Filet Mignon isn’t something you’d expect to see a vegan version of, but we can no longer say that, because Offbeast has created its version of a vegan steak. This post is an Offbeast Filet Mignon review from taste, ingredients, and overall nutrition facts.
About Offbeast Vegan Steaks
Offbeast is a plant-based meat company based in Maryland. Their steaks and other products are made in small batches weekly and shipped out on Mondays. Orders have to be placed by Sunday night to ship on Monday.
This review is of their filet mignon, which I received from the brand at no cost to me. They have many other products. Including: Ribeyes, Steak Bites, Salmon Filets, and their newest item Chicken Filets (preorder only).
Their products are Vegan Friendly Certified, which means the product is 100% vegan and has no animal ingredients, along with cruelty-free manufacturing processes.
Review of Vegan Steak / Cow Steak Nutrients
This section is a comparison of vegan steak and cow steak per 4-ounce serving (~100g). I'll use the package information for the plant-based version and the nutrition facts from the USDA for the cow filet.
Protein
Protein is one of the most talked about topics in plant-based eating. Luckily this vegan steak is made with high protein ingredients and has a slight edge over the amount of protein in a cow steak. The vegan steak has 29 grams of protein while the cow steak has 27 grams.
You need protein to build and maintain muscle, but the amount of protein we need is often overstated in the US. Here’s the science and calculation for finding your protein needs and macronutrient distribution.
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for protein for vegans is 0.9 grams per kilogram of body weight for an average individual not aiming to build or gain muscle. This minimum amount can be adjusted based on factors such as activity level, age, and overall nutrition goals.
To find your weight in kilograms, divide your weight in pounds by 2.2.
Example 200lbs/2.2 = 90.90kg
With your weight in kilograms, multiply by the RDA to get your daily needs.
90.90kg * .9 = ~82 grams of protein per day.
Additionally, you can ensure that your protein goals are within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR), which means that 10–35% of your daily calories come from protein.
Carbohydrates
Unlike steak from a cow, plant-based steaks will have some carbohydrates. Carbohydrates aren’t a “bad” thing and provide our bodies with energy in the form of glucose.
The vegan steak has 8 grams, which is only 3% of the daily recommendation, and would classify as a low carb product. A cow based steak has 0g carbohydrates.
Saturated Fat
Saturated fat is one category that has been linked to negative heart health outcomes over and over. The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 6% of your daily calories come from saturated fats. Red meat like steaks are one of the leading contributors to saturated fats.
In the vegan steak there are 2 grams of saturated fat and in a cow based steak there are 7 grams.
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is naturally produced in our bodies, and all animals, including humans make it. While cholesterol levels are an indicator of heart health, it was previously thought that dietary cholesterol was the primary cause of high cholesterol levels.
However, recent research indicates that elevated cholesterol levels are predominantly linked to higher saturated fat intake (1). It's important to note that elevated cholesterol levels are a contributing factor to cardiovascular disease.
To help reduce high cholesterol, it's recommended to keep cholesterol intake "as low as possible" (2) and reduce saturated fat to no more than 6-10% of total daily calories.
For comparison, vegan steak contains 0 grams of cholesterol because plant-based products do not have cholesterol, whereas cow steak has 97mg of cholesterol.
Iron
Anytime someone is low in iron they always get the advice to “eat a steak.” Meats are a source of iron, however there are plenty of plant-based sources of iron that have more iron than 1.7mg per serving.
In this case the vegan steak has double the amount of iron coming in at 2.7mg. Making this a great pick for plant-based eaters looking to increase their intake of iron rich foods.
Review of Offbeast Vegan Steak Ingredients List
The ingredient list for the Offbeast filet is as follows:
Ingredients: Water, wheat gluten, non-GMO textured vegetable protein (isolated soy protein, wheat gluten, wheat starch), canola oil, yeast extract. Less than 2% of: refined coconut oil, vegetable juice concentrate (color), natural flavor, garlic powder, spices, baking soda, lycopene (color), salt, sunflower lecithin, l-cysteine hydrochloride from non-GMO soybeans.
Overall the ingredients are fairly simple and these are ingredients you can find at home for the most part. In the section below, I’ll highlight some of the main ingredients or ones that many people have questions about.
Wheat Gluten
Wheat gluten, also known as seitan, is the main protein found in wheat. When you wash wheat flour dough with water, the starch rinses away and the elastic protein network remains. That protein is then cooked and seasoned to mimic meat textures.
Gluten gives that firm, chewy texture you’d expect from a steak. It holds together well, absorbs flavors like a sponge, and crisps nicely on the outside when grilled or seared.
Lycopene
Lycopene is a natural pigment and antioxidant found in red foods like tomatoes and watermelon. In vegan steaks made from seitan, it’s often added to mimic the red color of raw meat.
This helps create a more realistic look without using artificial dyes. While its main role here is visual, lycopene also offers potential health benefits like supporting heart health and reducing inflammation.
L-cysteine hydrochloride
L cysteine is an amino acid and hydrochloride is a form of salt. This is used as a flavor booster in meats. It helps soften the dough, reduces mixing time, and improves the overall dough consistency. It also has antioxidant properties, which may help extend its shelf life.
Offbeast Filet Mignon Taste/ Texture Review
My overall review of Offbeast Filet Mignon vegan steak.
Taste
The flavor was rich and savory, especially after cooking it with vegan butter, just like I see Gordon Ramsay do on his shows (LOL). I think that extra step brought out a seared, slightly smoky taste with a satisfying umami finish.
Texture
I cooked the vegan steak as a full filet without slicing it first. The texture reminded me more of a roast than a traditional filet more dense, hearty, and structured. It wasn’t dry or rubbery and held up well during cooking. It cut easily with just a fork, which made it feel tender but not exactly like a steakhouse filet.
Rating this out of 5 is challenging because I think had it been chewier, I wouldn’t have liked it and said it was too chewy.
Rating this product out of 5 is challenging. If it was chewier, I would have found it unappealing and excessively chewy.
Cost Breakdown
When comparing the cost of vegan steaks to a cow steak. Filet mignon is one of the most expensive cuts of meat. I looked for a “high quality” option that would be similar to the vegan version. Here is the price comparison.
- Vegan steaks are $50 (+$8 shipping)
- Filet mignon steak (4 pack) from Omaha Steaks is ~$70 (+19.99 shipping)
The vegan option is more affordable in this example. There may also be other filet mignon options, but looking at one that is similar and requires shipping, this is what I found. So, for everyone who says vegan meats are more expensive, not in this case!
Pros
- High protein (29grams!)
- Heart healthier than animal-based meats
- Taste is 5/5
- Texture ⅘
- Innovative and fun
Cons
- Harder to find. You can order online, but right now it is limited in stores.
- Cost is higher than other vegan meats. But, like a filet mignon this is a fancier cut of meat and you wouldn’t eat every day.
Overall, Offbeat offers a vegan steak that is high in protein and easy to cook. I don't have a coupon code for this one, but would recommend ordering and giving this a try.
TLDR: Offbeat has a vegan steak that is high protein and easy to cook! I don't have a coupon code for this one, but would recommend ordering and giving this a try.
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