Sophie Sugrue made history as MasterChef UK 2025’s first-ever plant-based finalist and runner-up. A passionate meat free chef and recipe writer, she’s known for transforming vegetables into vibrant, flavour-packed dishes that challenge traditional ideas of fine dining. Through her cooking, Sophie aims to make plant-based food fun, accessible and full of joy.
- What motivates you to eat meat free?
I love animals, and I want to look after our wonderful planet!
- What items are always in your fridge?
I always have miso – I add it to sauces, soups, and marinades. It’s gut-friendly and absolutely delicious. I’ll also usually have some kind of tofu knocking about. It’s so versatile; it can be crisped up and used as a tasty crunchy protein, blended and turned into a sauce or a dip. I’ve even used it to make things like omelettes and desserts.
- It’s Meat Free Monday and you’ve got a friend coming round – what are you going to cook for them?
My go-to dish (and a favourite amongst my friends, meat-eaters and non–meat-eaters alike) is my crispy tofu miso ramen with sticky glazed mushrooms, charred corn and pak choy. It never misses!
- What was the last thing you ate?
The last thing I ate was something I’m recipe testing – a carrot and pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting!
- If you had to choose only one country’s cuisine to eat forever, which would you choose?
It’d be a toss-up between Greek and Japanese cuisine. I love how many delicious plant-based options there are in Greek cuisine, and I adore the Mediterranean diet. However, I would really struggle to live without ramen or noodles! 😆
- Sweet or savoury?
Savoury all the way, baby!
- Pizza or pasta?
I love a pizza, but I can never turn down pasta.
- Tofu or beans?
This is a really tricky one for me! I think it’d have to be tofu!
- Mild or spicy?
Happy medium for me. Maybe leaning on the spicy side a little.
- What advice would you give to people wanting to give meat free a try?
Don’t overcomplicate things or put too much pressure on it. Take one step at a time. Maybe try it once a week and see how you get on. There’s plenty of help out there and some incredible recipes. See it as something exciting – it’s opened up so many more doors for me! I’ve tried and enjoyed foods I never would have before and learnt so much.
Try Sophie’s Miso Mushroom Ramen, and follow her at @sopthefoodie for more recipes and inspiration.