAUCE & VEGAN BLUE CHEESE-STYLE DIPPING SAUCE

The perfect game day appetizer, these crunchy vegan chicken nuggets with a tangy vegan blue cheese dipping sauce will keep everyone snacking as you wait for your team to score.

Get extra points for creativity by serving with a few other dipping sauces like Buffalo Sauce and BBQ.

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We nabbed two top three finalist accolades in the 2021 Nourish Awards

We are so honoured to have landed two top three finalist accolades in the 2021 Nourish Awards. Nourish is Australia’s leading plant-based magazine, and so the competition was rife. We were competing against some of Australia’s biggest names in plant-based products. We managed to land in the top three in both the ‘Best Alternative Meat’ and ‘Best Vegan Frozen Meal’ categories from over 200,000 votes cast in this year’s awards.

The Nourish Awards see Aussies vote for their favourite vegan and plant-based products across a multitude of categories, creating Australia’s definitive guide to the best vegan food and lifestyle products on offer.

The competition is completely consumer-driven and we are thrilled to know that the Australian vegan and plant-based community love us just as much as we love them. The demand for delicious plant-based alternatives is ever growing, so we’re proud to hear the power of plants and our products are resonating with so many Aussies.

To be named a top three finalist in two categories amongst other powerhouses in the market is an incredible validation. To know that our products are making a delicious and kinder difference in kitchens across the country is both humbling and exciting.

It’s amazing that retailers are responding to the growing consumer demand for plant-based foods and to see our consumers opting for products that are delicious, great quality and super versatile.

We want to say a huge thanks to everyone that voted, and to the Nourish team who are helping to grow the awareness of plant-based options in Australia.

Our range with key favourites like our Quinoa and Brown Rice Protein Burgers, Rice Protein & Chia Nuggets, and Soy & Flaxseed Schnitzels is available from Coles, Woolworths and select independent stores.

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Back To School – Vegan Chicken Nuggets Snacks That Kids Will Love

Just like chicken nuggets, veggie nuggets are the perfect finger food for little hands. We love these vegan chicken nuggets recipes because they allow an extra way to get those veggies in.

Giving your busy little bee plant-based snacks midday is a super way to help sustain their energy levels and avoid that afternoon grumpy slump. Our Chicken-style Nuggets are chock full of protein, 100% plant based, NON-GM and… they get taste tested by the pickiest of eaters the Fry’s Grandkids themselves!

The kids are going back to school and just like us, they’re trying to adjust to the new normal. If you need a quick, healthy lunch to give them (between the Zoom meetings and shopping deliveries), give our vegan nuggets a try. We crafted them especially for the kiddos who get hangry in 5 seconds, and need a tasty healthy snack.

Try these healthy vegan snack ideas that the whole family will love:

CHICKEN-STYLE NUGGETS

Fry's Chicken-style nuggets

Perfect as a snack for the kids or as a game day appetizer, these crunchy vegan chicken nuggets with a tangy vegan blue cheese dipping sauce will keep everyone snacking as you wait for your team to score.

Get extra points for creativity by serving with a few other dipping sauces like Buffalo Sauce and BBQ.

CHEESY VEGAN NACHOS TOPPED WITH NUGGETS AND SALSA

Cheesy vegan nachos topped with nuggets and salsa 2019Crunchy nachos topped with a warm creamy vegan cheese sauce, crunchy Chicken-style Nuggets and fresh avocado and onions. Replace the toppings with whatever your kids love most if they aren’t avo lovers just yet.

VEGAN ROCKET SKEWERS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Vegan Rocket Skewers with Dipping Sauce 2019

Blast-off into space with these tasty Rocket Skewers and Avo Dipping Sauce. A fun recipe to make with the whole family.

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Easy Asian Weeknight Dinner Ideas That Suit Your Family

Who needs takeout when you’ve got this list of our best-ever Asian vegan recipes ready to go for an easy weeknight dinner or lazy weekend feast. Meat-free and easy as! These recipes are also perfect dinner ideas for game night.

Asian cuisines make it shockingly easy to eat vegan. With authentic Asian recipes often centred around plant-based staples like rice, noodles, or veggies, you can find delicious vegan meals across all types of Asian food, from Chinese to Korean specialties. So layer up a noodle bowl, break out your wok to stir-fry, or simmer up a pot of hot and sour soup, these Asian dinner recipes are sure to satisfy the whole family.

