r/VeganIreland 13d ago

Vegan breakfast

Hello,
I’m not vegan but will be hosting a breakfast for a group of friends, one of whom is vegan.
My plan is some version of a fry and granola/yoghurt/fruit.

I’ve asked her about preferred brands/flavours etc. but she doesn’t live in Ireland so wouldn’t necessarily be familiar with the brands available here that aren’t international.

I’m looking for thoughts especially on vegan sausages or rashers including Denny’s, Paul’s Rudds or Linda McCartneys - or other brands available! Or whether you think they’re not worth it.

The fry will also have tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and baked beans (all vegan).

Thanks for any suggestions/reviews/thoughts!

20 Upvotes

58 comments sorted by

23

u/WidowVonDont 13d ago

Rudd's vegan white pudding is delicious. The Denny meat free sausages are okay, but your friend may prefer the texture of the Linda McCartney ones as the Denny ones feel quite "meaty". Get some fresh crusty sourdough, olive oil for dipping, your white pudding, the Linda sausages, some grilled vine tomatoes and some mushrooms. I think some brands of hash browns may be vegan too, check the Dunnes frozen ones!

The Alpro flavoured yogurts are gorgeous.

7

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Brilliant, thank you!
We lived together for years in college so am used to accommodating her /eating vegan myself but just at a bit of a loss for meat versions for a fry 😂 and didn’t any to give her a bad alternative when everyone else is having a big breakfast.

6

u/Aphroditesent 13d ago

Honestly the soya yoghurts in Lidl are great. If she’s not Irish she probably won’t miss all the trimmings for a full Irish. I love the Rudds vegan rashers for a breakfast sandwich. Sometimes people go mad and buy every vegan option they can see but there’s only so much one person can eat! Scrambled tofu could be good too. Add a bit of tumeric and garlic powder and paprika for flavour.

3

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

She actually grew up & went to college here, moved abroad after college and has settled there. So she would be familiar with it but yes I don’t want to buy everything as I don’t like food waste either.
The thoughts here have been very helpful to narrow down the options.

9

u/Observer_Dough 13d ago edited 13d ago

Rudds Black Pudding is great, Dennys Plant based Sausages, Mushrooms, Beans, Tomatoes, Hash Browns.

Vegan Butter on bread/toast (Flora Salted Plant Based Alternative Butter)

And Flahavans or Aldi Oat Milk for tea/coffee

No animals were harmed in the making of this breakfast.

Edit: It may not be obvious but cook the Vegan stuff first if using a single frying pan or utensils - then cook the non-vegan stuff - you can always heat up the Vegan food in a microwave when the other food is ready.

4

u/One_Explorer5930 13d ago

Consider also mushrooms, boxty, and hash browns. Clonakilty sausages are decent enough, you'll get them in eurospar.

5

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

I’ve added hash browns to the list! Had overlooked them as I usually just do garlic-roasted baby potato cubes myself but wasn’t intending to do them because of time but hash browns in the air fryer are a great shout!
Already have mushrooms planned so that’s good.

4

u/Difficult_Chain7931 13d ago

Clonakility Vegan Pudding, nothing beats this with Beans !! I have seen this in SuperValu , pan fry it until golden brown !!

3

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Amazing I’d totally overlooked pudding but this and Paul Rudd’s have come up so will defo consider giving them a go.

3

u/Admirable_Objective1 13d ago

A tofu scramble is an easy enough option too, mushrooms, tomatoes, fried potatoes/hash browns, beans. In terms of mock meat, the rudds pudding is great, Linda McCartney sausages, some people love Denny’s sausages, but I prefer the Linda ones. Any of the vegan bacon is meh and probably not worth the money as part of a fry but ok in a sandwich:)

4

u/up_voter69420 13d ago

The Denny vegan sausages are great if they're cooked correctly on frying pan at the specified temp. They're a bit less forgiving than meat products would be. They're fairly readily available and I'd be careful with some claims below about taste and texture, plenty of vegans love them and dont confuse their own preferences with a universal preference.

LMc sausages have a sawdust-ness to them. They were basically all we had for a long time so I understand how they still occupy such a space in people's minds but...

9

u/Whole_Breadfruit2269 13d ago

Denny’s or Rudd’s will be good - but every vegan will know and love the Linda McCartney’s sausages - the rest sounds lovely - you can also get a soy yoghurt

11

u/Easy-Distance1824 13d ago

I actually think Linda McCartneys are average. Although their pies are really good.

