Saturday, April 18, 2020

Review: Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs

Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs

Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs are the first vegan cheese puffs I've tried and I was excited to see them in the store. They're also gluten free and allergen friendly.

What is sorghum?
Sorghum is a gluten-free grain that tastes similar to wheat.

These sorghum puffs tasted like wheat to me, and definitely tasted "healthy." The seasoning tastes good but is overpowered by the sorghum. I'd like to try a version made with corn instead.

Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs unwrapped

As someone looking for vegan alternatives to my favorite non-vegan foods, these aren't good enough for me to replace regular Cheetos. But if you're allergic to corn and looking for allergy-friendly cheese puffs, then these are pretty good.

The sorghum taste grew on me after a while and I did end up finishing the bag.

Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs close up

These also looked more brown than I expected. I like that they don't add orange food coloring, but I wonder if subconsciously I would like them more if they were orange.

If you're craving a cheesy vegan snack, you might also like Earth Balance Vegan Cheddar Squares. Those do contain gluten though.

Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs ingredients:
Organic sorghum grain meal, sunflower oil, tapioca maltodextrin, sea salt, natural flavors, onion powder, lactic acid, malic acid.

Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs Nutrition Facts

Review: Vegan Rob's Sorghum Cheddar Puffs
First impressions: The look more brown than I expected
Taste: The cheddar seasoning tastes good but the puff has a strong wheat flavor that makes it taste like a health food
Texture: Similar to crunchy Cheetos
Can you tell it's vegan? Yes
Worth buying again? Maybe
Overall: 4/5

Saturday, April 4, 2020

Review: Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac front of box

I tried this vegan cauliflower mac because I love both cauliflower and mac, and I thought the picture on the box looked good.

Maybe I have high standards because I love mac and cheese, but I wouldn't get this again.

If you don't cook it in the microwave you have to transfer it to an oven-safe container which is an extra step I don't really want if I'm tired enough to eat a frozen dinner.

It also takes a long time to cook. The directions say 35-45 minutes. It took 50 minutes for me in the toaster oven.

I don't think it looked like the picture on the box, but did look better after I stirred it up.

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac unwrapped before cooking
Before cooking

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac cooked
After cooking/before stirring

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac cooked and stirred
After cooking and stirring

It tasted a little boring but not bad. There was a lot of garlic. I like garlic but it was a little too much for me. I love roasted cauliflower but it was bland here.

I didn't finish eating this. I ate about half before the garlic was too much, and there wasn't something else in it that I liked enough to make me want to keep eating.

Water, Cauliflower, Cauliflower Puree, Gemelli Pasta (Durum Wheat), Sweet Potato, Parmesan Style Cheese Alternative (Filtered Water, Palm Fruit Oil(1), Modified Potato Starch, Canola Oil(3), Natural Flavors (Plant Sources [Contains Autolyzed Yeast]), Vegetable Glycerin, Sea Salt, Calcium Phosphate, Bamboo Fiber, Sodium Phosphate, Carrageenan, Lactic Acid (Vegetable Source), Calcium Lactate (Vegetable Source), Nutritional Yeast, Chickpea Miso(1) [Rice Koji, Whole Chickpeas, Sea Salt, Water, Koji Spores], Sunflower Lecithin, Citric Acid, Annatto), Onion, Canola Oil(3), Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Bread Crumbs (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Salt), Nutritional Yeast, Sea Salt, Garlic, Cornstarch, Wine Vinegar(1), Natural Flavors (Coconut), Dijon Mustard (Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, White Wine, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Spices), Spices, Mushroom Broth Base (Water, Mushrooms, Salt, Cane Sugar, Maltodextrin, Onion Powder, Soybean Oil, Yeast Extract, Garlic Powder, Cornstarch(2), Natural Flavor), Chives, Smoked Paprika, Locust Bean Gum, Granulated Garlic, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Thyme. 
(1)Organic. (2)Non-GMO. (3)Non-GMO Expeller Pressed.

Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac back panel of box

Review: Sweet Earth Cauliflower Mac
First impressions: Doesn't look like the picture
Taste: Bland + garlic
Texture: Creamy after you mix it up
Can you tell it's vegan? Yes
Better than other vegan options? I like Annie's Vegan Mac better
Worth buying again? No
Overall: 3/5