FISH-STYLE FILLETS IN BANANA LEAVES

Fish-style fillets in Banana leaves

This delicious authentic Asian recipe features our Golden Crispy Fish-Style Fillets coated in spices and herbs, wrapped into a banana leaf package, and grilled over hot charcoal. Serve hot with rice, naan or roti.

BUDDHA BOWL WITH CHICKEN-STYLE BURGERS & HUMMUS
Buddha Bowl with Chicken-Style Burgers & Hummus

This roasted vegan Buddha bowl has it all: wholesome veggies, plant-based protein, and tons of flavour!

THAI GREEN FISH-STYLE FILLET CURRY WITH RICE NOODLES
Thai Green Fish-style Fillet Curry With Rice Noodles

This deceptively simple Asian recipe is made with our Golden Crispy Fish-Style Fillets on top of a fragrant Thai green noodle curry, and packed with vibrant greens. Use optional fresh chilli for an extra bit of zing.

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Our top 8 vegan Valentine’s Day recipes

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and for those of you who are partaking in this romantic holiday, we’ve put together a roundup of recipes to treat your loved one, vegan style!  Sometimes the best strategy for Valentine’s Day is simply staying in for a mellow, cosy evening and cooking up a delicious feast for two. If you and your sweetheart are committed to the vegan lifestyle, you might be wondering how to treat each other this Valentine’s Day without all the meat and dairy that is usually involved. Get inspired with these delightfully delicious vegan Valentine’s Day recipes…

Spaghetti And Non-meat Balls

A delicious vegan twist on the classic Italian pasta dish, made with love and our Asian spiced burgers. This no-nonsense dish will have you acting out Lady and the Tramp in no time!vegan valentine’s day recipes

Chicken Style Shiitake Mushroom Risotto

Although risotto is one of the simplest meals you could whip up, there is something undeniably fancy about it. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re cooking with wine or the patience that’s involved with constantly stirring the rice. Whatever the reason, our chicken-style shiitake mushroom risotto is sure to wow your special someone.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Vegetable Terrine With Polony

This delicious vegetable terrine is made with our polony slicing sausage and a decadent cashew and coconut cream purée. This recipe requires a little extra effort, but it’s worth it if you want to treat your sweetheart.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Cape Malay Coconut Curry Served With Charred Apricots

Spice things up a bit with our Cape Malay coconut curry, featuring our chicken-style strips served with charred apricots.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Vegan Schnitzels With Creamy Dill Sauce And Dairy-free Potato Salad

This recipe is fancy enough to be a treat, but it will also be appreciated by couples who are trying to eat healthier in the new year. This tasty dish is made with our crispy golden crumbed schnitzels drenched in a creamy dill sauce, served with a tangy German-inspired potato salad made with stock and vinegar.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Vegan Corn Chowder With Prawn-style Pieces

This recipe is quick and easy, so you can spend more time with the one you love this Valentine’s Day. Make some corny jokes and enjoy this soothing dairy-free chunky corn and potato soup topped with our crispy prawn-style pieces.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Meat Free Alfredo Pasta

Pasta dishes have a certain sensuousness to them, and this indulgent, creamy meat-free alfredo pasta cries out for a cosy and lovey-dovey night in. The best part is that if you’re both eating garlic, then you won’t have to worry about the dreaded “garlic breath” after your meal.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Peri-peri Pizza

Who doesn’t love pizza for a cosy night in? Tuck your teeth into this delicious pizza made using our polony slicing sausage. You could even cut these into hearts using cookie cutters to show your sweetheart just how much you love them.

vegan valentine’s day recipes

Want to get more recipes? Head over to our cookbook page where there are dozens of free creative cookbooks for you to download.

