Vegan stock cubes/granules
Posted by Kikilola on Jan 08, 2008 · Member since Apr 2006 · 445 posts
Hi, I've noticed that some of you use "beef", "chicken", etc, stock cubes/granules and was wondering what brand they are. Here in the UK there only seems to be the ubiquitous "vegetable" although I have just seen a Kallo mushroom cube on the 'net whilst searching for vegan beef stock cubes. Thanks in advance. KK :-*
Vogue is a chicken-style granule that I like.
Better than Boullion is a vegebase that comes in vegetableish and chicken style flavors. Once opened you have to keep it in the fridge. I like the vegetablish one where a dark broth is called for. I don't think the veggie one is completely vegan.
They also say that adding a tad of marmite or vegemite to your stock helps impart a beefy taste.
But I don't think I've ever seen "beef" flavored veggie boullion cubes though.
be careful if you're getting Better Than Bouillon stuff. of course you're probably not a dumbass like i am... for some reason i assumed that their products were vegan and last week i quickly picked one up and bought it cause it said 'chicken' on it. clearly i didn't look at it more thoroughly because a few days later i went to use it, and right there on the front it says "made with real chicken meat". my bad.
also, i have seen beef flavored cubes that are vegan... usually they're generic grocery store brands. i have some at home, but haven't tried them yet, so i can't comment as to the taste.
i do have 'chicken' style boullion that i got at my local health food store (they are available in my 'regular' grocery store but the ones there tend to be loaded with msg)... i'm not home and don't remember its name, sorry about that! i used it for risotto recently and wasn't too impressed, so you're not missing out on anything there.
be careful if you're getting Better Than Bouillon stuff. of course you're probably not a dumbass like i am... for some reason i assumed that their products were vegan and last week i quickly picked one up and bought it cause it said 'chicken' on it. clearly i didn't look at it more thoroughly because a few days later i went to use it, and right there on the front it says "made with real chicken meat". my bad.
also, i have seen beef flavored cubes that are vegan... usually they're generic grocery store brands. i have some at home, but haven't tried them yet, so i can't comment as to the taste.
i do have 'chicken' style boullion that i got at my local health food store (they are available in my 'regular' grocery store but the ones there tend to be loaded with msg)... i'm not home and don't remember its name, sorry about that! i used it for risotto recently and wasn't too impressed, so you're not missing out on anything there.
BB has a chicken-style vegetarian one that I believe is vegan. I don't often see it in the stores. And you DO have to be careful because they make real chicken and beef ones as well!
I also really like the rapunzel no salt added veggie ones. I find they are light and chicken-style and I like the fact they have no salt so everything doesn't get overpowered. They definitely add a yeasty taste, though, which I like but might not suit everyone.
If you are lucky enough to find Massel brand cubes or powder, they're delicious -- the nicest I've ever tried-- and are vegan, even the chicken and beef flavors. They're an Australian company so their presence is spotty in the U.S.
Thanks.
jkl: thanks particularly for mentioning marmite, me and my man started making a veggie irish stew last night and agreed it was lacking something. I tried veggie worcestershire sauce and tamari. I'll have to sneak marmite in when he's not looking though as he says he can't stand it (though has yet to try it! ::) ).
you are welcome. it's just an itty bit--half a teaspoon or so.
Let me know!
Someone posted a recipe a couple months back for BCG's chicken-style powdered mix. It's in the recipes notes section at the bottom of the page here.
I like Rapunzel no-salt too. It doesn't make any claims to be "chicken" style or "beef" style, but it's a great all-purpose stock. And good suggestion on the Marmite (yummmmm), jkl.
BB has a chicken-style vegetarian one that I believe is vegan. I don't often see it in the stores. And you DO have to be careful because they make real chicken and beef ones as well!
I also really like the rapunzel no salt added veggie ones. I find they are light and chicken-style and I like the fact they have no salt so everything doesn't get overpowered. They definitely add a yeasty taste, though, which I like but might not suit everyone.
oh, good to know! i knew there was some reason i thought they made a veg kind.
Someone posted a recipe a couple months back for BCG's chicken-style powdered mix. It's in the recipes notes section at the bottom of the page here.
thanks, sharway... i'll have to try that. the link also reminds me that i've been meaning to try her smoked tofu recipe. i subsribe to the newsletter and i've yet to try anything on it. there's just so much to choose from.
jkl: I couldn't do it to my beloved, I suggested we could try marmite and he in no uncertain terms told me he didn't want to :P - I did get him to agree to the addition of a tin of green lentils which gave the dish a good flavour and texture. All in all, it was very tasty and he can cook it again :)
I've used BB chicken style veggie bouillon. It's very tasty. Much better than other un-chicken bouillon cubes I've tried.
I bought some new brand of veggie stock cubes tonight at my co-op and wanted to post about 'em here. They have a big V on the box for vegan, and they had a bunch of different flavors, including un-beef and un-chicken. I bought one of each of those, and also a low-sodium veggie variety, in case those other kinds are too salty. The brand is Edward and Son, and they were in fact a bit cheaper than Rapunzel (my normal brand). How about that!
Oh, and P.S. Violin, also a big GLUTEN FREE on the front of the box. Just FYI.