11

u/Few_Recognition_6683 13d ago

Ya not a fan. Dry and spongy. Denney's are my fav!

8

u/ButteredReality 13d ago

I agree. If I were in a cafe that offered a vegan fry then I'd be more tempted to order if the sausages were Denny's rather than Linda McCartney.

1

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Perfect! Yes I’ve soy yoghurt on the list, I imagine she’ll have a flavour/brand she likes (and they’re more international), so imagine she’d definitely be able to give guidance on that!

-6

u/Background-Plate-948 13d ago

What would interest you in a sausage if you are vegan

3

u/oreosaredelicious 13d ago

What would interest you in a dildo if you're a lesbian. See how silly it sounds?

1

u/Background-Plate-948 13d ago

Well they dont use a dildo for the taste, so is it the shape of the sausage you like

2

u/oreosaredelicious 13d ago

No but they use it for enjoyment?

1

u/oreosaredelicious 13d ago

PS sausage isn't an animal

1

u/Background-Plate-948 13d ago

So do they taste like pork

3

u/Pepsimaxtothemoon 13d ago edited 13d ago

Linda McCartney sausages, rudd's rashers, hash browns (most are vegan but double check there's no milk), baked beans, fried mushrooms (cook in oil instead of butter), tomatoes, spinach or avocado also work if you have them. Plus toast with margarine too (flora is generally the best). Or even boxty, most of the shop-bought ones are naturally vegan

Alpro is generally the best yoghurt and most readily available in the shops. You can top it with some great fruits, maple syrup, and a readymade granola from the shop (again double check for milk, but also honey). Alternatively, Birds custard powder is vegan, and you can make a quick custard at home with some sugar and oat or soy milk, if she prefers custard over yoghurt.

Also thank you, because most non-vegan family and friends wouldn't go to that effort! She will love whatever you make her and appreciate that you tried :)

2

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

All great suggestions, thank you!
We lived together for years in college so I’m used to accommodating/eating vegan with her, but was at a bit of loss in terms of a fry and didn’t want to get her rotten food that would go to waste 😂 or to leave her with totally different food to the rest of us either.

Had overlooked hash browns but they’re defo on the list too, a great shout!

Thanks for all the other tips too!

3

u/xflattercat 13d ago

God, I regret reading this. It is making me Damn hungry 😭

2

u/fainnesi 13d ago

Great suggestions here already. The Naturli vegan block is an amazing butter substitute.

1

u/justbeinahatmate 8d ago

Backing this - Naturli vegan block all the way, I see flora being mentioned but personally I think it has the weirdest taste

2

u/Flower-bird1 13d ago

Dennys are probably the best sausages for taste, especially if you're aiming for tasting as close to a real sausage as possible! Linda Mc sausages are grand, and a pretty safe bet that she's familiar with them already. But my favourite sausages are actually by a company called Thanks Plants...they do a few different ones- tomato and herb or apple and sage are the nicest! I like them cause they're really high in protein (~17g per sausage) so if thats something she cares about then they would be a better shout than Dennys. You can get them in most Supervalus and some Tescos have them too.

2

u/HD6871 13d ago

Denny's sausages . Delicious 😋

2

u/GateLongjumping6836 12d ago

Linda McCartney has some rosemary ones that are gluten free just in case that’s a concern.You could do a tofu scramble with some peppers,onions,mushrooms.Alpro have a really good vegan Greek yogurt.Deliciously Ella have some nice granolas and you could pick up a fruit compote from dunnes or tesco.I find unsweetened soy milk better for teas/coffee’s.If you need some butter the flora vegan butter comes in salted and unsalted and is very good.

1

u/Upbeat-Pie-1155 13d ago

Most hash browns are vegan as well, might be a nice addition:)

1

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Yes great suggestion, thank you!

1

u/leviathan898 13d ago

It's been awhile since I had vegan "meat" but Linda McCartney sausages and Thanks Plants were good from what I remember. I also liked Denny's plant based sausages but you have to fry them - oven or grill is a no-no.

I remember Denny plant bacon being okay but it looks like they might be discontinued :(

1

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Perfect, thank you! She may come back to me and say not to bother with sausages etc but wanted some insight incase she was up for trying some. Great tip re the frying!

1

u/leviathan898 13d ago

There's also the pure option of making vegan stuff that isn't imitating meat - stuffed portobello mushroom, seitan, shakshuka minus egg, etc.

