Nestlé’s plant-based alternative to foie gras makes festive return

Fans of plant-based foods in Belgium, Spain and The Netherlands will be able to add a treat to their festive tables this year. Nestlé’s Garden Gourmet is bringing back Voie Gras, its alternative to foie gras, for a limited time only. 

The animal-friendly alternative was a hit during a successful seasonal launch in Spain and Switzerland last year, and Nestlé’s R&D chefs and product developers have worked to further improve the recipe and taste for 2023. 

Voie Gras is made using miso paste, and sea salt with a soy base. It has an authentic texture, flavor and appearance that works in all kinds of dishes – hot or cold, sweet or savory. Its versatility means you can combine it with your favorite ingredients to make many recipes – from a canape or terrine starter to a delicious sweet-savory dessert. 

Marjolijn Niggebrugge, European Business head of Plant-Based Meal Solutions at Nestlé, says: “Garden Gourmet is all about offering food where taste feels good. Voie Gras is a great-tasting seasonal option to delight consumers who continue to look for plant-based alternatives, while paying attention to the environment and animal welfare.”

Voie Gras comes in a glass jar and can be found in the chilled aisle next to other Garden Gourmet plant-based alternatives. It is developed and produced at Nestlé’s R&D center in Singen, Germany, where culinary experts, product developers and scientists work on innovative products for Nestlé’s food business including chilled, frozen, and shelf-stable plant-based meat alternatives.

Torsten Pohl, Global head of R&D for Nestlé’s food category says, “Following a successful pilot launch last holiday season, we are excited to bring back Voie Gras. Our teams worked hard to improve the recipe, taste, and shelf-life, bringing us even closer to animal-based foie gras. Additionally, through leveraging the flexibility of our R&D production lines, we are now capable of producing it on a larger scale, enabling us to support a second seasonal launch this year.”

The expertise of Nestlé’s R&D teams really underpins the ability of the company to keep offering new and exciting plant-based options for Garden Gourmet as well as other brands, across product categories. Recent Garden Gourmet launches include a range of alternatives to white fish fillets and nuggets, along with new vegetable-based burgers (sweet potato and kimchi).

This demonstrates Nestlé’s dedication to offering people a variety of plant-based food and beverages that complement their daily diets, and that are good for them and good for the planet.