We love to try new foods. Some are great. Some don’t measure up and some become staples in our kitchen. See what you think.
We were recently introduced to Hilary’s a brand whose mission is to produce tasty, convenient foods that are free from common allergens (corn, egg, dairy, soy, and nuts). They make salad dressings, veggie burgers and veggie bites that are USDA Organic, Certified Gluten-Free, and NonGMO Project Verified.
Veggie burgers started the brand when the founder developed a nonmeat burger for her restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas. Customers dubbed it the “The World’s Best Veggie Burger” and it is still the best selling burger for the brand. We tasted World’s Best plus two other veggie burgers.
World’s Best Veggie Burger is based in millet and quinoa. One burger (3.2 ounces) has 190 calories, 7 grams of fat, 27 grams of carb (no sugar and 5 grams of fiber), 4 grams of protein, 350 milligrams of sodium and 115 milligrams of potassium.
Black Rice Burger is based in millet, adzuki beans and two types of rice. One burger (3.2 ounces) has 160 calories, 7 grams of fat, 22 grams of carb (no sugar and 3 grams of fiber), 4 grams of protein, 210 milligrams of sodium and 110 milligrams of potassium.
Spicy Thai Burger is based in millet and adzuki beans. One burger (3.2 ounces) has 190 calories, 9 grams of fat, 26 grams of carb (4 grams of sugar and 4 grams of fiber), 4 grams of protein, 300 milligrams of sodium and 210 milligrams of potassium.
Veggie Bites are also millet based. They are about the size of a silver dollar and make a nice addition to a meal, a snack or appetizer. We tasted two of the four varieties, both of which are new to the Hilary’s line.
Broccoli Casserole Bites – three bites have 100 calories, 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of protein, 12 grams of carb (1 gram of sugar and 2 grams of fiber), 130 milligrams of sodium and 120 milligrams of potassium.
Mediterranean Bites – three bites have 110 calories, 5 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein, 15 grams of carb (2 grams of sugar and 2 grams of fiber), 150 milligrams of sodium and 140 milligrams of potassium.
The brand does not recommend microwave cooking for either the Veggie Burgers or Veggie Bites. Both are certified kosher (KcK).
Hilary’s also makes a variety of salad dressings, many of which can double as a marinade or dip. We tasted three of the eight varieties.
Ranch Chia can be used as a dressing or a dip. We found it to be a flavorful, lower calorie, lower fat alternative to mayonnaise for a sandwich. Two tablespoons has 50 calories, 70 milligrams of potassium and 110 milligrams of sodium.
Beet Vinaigrette can be used as a dressing or a marinade. Two tablespoons has 50 calories, 50 milligrams of potassium and 160 milligrams of sodium.
Lemon-Lime Vinaigrette can be used as a dressing or a marinade. Two tablespoons has 70 calories, 20 milligrams of potassium and 220 milligrams of sodium.
All these dressing varieties are based in extra virgin olive oil which means they will thicken when stored in the refrigerator after opening, which the brand recommends. The dressings thin out quickly again when left at room temperature for a few minutes.