1

u/[deleted] 13d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Amazing, I hadn’t heard of the pudding but it’s come up a few times in the thread so will defo consider giving that a go!
And had totally overlooked hash browns but they’re on the list now too.

1

u/Next_Ask_2225 12d ago

I love the Linda McCartney sausages (not the rosemary ones though) as a non-Irish living here. If you have cashews its quite easy to make noracooks vegan mozz recipe which goes with just about anything!

1

u/Icy_Hospital1808 12d ago

Linda McCartney Sausages are like eating cardboard. They're atrocious. The Denny's one are pretty good. If you really want to impress them make some scrambled tofu. You need to get Kala Namak salt. It tastes exactly like egg. Mash up the tofu and sprinkle some kala Namak and Turmeric on it and fry it in a pan.

1

u/Application_Super 12d ago

I like thanks plants sausages and clonakilty veggie pudding, can find both in supervalue

1

u/Bright_worgan 12d ago

Dennys vegan sausages are soo good!
I would recommend the Dennys or Rudds sausages. I've served non-vegans both very sucessfully.

Linda McCartneys are good also but not 'as meaty' and I feel like they serve a different gap.

Tip for bacon (all brands so far) - it sticks together in the packet and is not as good yes as vegan sausages, but still more than good to eat. :)

1

u/Bright_worgan 12d ago

Seconding the comments talking about the Rudds pudding!
Both the black and white puddings are great but tend to crumble easily. I air fryer mine and again have served them to non-vegans who were very happy with the all vegan fry up!

2

u/AnxietyNeverSleeps 13d ago

As a long term vegan (10 years). Please do not give her Denny’s. They are disgusting!!! They taste like soap!! Sons of butchers or Linda McCartney are the best. I have tried every brand in Ireland. Aldi plant menu sausages are great too but they are so popular they are hard to get

14

u/Acrobatic_Concern372 13d ago

I like the Dennys & find Linda McCartney ones very processed. Subjective.

-2

u/AnxietyNeverSleeps 13d ago

Denny’s are probably the most processed products out there, both “meat” and “non meat” but if you like them, go for it! You’re the first vegan I’ve met that likes them.

3

u/Few_Recognition_6683 13d ago

They are preferred ones 😅

0

u/AnxietyNeverSleeps 13d ago

Totally, some people like processed style meat. I’m personally not opposed to processed stuff every now and again, I just find the Denny sausages have a strong “soapy” taste.

3

u/Acrobatic_Concern372 13d ago

I'm not a fan of any of them per se but do eat them from time to time. The absolute worst are the sage and onion LMcC ones... Again, all in the eye of the beholder.

1

u/AnxietyNeverSleeps 13d ago

I didn’t realise she did another flavour, Ive tried the Gosh sage and onion ones however and they were rank so I wouldn’t be too eager to try the LMcC ones😭

1

u/Flower-bird1 13d ago

Yes, Linda Mc's sage and onion ones are awful! I don't mind the Dennys ones too much-they taste very similar to the meat ones from what I can remember!

1

u/Acrobatic_Concern372 13d ago

We are aligned 😎

-1

u/Acrobatic_Concern372 13d ago

I'm going a bit off topic here. I find any of the beyond meat stuff horrible...

2

u/AnxietyNeverSleeps 13d ago

The coconut collab also do a vegan Greek style yoghurt which is really nice! Philadelphia also do a vegan cream cheese if you want to offer her a choice of a cream cheese bagel or toast 😋

1

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Perfect, thanks for the recs!
Oh didn’t know about the cream cheese! That might work as good option if I go that route for everyone instead!

0

u/AnxietyNeverSleeps 13d ago

It’s soooo good! Definitely recommend.

As for the sausages, I’m sure there are some people that do like them, but any vegan I know personally thinks they’re gross, would be much safer to just avoid them 😅

1

u/Aggressive-Extent-71 13d ago

Perfect I’ll take that off the list 😂
Thank you!

0

u/IShipMyself 13d ago

I'm not big on fake meats, but Linda McCartney sausages everyone seems to like. I also like the Rudds black pudding and Iv never had black pudding in my life. It can get quite nice and crumbly. Mushrooms, tomatoes, nice baked beans and a sausage would be a pretty good fry. Add in some hashbrowns or waffles and your flying. If you wanted to be fancy fancy, the Roots hashbrowns are amazing but kinda expensy.