We don’t know what you’d have missed if this huge news This week, following months of speculation, leaks, and emails The news came out that Greggs introduced their first sausage roll made from vegan ingredients.
What’s actually in the Greggs vegan sausage roll?
Naturally, the public was both thrilled and angry. Even Piers Morgan was involved and we all know that it’s rare to hear him voice his thoughts on something.
However, in the midst of all the excitement, it was clear that there was a problem with what was inside the Greggs sausage roll that is vegan.
Is it merely the wrapping of a carrot in pastry and fried, like many (rude) people claim? Are you sure it’s an actual sausage that claims to offer a plant-based option?
We visited the place of origin (Greggs) and they confirmed that it is vegan and, no, it’s not just a big carrot.
The vegan sausage inside the delightful vegetarian pastry box is comprised of the same ingredients as Quorn’s sausages. This is because Greggs has actually joined forces with Quorn to create a distinctive vegan filling made with Quorn’s mycoprotein.
Mycoprotein is produced by the mold type known as Fusarium venenatum strain, PTA-2684. Quorn is able to take this mold and adds oxygen and nitrogen, glucose, and minerals, let them ferment and then dry.
It might not sound very appealing, but it’s completely free of animal cruelty and gives that delicious, meaty taste.
For that Greggs sausage roll, the mycoprotein has been utilized in a recipe specifically designed for the company. In addition, it’s similar to a typical sausage roll.
A Greggs spokesperson has informed Metro.co.uk that they’ve dedicated significant effort to crafting a vegan product closely resembling their popular sausage roll, only altering the original meat recipe where necessary to ensure it’s vegan-friendly. This vegan alternative also provides high protein for diet meals.
In this case, for example, by working closely with Quorn we’ve come up with a unique vegetarian topping (using Mycoprotein from Quorn).
The milk-based glaze that was used in the first sausage roll to create a golden-colored pastry is gone and not changed and making the lattice design more noticeable and creating to see a difference in both sausage rolls.
The ingredients that make up our famous puff pastry and our unique seasonings remain exactly the same.’
The seasoning is helpful because it does ensure that it is possible for the sausage made from vegan ingredients to match the traditional one, in terms of taste. Unfortunately, Greggs will not reveal the exact ingredients for their seasoning (secret recipe, and the rest of it) However, they have the same ‘unique mix of spices and herbs that are used in both the vegetarian sausage roll as well as the meaty sausage roll.
In terms of nutrition, the difference between the sausage made from vegan ingredients and the traditional sausage roll is comparatively small.
It weighs in at 101 grams and contains 311 calories. In comparison, the standard Greggs sausage roll is 103g and contains 317 calories.
The vegan version contains lesser fat than the standard version. It has 19.02g of fat in each sausage roll, compared to 22g of fat. However, it contains slightly more salt in it, with 1.85g of salt. Compared to the standard sausage roll’s 1.6g of salt.
What is the Greggs vegan sausage roll taste?
We sampled Greggs’s sausage roll made of vegan ingredients for ourselves and were quite awed.
A well-known meat lover Jess described the sausage as made from vegan ingredients. As roll as being ‘nearly indistinguishable with the traditional meat version. The pastry is flaky, with a rich bite on the inside and a savory flavor. That keeps me going back to the local Greggs. As if I’m an addict in desperate need of a dose.’
As a vegetarian Ellen (that’s me) was thrilled to finally have a reliable alternative to her beloved sausage rolls from her childhood.
The pastry is less flaky and oily however, this does not mean that having a sausage will be cleaner.
The sausage smells and feels strangely similar to normal meat sausage. The point is that when you bite into it, one wonders. If you’ve made a huge choice and bought the meat sausage.
The extra 10p will cost you PS1 whereas the meat sausage costs 90p.
However, for vegetarians and vegans, it’s worth it. We can finally go to the shelves of Greggs on the cold, wet day, and pick up an omelet. All our hopes are now a reality.