I don’t really know what to call my diet these days. In fact, I never really have. Since enjoying Veganuary this year, I’ve eaten a mainly (around 90% if I had to put a figure on it) plant-based diet.

I’ve had the occasional non-vegan dessert. And I did slip up once with one of those tiny prawn-in-a-lettuce-leaf-with-pink-sauce canapé things.

I feel more than a flexitarian, but not quite a full-on vegan. For most of my life, I’ve been a pescatarian who occasionally ate chicken but who avoided dairy. (Most of the time.

A glass of Malbec is never quite the same without blue cheese.) But I haven’t eaten red meat, accidentally or otherwise, for over 25 years.

But recently, I found myself in Mildreds veggie restaurant, eating what ALL my senses told me was a meaty beef burger. But it wasn’t.

Enter, the Moving Mountains B12 Burger

The Moving Mountains B12 Burger, also known as the Bleeding Burger, is 100% plant based.

If you’re a meat-eater, DON’T turn away now; this is a veggie burger like no other. It has the look, taste and texture of real meat and is served medium rare.

After two years in development in a laboratory, this vegan creation is hailed as a bite into the future.

This plant-based burger is made from mushrooms, pea, wheat and soya protein, beetroot and coconut oil. It also has added B12, something that can be tricky to get enough of on a vegan diet.

One burger contains the recommended daily allowance of B12, which is more than in a beef equivalent.

It costs £10 (plus £1 if you want it topped with a slice of vegan cheese) which is comparable to most other ‘gourmet’ burgers. Moving Mountains donate 50p from each burger to Compassion in World Farming, the leading farm animal welfare charity with a mission to end factory farming.

With this commitment, you can see why Moving Mountains are so dedicated to giving diners all the experience of meat, without the meat.

But What Does It Taste Like?!

I went to Mildreds with a recently carnivore-turned-vegan as my dining companion. And both of us just about managed to utter “amazing” through mouthfuls of the plant-based meal.

We both added vegan cheese and a side of fries. And we were both full for hours afterwards.

Moving Mountains are spot on. Even to someone who hasn’t eaten beef in years, the taste and mouthfeel of this plant-based burger is most definitely beefy.

It’s so similar to beef, that I was surprised how much I liked it. As a 15 year old I’d given up red meat because I didn’t like it. Maybe my tastes have changed but I sure am glad this burger is available now.

If I’d accidentally eaten a beef burger, and liked it as much, it wouldn’t just be a lack of Stilton I’d be struggling with.

It brought back memories of summer BBQs. The salad and sauces were perfect – the basil aioli was particularly moreish.

The whole experience was perfect, even the burger collapsing as I ate it. But then, the best burgers are meant to be finished off with a knife and fork, aren’t they?

My fellow diner and ex-carnivore described it as “just how you want a burger to be. All the taste and texture, without the greasiness or any chewy, fatty bits”.

It’s definitely based on a premium burger, rather than a cheap one from a frozen multipack.

Any Bad Bits?

My only criticism is that it could definitely do with a gherkin or two. And although it didn’t taste it at the time, I think it was quite salty. For a long time afterwards I felt thirsty.

If you avoid red meat because you really don’t like the taste, then this is probably not for you. In that case, you probably avoid most meat alternatives anyway.

If you love rare-ish meat that bleeds, then this bleeding plant-based burger doesn’t actually ‘bleed’ that much. The beetroot is added for an authentic colour but don’t expect it to ooze out. Which for me, was a good thing. The sauces more than made up for that anyway!

Health-wise, it’s still a burger. It’s still fried and you’ll still probably have it with chips. But its low saturated fat and high protein content definitely make it a healthier option. A tasty, and cruelty-free one at that.

The Moving Mountains Burger: An Ideal Plant Based, Sustainable and Health(ier) Alternative

The Moving Mountains B12 Burger is most definitely worth a try.

This plant-based burger is just as suitable for vegans as it is meat eaters, and anyone looking for a healthier, more sustainable alternative to a beef burger.

The best bit for me, is that everyone can enjoy the same meal, around the same table. From staunch vegan to staunch carnivore.

So what Mildreds and Moving Mountains are doing for sustainability, animal welfare and our health, they’re also doing for peace and harmony at mealtimes.

Grab your B12 Burger at Mildreds in Dalston. It’s available between noon and 2pm for a limited time, so be quick!