This vegan ham is the best vegetarian alternative to real ham made with wheat gluten and tofu! Delicious juicy meaty Tofurky style seitan roast recipe for your plant based holiday meal or slice as deli meat for ham sandwiches! So easy!
OMG wait until you taste this vegan ham recipe! It’s juicy meaty slightly smoky and won’t fall apart! It tastes a lot like ham and has the same chewy texture! My family couldn’t believe it was vegan! it is seriously the best mock meat and super simple to make!
You’ll have the hardiest of carnivores coming back for seconds!
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Ham was my favourite during the holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter or anytime! My mom used to fry the leftovers and make Chinese ham fried rice the next day, Mmm and now I can do that again! much healthier and plant based!
So I’m super thrilled with how my vegan glazed ham turned out, it is so flipping good!! (You definitely won’t be able to buy this anywhere!) Seasonings are spot on! It's fabulous main course served with stuffing, scalloped potatoes, cranberry sauce or a dollop of apple sauce! roasted veggies and whatever else you fancy! Yumm!! Hope you love it too! Keep reading… you’re on a roll!
What is vegan ham made of?
- I used vital wheat gluten and tofu for the ‘seitan’ tofurkey effect, various spices, vegetable stock (better than beef bouillon) liquid smoke for smokiness, ketchup, maple syrup for sweetness and an amazing maple mustard glaze that makes this vegan ham roast over the top delicious!
What is seitan?
- Seitan is a vegan meat substitute made using vital wheat gluten. It is sometimes referred to as “wheat meat”
What is vital wheat gluten?
- Vital Wheat Gluten is made from wheat. It is made by washing the wheat flour with water until all the starch has been removed. And you are then left with the gluten which must be cooked before eaten.
How do you make vegan Ham?
For full instructions and ingredients see recipe card below
- To make mock ham: Drain tofu wrap in paper bowl squeeze out extra moisture with your hands. Break into chunks and add to food processor with rest of ingredients EXCEPT GLUTEN and process until smooth like a puree.
- Now add vital wheat gluten evenly over the top and mix until just combined, it’s ok if you see a bit of flour on top.
- Turn dough onto counter and knead 20-25 times and form into a ham shaped loaf.
- Wrap tightly and completely with a large piece of tin foil and place in a steamer insert of a steamer pot. Fill the base of the pot with water making sure it doesn’t touch the steamer insert. Cover and steam for 1 hour check half way though cooking time and add more water if it’s getting to low
- While ham is steaming preheat oven to 375° and whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- To glaze and bake: Unwrap ham, place on cutting board. Score the ham in a crisscross pattern (shallow cuts) and decorate with whole cloves if desired. Place in a small casserole dish (just a little bigger than the roast) pour over the maple mustard glaze. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes basting generously with the glaze every 10 minutes. Remove from oven spoon over more glaze. Cool for a couple minutes, slice and serve. Enjoy with all the holiday fixings like vegan scalloped potatoes, or mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cornbread, roasted vegetables, pumpkin pie for dessert! Oh yah!
Vegan Ham Q & A:
Can it be made ahead of time?
- Yes you can make up to 1-2 days before hand (just the steaming method) cool to room temperature wrap and refrigerate and to reheat let sit out on counter for 20 minutes, make the glaze and follow baking instructions. FYI- once steamed the ham is ready to eat.
Can it be frozen?
- Yes it will keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days and freezes great, I like to portion and slice it first then wrap in plastic wrap add to a container and freeze.
Can it be made gluten free?
- No this recipe can only be made with vital wheat gluten there are no substitutions. So it is not gluten free. if you're looking for gluten free main dish try my Vegan Meatloaf made with impossible burger!
Is there other cooking methods besides steaming?
- Absolutley! you can use instant pot instead of steaming. Place foil wrapped ham on rack inside the Instant Pot. Add 2 and 1/2 cups of water. Close and lid, set pressure valve to sealing, select the steam option. Set it to 30 minutes. Once done let pressure release naturally.
