‘Smoky, rich and umami-filled’: the best supermarket veggie burgers, tasted and rated

A taste test of supermarket veggie burgers has identified top picks for flavor and value, with minimally processed options outperforming complex meat analogues [1]. The All Plants sweet potato & black bean burger earned top marks, while Lidl's Vemondo Plant! line offered the best bargain. The All Plants burger was rated four stars for its firm texture, spicy chipotle warmth, and inclusion of whole chickpeas [1]. Lidl's Moroccan-style chickpea burger also received four stars for its complex flavor with lemon and cumin, and a simple ingredients list [1]. These findings highlight a competitive UK grocery landscape where discounters like Lidl have grown rapidly, collectively accounting for a significant portion of market share alongside traditional giants like Tesco [3]. Other notable burgers included the Biona Organic black bean cashew patty, described as a smoky, umami-rich "best splurge," and the Strong Roots pumpkin & spinach burger, a minimally processed option resembling a risotto ball [1]. The Tesco Plant Chef burger, while containing stabilizers, offered a complex, herby flavor [1]. In contrast, the highly processed Beyond Burger original patty, despite providing 18g of protein, received only one star for its rubbery mouthfeel and unappetizing texture [1]. The test's methodology prioritized simpler ingredients, marking down patties with synthetic additives designed to mimic meat [1]. This reflects a broader segment of the market seeking whole-food alternatives. The retailer Co-op, whose plant-based burger was also reviewed, operates in a sector historically dominated by a 'big four' of Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, and Morrisons [1][3].