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8 Reasons to go vegan this Veganuary

A new year is here with its promise of a fresh start, which usually inspires us to try something new or set New Year’s resolutions. We are very proud partners of Veganuary and believe that going vegan for January is the best and easiest way you can contribute to improving your health, the health of the environment, reducing climate change, and helping to save the lives of animals. If you’re not quite convinced yet, here are 8 reasons to try going vegan this January:

1. A Vegan Diet Is Better for Your Heart

A vegan diet has been proven to lower your risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Both of these conditions are amongst the most common causes of death in the Western world, and they are completely preventable! But beyond prevention, a plant-based diet is the only treatment that has been scientifically proven to reverse heart disease. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn has been able to reverse even very bad cases of cardiovascular disease by feeding his patients a low-fat vegan diet and has saved countless lives. (1) Even major health organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, have acknowledged that animal products rich in saturated fat and cholesterol are major contributors to both heart disease and diabetes. (2)

2. A Well-balanced Vegan Diet Can Be Very Beneficial To Your Health

More and more major health organizations are now stating that it’s healthy to eat a well-balanced vegan diet (3), and many even recommend a vegan diet over any other. Recent studies have shown that vegans have lower rates of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, strokes, and even Alzheimer’s. (4)

The World Health Organization has also stated that processed meat is carcinogenic (5), and meat products often contain bacteria, antibiotics, hormones, dioxins, and a host of other toxins that can be dangerous to our health. (6)

3. It’s The Easiest Way To Save The Environment And Stop Climate Change

Animal agriculture has been responsible for between 15-51% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Methane and nitrous oxide gases from the industry are 75x and 296x respectively, more powerful than CO2 in their global warming potential. (7)

On top of that, 76 trillion gallons of water is used in the industry every year, and to put this in perspective, by committing just one day to not eating meat, you save 5530 liters of water, which equates to a 7 min shower every day for 50 days. (8)

The easiest and best way to help reduce your carbon footprint and reduce your water usage is to swap what you put on your dinner plate.

4. It Can Help You Improve Your Fitness

Most people fear a loss of energy or muscle mass when abstaining from animal products, but quite the opposite is true. Meat and dairy are especially hard to digest, which means they use a lot of your energy, often leaving you feeling sluggish and tired. Adopting a vegan diet in no way hinders you from reaching your fitness goals, and may give you a nice boost of added energy and strength.

You don’t even have to watch your protein intake very much, all plant foods contain protein, and it can be of great quality too. The 40-50 grams you need per day can easily be met by eating meat alternatives such as Fry’s, green vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts or seeds. (9)

For a more detailed analysis of this topic, we highly recommend watching The Game Changers, a brilliant new documentary on Netflix about meat, protein and strength.

5. You’ll Get to Try Amazing New Dishes

Have you ever had a buddha bowl? How about a delicious Cape Malay coconut curry served with charred apricots? There are over 20,000 species of edible plants in the world, of which somewhere between 150 and 200 have been domesticated and farmed. You probably haven’t tried even half of them yet! Trying new delicious recipes broadens your horizon, your taste buds, and lets you discover delicious and healthy dishes you wouldn’t have thought of in the beginning. To help you out on your journey to discovery, have a look at our cookbooks for some inspiration.

6. You Don’t Have To Give Up Your Favorite Meals

Almost every meal you can think of can be veganized. The key is finding the right replacements (like Fry’s instead of meat, vegan cheese instead of dairy, soy milk instead of cow’s milk or flaxseeds instead of eggs). You don’t have to cut back on taste at all here; vegan chefs took home the trophy at the 10th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational with a non-dairy cheese winner, and vegan bakers have dominated the Annual Cupcake Wars twice. Still don’t believe us? Try our tasty vegan traditional burgers with avocado and sundried tomato hummus.

7. Going Vegan Has Never Been Easier

With the help of organizations like Veganuary, going vegan has never been easier! If you pledge to take the Veganuary Challenge, you will receive tips, recipes and advice throughout the month of January. Take the pledge here.

There are so many different plant-based options available, including meat alternatives, dairy alternatives and even vegan eggs! This change in the culinary preferences of consumers is revealing itself through data— the market for non-dairy products is skyrocketing and meat alternative sales are expected to reach $5 Billion by the end of 2020.

8. You Can Help Save Animals

Even though for some people, the ethical argument for veganism isn’t as strong, it can never hurt to be kind. Sparing someone’s life is always the right thing to do, especially if that someone is completely innocent. In recent news, it has been announced that 1 billion animals have died in the Australian Fires. These fires have widely been agreed to be the product of man-made global warming. On top of that, humans kill over 60 billion land animals and 2740 billion fish every year for food. (10) Not only is this completely unnecessary, but it invariably includes cruel practices like dehorning or castration without anaesthetic. Biologists have confirmed what pet lovers have always known: that animals are sentient, they want to live and they feel pain in a very similar way to humans. (11)

Pledge to take the Veganuary challenge here if you’re interested.

