Review of 'Gardein' Tuscan Breasts

Gardein -- Tuscan Breasts (vegan)
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Summary: this would have been enjoyable if I didn't expect to taste 'chicken breast' inspired flavours. It was more like 'Tuscan Tofu'. The texture was good -- I really enjoyed that part and I'm actually eager to use these breasts in a stir fry with my own sauces and seasonings. I think the sauce really carries the breast. The nutritional profile is great and somewhat redeems the absence of the chicken flavour.

Where to buy: Fortinos, Freshco, Zehr's



Ingredients: water, soy protein*, Canadian wheat protein*, expeller pressed/canola oil, organic ancient grain flour (KAMUT® khorasan wheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa), yeast extract, modified vegetable gum, natural flavours (from plant sources), sea salt, potato starch, organic cane sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, pea protein, carrot fibre, beetroot fibre, extractives of paprika and turmeric.
rub: red bell pepper flakes.  
sauce: water, tomato paste, onions, roasted garlic, crushed tomatoes (tomatoes, salt, citric acid), organic cane sugar, expeller pressed/canola oil, sea salt, corn starch, spices, xanthan gum, vinegar, chili flakes.  
vitamins and minerals: dipotassium phosphate, magnesium oxide, niacinamide (B3), ferric orthophosphate, zinc oxide, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6), thiamine hydrochloride (B1), riboflavin (B2), cyanocobalamin (B12).

Nutrition Facts:

Serving size:1 breast with sauce

Calories: 210

Fat: 0g

     Saturated: 0g

     Trans: 0g

Cholesterol: 0mg

Sodium: 470mg

Potassium: 440mg

Carb: 10g

     Fibre: 3g

     Sugars: 2g

Protein: 22g

Vitamin A: 2%

Vitamin C: 4%

Calcium: 4%

Iron: 50%

I'm pretty happy with the ingredients and nutrition. The calories are decent for 22g of protein and it has a good amount of fibre. The sodium is a tad higher than I'd like, especially since most people will have this with a few sides (each with its own sodium content)...and this can add up really quickly. On the plus side, there's 50% iron, no fat, and no cholesterol.

This is definitely better than the Chick'n Marsala (reviewed here) I tried recently thanks to the awesome sauce. It's sweet with a tangy hint...really good! The sauce isn't too heavy and it's very fresh. The ingredients state that there are chili flakes, but I didn't really get much of it. It would have been nice to get a hint of spiciness.

I may buy this flavour again here and there if I find it on sale. I'm really happy with the protein content!...and that sauce -- it really grew on me with each bite.

Other fresh (ready in minutes) Gardein products (all vegan):

• Chick'n Good Stuff
• BBQ Skewers
• BBQ Riblets
• Meatless Ground
• Beefless Burgers
• Chick'n Filets
• Dijon Breasts
• Chick'n Strips
• Beefless Strips

Brand (quoted from gardein.com):

• The majority of gardein ingredients come from North American farms.
• Uses non-MSG yeast extract to enhance gardein™'s flavor.  
• "...wherever possible, we use the best organic and certified non-GMO ingredients..."
• "...we like to diversify our proteins by using wheat, soy and pea proteins..."
• Ccontains no preservatives or artificial flavors.  
• "Our soy is grown in the United States and Canada."
• "...our suppliers ensure that all our ingredients do not contain pesticides or herbicides - in line with all federal, state/provincial, and municipal regulations."
• "... we only use 'identity-preserved' soy protein (which basically means, it helps to ensure us that our soy protein is not genetically modified)."