100% Honest Review: Hilary's Eat Well Veggie Patties and Salad Dressing
Veggie Patties
Umami. If I could only use one word to describe Hilary's Eat Well's veggie patties, umami would be it. Phil, a terrific little two year old, describes Hilary's Eat Well's veggie patties using one word as well: "More." Meaning give me more. Meaning he ate more than half my veggie patty. After downing a bowl of rice. Yes, Hilary's Eat Well's veggie patties are that freaking good.
The two patties that we've tried are the "Black Rice Burger with Adzuki Beans and Leafy Greens" and the "Green Chili and Cumin Adzuki Bean Burger." I don't like one more than the other, though the "Green Chili" one does have a kick to it. If you like foods with exotic spices, you'll like this patty more.
Ingredients: Whole Grain Cooked Millet*, Adzuki Beans*, Whole Grain Cooked Quinoa*, Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil*, Onion*, Sweet Potatoes*, Mild Green Chilies*, Redmond’s Real Salt, Psyllium Husk Powder*, Arrowroot*, Apple Cider Vinegar*, Cumin*, Garlic*, Chili Powder*, Oregano*, Lime Juice* *Organic
Just oil and a frying pan!
You cook the patties when they're frozen, right on a frying pan for about three minutes for each side. (I use olive oil.) The top layer of the cooked patty is crispy and flavorful, while the inside melts in your mouth with little mastication. The attractive patties, lightly golden brown when cooked just right, aren't slimy. Not one vegetable or bean flavor overwhelms your senses. With Hilary's Eat Well's patties, I didn't have to add any additional seasonings such as salt, garlic powder, or even black pepper. I ate the patties by themselves, sans condiments, sans bread.
I can say this, without a doubt, that by far, Hilary's Eat Well's patties are my favorite veggie patties (when compared to other veggie patties I've made at home, which include Beyond Meat, Boca Burgers, Gardein and Gardenburger). Hilary's win on all ends: texture, taste, ease of cooking, simple packaging, pricing, and their use of fine, organic ingredients. You will never mistake these patties as real beef or chicken patties. No, they don't remind me of meat at all. But that's completely fine because they make me wonder how mashed up, blended veggies and legumes can taste so DARN GOOD. They aren't laden with salt or MSG. They are pure UMAMI.
Cost: Two patties cost around $3.50 at Whole Foods before tax. A veggie burger at Smash Burgers costs about $6.99 before tax. By making my own veggie burgers for lunch, I'm saving a bunch, and I'm sure my own veggie burgers are healthier than ones from a fast food joint!
For recipes, check out Hilary's website! http://www.hilaryseatwell.com/recipes/
As Hilary's Eat Well veggie (vegan) patties are our favorite veggie patties (as of January 2016) for many validated reasons, we will be awarding our first ever 5-Pandas rating to Hilary's Eat Well veggie patties! Congrats!!!
Salad Dressing
We were only able to find Hilary's Balsamic Thyme salad dressing at Whole Foods. Both my husband and I agree that the flavor of the thyme is a tad bit overwhelming at first taste. J. stated, "It's tastes very healthy, herbal, and natural, but mainly herbs are all I taste..." It is admittedly unfair for us to judge this dressing without using it on any salads, so we will reserve full judgment for now and revisit this dressing, and others if we are able to find them at our next shopping run. I am excited about their ranch dressing and the dressing that has apples!
Back story and disclosure:
Thank you Hilary's Eat Well and the super nice Maggie for supplying me with the food products mentioned here to review. Other than receiving the samples to review, I was not financially compensated for this 100% honest post. The opinions I've published are completely my own, based on my experience. Hilary's loves bloggers, so my fellow bloggers, connect with Hilary's Eat Well today!