References:

  1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-right-plant-based-diet-for-you
  2. care.diabetesjournals.org
  3. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. nutritionfacts.org
  5. www.who.int
  6. www.sciencedirect.com
  7. www.fao.org
  8. academic.oup.com
  9. www.nationalacademies.org
  10. Meat atlas, 2014
  11. Foley et al., Nature, 2011
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How to entertain vegan guests in Australia

One of the more common things we hear from non-veggie friends is “What on Earth do I feed my vegan guests besides a side salad? Vegan food is so hard to find in Australia.”

We think the main issue is the common myth that vegetarians and vegans must just eat salad. I mean, what else would they be able to eat, right? Wrong of course! Almost every meal you can think of can be veganized to suit your veggie friends and surprisingly, there are tons of easy veg-friendly products in Australia. There’s a whole array of vegan dishes you could make that will please everyone at the dinner table, in fact, you could probably make a vegan meal with the items you have in your house right now and don’t even realize it.

If you’re hosting vegan guests for the Christmas holidays, we’ve got you covered:

vegan guests

Many dishes like pasta, stir-fries, wraps, and tacos are easy to customize. You could cook the meal as usual, and just prepare the meat on the side, or allow guests to add their own toppings. Have a look at some of our recipes for some inspiration:


vegan guests

Meat alternatives (like Fry’s) make cooking for vegan guests so much easier, it takes the scary mystery factor out of cooking vegan food, and allows you to make what you’d usually make with ease. Just replace whatever meat you’d usually serve with a vegan replacement. Some great examples include veggie burgers, sausages and mash, veggie roasts, etc. Here are some recipes to help you get started:

  • http://www.fryfamilyfood.com/au/our-recipes/soy-quinoa-country-roast-with-fresh-italian-parsley-rosemary/
  • http://www.fryfamilyfood.com/au/our-recipes/frys-traditional-vegan-burger-with-avo-and-peppadew-salsa/

vegan guests

If you want to cook for a vegan guest, one of the best ways to do it is to simply ask them for help! Most vegetarians and vegans are used to working some culinary magic now and again and will probably relish the opportunity to share their kitchen discoveries with you.

If you’re hosting a dinner and entertaining a vegan guest, ask them to bring a dish to share. You can even ask them to help you decide on the menu or ask them for adaptations for dishes you’d like to create for your dinner.

vegan guests

It can be tough if you cook food for your guest and they won’t try it or eat it. It’s also hard for guests who might feel rude declining the food you offer. Try to be open-minded about other’s dietary choices. If they don’t want to try a dish because it contains an ingredient they don’t eat, simply move on. There’s probably nothing wrong with your cooking, but everyone is different and has different preferences.

Similarly, if you’re visiting a vegan or vegetarian guest, the safest option is to ask before you bring meat or dairy dishes to the party. Some plant-based eaters are fine with it, while others are uncomfortable and would prefer to keep their home meat-free.

If you’re in a situation where you’ve been offered a dish that doesn’t fit with your dietary choices, simply decline politely. Rarely does Aunt Carol want a lecture on the evils of factory farming, or the impact of animal agriculture on the environment. The best way to avoid making your host feel disheartened is to simply explain, while the food looks delicious, it’s just not an ingredient you eat and follow by letting them know you’re excited to try some of their veggie burgers or the soup they made.

It’s fine to share your beliefs with others, but keep in mind that everyone is on their own journey, and no one wants to be made to feel guilty or ashamed of their meal. Save the lectures for one-on-one conversations and remember kindness is much more effective for persuasion.


vegan guests

If you’re curious about the vegan or vegetarian dishes your guest brings to the party, try it! You’ll be surprised at how delicious vegan food can be. There are also some seriously fantastic vegan desserts out there that will please everyone. Have a look at some of ours:

If you discover a vegan dish you enjoy, ask for the recipe. Let the cook know how much you appreciate them sharing their food and how amazing it was. You just might discover a new item or two to add to your Meat Free Monday (link to https://www.supportmfm.co.za/) repertoire.

One of the great aspects of vegan eating is that almost everyone can eat plant-based foods. Most of the Fry’s range is even Halaal, Kosher and Shuddha approved. There are many great dishes out there, so give it a try. You just might find something you like!