What Happened? Beyond Meat Beefy Crumbles

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Yes, that’s what I want to know. What happened to BEYOND MEAT beefy crumbles?

Maybe it’s too old. Maybe the original recipe was changed. Maybe they’re getting rid of product that didn’t turn out so well.

Whatever the reason, the last two times I tried this product – several months apart, bought at different stores – the result was so dry and hard and basically inedible that Lilly Belle ended up eating it all – the whole dish I used it in – tofu crumble scramble now turns into LILLY’S TOFU CRUMBLE SCRAMBLE.

Yes, I made a recipe out of it, but like I said, it went to the dog and she loved it. But it’s not for me – nor Steve.

It reminded me of the BEAST burger they came out with a while back – before they debuted the BEYOND BURGER. The newest version is light years beyond the old. The old was too dry, not dense enough, not spongy enough, not spongy at all.

My suggestion is if you’re going to keep the old model in play for people who can’t afford the newer luxury style Maserati, then at least improve the recipe/formula of the old model, so it isn’t so dry, hard and mealy.

I prepared it exactly as instructed. There’s no amount of oil you can add to make it less dry, less compact. It was like the crumbles had been oven-dried into rocks and the fibers became stuck, where even water added wouldn’t soften them. They just crumbled into tiny hard pieces. TWICE on different occasions.

It’s a waste of a recipe, except that Lilly Belle liked it and got it all to herself. In future you may want to take what went wrong texturally and develop a plant-based dog food with it. Dogs like hard and chewy. They also like soft. So make some of the mix soft and some hard – dogs will like that. That doesn’t mean averaging soft and hard and coming up with one texture fits all. Dogs like varied textures within the meal. They have the teeth for all of it. I don’t. Neither does Steve.

So why did I buy it twice? I waited a long enough time where either a different batch would be available, or some tweaking of the recipe likely would happen within that time frame. I don’t give up on people or products easily.

But hey, we love that Maserati! It’s better than Impossible. It’s luxury.

~ the Animal-Free chef, at your service

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Well, you’re going to get the recipe anyway. Either use another crumble by another company or wait till BEYOND BEEFY WAKES UP if you’re making it for humans. I’m naming this Lilly’s!!

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LILLY’S TOFU CRUMBLE SCRAMBLE

BEYOND BEEF CRUMBLES sauteed in extra-virgin olive oil. Combined with tofu, peas, roasted peppers and vegan yeast. Seasoned with garlic, fennel, turmeric, smoked paprika and BLACK HIMALAYAN SALT. Lilly loves it!!

Makes 6 cups

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

12 oz. BEYOND BEEF CRUMBLES, frozen

19 oz. soft water-packed tofu, rinsed, patted dry with towel and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 t. salt

12 oz. bag froz. peas – place in saucepan with water and cook till thawed, then drain well

1/2 jar sweet red roasted peppers (including 1/2 liquid from jar) diced, 

1 t. ground fennel seed

1 t. turmeric

1 t. smoked paprika

several twists of fine grind Black Himalayan salt

fresh grind black pepper to taste

3 T. Nutritional Yeast – I used KATE NATURALS brand

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In extra-large skillet, over medium heat, melt olive oil.

Place frozen crumbles into skillet and even them out. Pan-fry, stirring and turning as needed till thawed and cooked through.

Add tofu cubes and salt. Distribute evenly, then stir and flip till coated with oil.

Add remaining ingredients, stir to distribute and till the yeast is thoroughly incorporated. 

Don’t over-stir or mash the tofu – we want to keep as much tofu in whole pieces as possible. I know it’s soft and it breaks easily.

Salt and pepper to taste. 

Reduce heat to low and continue to cook about 10 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Turn heat off and when cool enough, pack into covered containers and refrigerate till ready to feed your dog.

We all tried it of course, before it went to the refrigerator.

Notes: Black Himalayan salt adds a cooked egg flavor (and smell) plus 84 minerals. 

The vegan yeast is a complete source of protein and B vitamins. 

For some unknown reason BEYOND BEEF CRUMBLES cooked up dry again. Maybe it’s this particular factory batch, but they need to moisten it up. For this reason, I use it in Lilly’s dog food, since she likes the dry/hard crumbles.

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