‘The Great Pretender’ marks Nando’s entry into the meat-free race

Vegetable-loving friends, have you been living your days in anger because for years you’ve secretly desired the PERi-PERi-based goodness of Nando’s chicken without any of the actual bird? Honestly, we really bloody doubt it, but the South African restaurant chain has you covered all the same with its very first meat-free protein alternative, The Great Pretender.

The upcoming menu item is a plant-based, high protein alternative that uses key ingredients from the company’s beloved PERi-PERi recipe. That means lemon, herbs, garlic and Nando’s African Birds Eye Chilli are all accounted for within a patty that, unlike the already existing vegetable option, is said to have a similar texture to a minced chicken burger patty.

You just need to throw a cheeky extra buck Nando’s way and you’ll be able to sub the patty into any burger, wrap, pita, salad or paella.

“We’re excited to be innovating our menu and providing an option for Nando’s fans which still includes all the perks of our famous PERi-PERi flavour,” says Nando’s Head of Food, Mario Manabe. “Our aim is to make dining at Nando’s as inclusive as possible, so this addition will certainly help in catering to Australia’s ever-changing eating habits.”

The Great Pretender is available now at all Nando’s stores nationwide. It’s Friday, you deserve to sink ya chompers into a delicious albeit mysterious protein patty.

In the meantime, you can always try Maccas’ new vege burger that for some reason isn’t really ideal for vegetarians. Welcome to 2020.

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