Meat & poultry
Vegan alternative to black pudding: the best substitutes
Everything you need to replace black pudding with a plant-based substitute — which one to use, the exact ratio, and the mistakes that ruin the result.
Short answer
Key takeaways
- Best all-round swap: Beetroot and oat black pudding (full breakfast).
- Ratio: 1:1 by slice.
- Pro tip: Beetroot gives colour, but the flavour comes from allspice, oats and plenty of black pepper.
- 2 tested vegan alternatives to black pudding in total.
Why black pudding isn't vegan
Made with pig or cow blood.
Best vegan substitutes
| Substitute | Best for |
|---|---|
| Beetroot and oat black pudding | Full breakfast |
| Mushroom and barley pudding | Homemade |
How to substitute black pudding, step by step
- 1
Pick the right substitute for the job
For most recipes use Beetroot and oat black pudding — full breakfast. If you need a different texture, Mushroom and barley pudding works for homemade.
- 2
Measure using the correct ratio
1:1 by slice. Weigh rather than eyeball it — small errors show up much faster when replacing black pudding.
- 3
Adjust the method
Beetroot gives colour, but the flavour comes from allspice, oats and plenty of black pepper.
- 4
Taste and correct
Plant swaps are usually a little less salty and less rich than black pudding. Season at the end and add acid (lemon, vinegar) or umami (miso, nutritional yeast) if the dish tastes flat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Swapping by volume when the recipe measures black pudding by weight — check the ratio above first.
- Using a sweetened or flavoured version in a savoury recipe.
- Ignoring the method change: Beetroot gives colour, but the flavour comes from allspice, oats and plenty of black pepper.
- Assuming every packaged product labelled "plant-based" is vegan — some still contain milk powder, honey or egg. Scan the barcode to be sure.
Conversion ratio
1:1 by slice.
Pro tip
Beetroot gives colour, but the flavour comes from allspice, oats and plenty of black pepper.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best vegan alternative to black pudding?
- Beetroot and oat black pudding is the closest all-round swap — full breakfast. 1:1 by slice.
- Why isn't black pudding vegan?
- Made with pig or cow blood.
- How much do I use instead of black pudding?
- 1:1 by slice.
- Any tips for getting it right?
- Beetroot gives colour, but the flavour comes from allspice, oats and plenty of black pepper.
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