Montreal Smoked Wheat and Roast Wheat Review
Smoky Meatless Meat Substitutes: Flavour, Cost and Nutrition
Jan 16, 2009
Montreal Smoked Wheat and Roast Wheat are vegan sandwich meat substitutes made by the company Veggie Gourmet, based in Montreal, Canada. Vegetarians who miss mile-high sandwiches will love Veggie Gourmet. Its Smoked Wheat and Roast Wheat are perfect as stand-ins for their traditional counterparts: served smoking hot with mustard, or whatever strikes your fancy.
Both products are available at specialty food shops and some major grocery chains across Canada.
Preparation and Cooking
The little brown boxes housing Smoked and Roast Wheat must be kept refrigerated, then heated to an internal temperature of 162 F (72 C) before eating.
The taste of these lunch slices is just about perfect - while they’re less fatty than meat and probably wouldn’t fool devout carnivores, the spices are perfect and the texture is bang-on. These “meats” are downright delicious.
Nutrition Information
Compared to real Montreal smoked wheat and roast beef, Veggie Gourmet products are a no-brainer. They have no trans fat; no cholesterol; and are low in fat - unless you pile them with cheese.
One serving is generous - nearly half the package or 75 grams (about 2.5 ounces). And that makes for one large sandwich! There’s no need to feel guilty piling it high like traditional smoked meat.
For that huge stack of gourmet gluten, it costs only 100 calories and 1 gram of fat. The salt content is a touch high (380 mg), but much lower than real smoked meat. The carbohydrate count is 5 grams, and there are also 1 gram of fibre and - amazingly - 18 grams of protein. Smoked Wheat gets 72% of its calories from protein – nearly unheard of for vegetarian (and especially vegan) foods.
Note: Nutrient values differ slightly for Roast Wheat.
Vitamins and minerals
Smoked Wheat contains small amounts of Vitamin A, Calcium and Iron. Neither of the products are fortified with vitamins or minerals.
The ingredients are:
- water, gluten, enriched wheat flour, spices, hydrolyzed plant protein, sea salt, oleoresin of paprika, canola oil, evaporated cane juice, sunflower oil, natural smoke flavour, caramel colour.
Allergen alert: Contains wheat and soybean products.
Cost: About $3.50 for one package (makes 2-3 sandwiches)
The Bottom Line
Vegetarians looking for natural ingredients and a chewy, meaty texture and delicious (thought mild) spices will love Roast Wheat and Smoked Wheat.
Visit the Veggie Gourmet website - en français or in English.
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