Introduction
It’s Lent. Are you looking for a plant-based fish option? Do you want to eat cleaner seafood that does not involve scraping the bottom of the ocean, depleting our marine resources, or eating microplastics? Just curious about what’s going on in the faux fish industry? Then look no further with Gardein F’sh Filets. Well, let’s take a look at this product with my Gardein F’sh Filet Review.
Disclosure
This page contains Amazon or other affiliate links for products I highly recommend and for which I may receive a commission. There may be links to books that I have self-published. Thank you in advance for reading this article and for your support of my efforts!
Faux Meat Evaluation
I’m slightly ashamed it has taken me this long to write this Gardein F’sh Filet Review. We have been eating these for at least eight years and honestly, just thought everyone knew about them. I guess not.
Visual
What do they look like? These triangular pieces are fully vegan, and kosher. The packaging says, “tempura batter” which, IMHO, is a bit more elegant than “beer-battered”. Externally, they look like perfectly cut pieces of beer-battered cod you might find at a pub. They are a bit too perfect in shape but, maybe just get past that. The frozen piece is a perfect golden brown, with no over-fried look. The pieces are roughly 3 X 2.5 inches and are about ½ to ¾ inch thick. So not a filet piece – more of a representative chunk-type piece of fish.
Tactile
When frozen, it just feels like any other non-faux fish fillet. Firm, with a beer-battered style coating.
Once cooked, it feels like a beer-battered fish piece. It doesn’t break apart easily and when you break it into with your fingers, the inside tears in larger shreds more like a cod or haddock than a catfish or tilapia.
Cooking – how did they hold up?
Per the packaging: Do not thaw. Bake at 450 degrees for 14-16 minutes until crispy. Airfry at 400 degrees for 12 minutes -which is my usual method. You can microwave for 3-4 minutes and then re-crisp the coating in a skillet. You can also deep fry for 5 minutes.
Taste and Texture:
The Gardein F’sh Filet tastes like a mild fish without the “fishy” taste. Like a super nice cod or haddock. The texture is flaky and soft like fish. I don’t know how they do it, honestly.
Ingredients:
There are so many micro-ingredients, let’s just look at the picture. About half are some type of seasoning or flavoring, and then the products that create the consistency and binder, such asxantham gum, potato, and tapioca starches. Keep in mind, that some of the binder ingredients may be in the batter as well.
Nutritional expectations:
To meet my five-star awards in my reviews, I prefer the product to have:
> 12 grams of Protein
< 9 grams Fat
< 500 milligrams of Sodium
fiber – bonus points!!!
The product weighs in at:
9 grams of Protein
13 grams of Fat
350 milligrams of Sodium
2 grams of Fiber
The Gardein F’sh Filets don’t quite hit the bar for my expectations, but compared to a 3-ounce beer-battered fish fillet they are about the same depending on what food calculator you use.
Wrap Up
The processed food people may run the other way but I would like to remind readers there are many types of processed foods. I think these filets rest somewhere between Groups 2 and 3. It just depends on your focus and motivation for eating less meat – no judgment here. If you are looking for plant-based options, or want to help the planet, these are a superb alternative.
How I Enjoy
One of my favorite dishes in Houston was fish tacos at Tortugas Cantina. My mother and I would eat there near the Texas Medical Center when my Dad was receiving extensive medical care back in 2000. Fried fish, remoulade, purple cabbage, and cilantro. That was it. These filets are a nice treat when I need a memory moment.
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