Enjoy you guys! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
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Want more Seitan Recipes? Check these out:
- Best Vegan Steak Recipe
- Best Vegan ‘Chicken’ Salad – Quick & Easy too!
- Vegan Turkey Recipe
- Vegetarian Salsbury Steak meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy (Meatball version)
- Vegan Burger (Best Grillable Vegan Burger Ever!)
Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan)
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 Servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This vegan ham is the best vegetarian alternative to real ham made with wheat gluten and tofu! Delicious juicy meaty Tofurky style seitan roast recipe for your plant based holiday meal or slice as deli meat for ham sandwiches! So easy!
Ingredients
For Ham:
- 2 teaspoons better than bouillon vegetarian no beef soup base (vegan)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil, toasted
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 package (400 grams) extra firm tofu
- a few drops of red food colouring (optional for colour)
- 1 and 1/2 cups vital wheat gluten
- whole cloves (for decorating- optional)
For glaze:
- 1 teaspoon better than beef bouillon
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 and 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons dijon mustard
Instructions
- To make mock ham: Drain tofu, wrap in paper towels and squeeze out extra moisture with your hands. Break into chunks and add to food processor with rest of ingredients EXCEPT GLUTEN and process until smooth like a puree
- Now add vital wheat gluten evenly over the top and mix until just combined, it's ok if you see a bit of flour on top.
- Turn dough onto counter and knead 20-25 times and form into a ham shaped loaf.
- Wrap tightly and completely with a large piece of tin foil and place in a steamer insert of a steamer pot. Fill the base of the pot with water making sure it doesn't touch the steamer insert. Cover and steam for 1 hour. Flip half way though cooking time and add more water if it's getting to low
- While ham is steaming preheat oven to 375° and whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- To glaze and bake: Unwrap ham, place on cutting board. Score the ham in a crisscross pattern (shallow cuts) and decorate with whole cloves if desired. Place in a small casserole dish (just a little bigger than the roast) pour over the maple glaze. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes basting generously with the glaze every 10 minutes. Remove from oven spoon over more glaze. Cool for a couple minutes, slice and serve. Enjoy any night of the week or with all the holiday fixings like vegan scalloped potatoes, or mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cornbread, roasted vegetables, pumpkin pie for dessert! or slice thin for ham sandwiches! Mmm. For step by step photos see above post
Notes
- To make ahead of time: Yes you can make up to 1-2 days before hand (just the steaming method) cool to room temperature wrap and refrigerate. To reheat let sit out on counter for 20 minutes, make the glaze and follow baking instructions. FYI- once steamed the ham is ready to eat.
- To store and freeze: It will keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days and freezes great, I like to portion and slice it first then wrap in plastic wrap add to a container and freeze.
- Gluten free: No this recipe can only be made with vital wheat gluten there are no substitutions. So it is not gluten free. if you're looking for gluten free main dish try my Vegan Meatloaf made with impossible burger
- Instant Pot: you can use instant pot instead of steaming. Place foil wrapped ham on rack inside the Instant Pot. Add 2 and 1/2 cups of water. Close lid, set pressure valve to sealing, select the steam option Set it to 30 minutes. Press start. Once done let pressure release naturally.
Cooking method inspired by Hidden Veggies
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 60 Minutes
- Category: Mains, Vegan Holiday Recipes,
- Method: Stovetop and oven
- Cuisine: American, Canadian,
Keywords: vegan ham, seitan ham, Tofurky roast,
Susan
My husband is a huge fan of my seitan turk'y. A couple weeks ago I got my hands on some Orrington Farms Vegan Ham broth base so I made your ham..He loved it. I wasn't convinced he would forego his beloved turky for it but when I asked him today which deli meat I should make, he said "that delicious ham, please!". Yay! I was getting bored if turky sandwiches.
★★★★★
Verna
Oh that is so nice of you to say, Thank you so much Susan you made my day! What a nice compliment 🙂
Kim
Hi, it's a great recipe and the flavor is really nice BUT mine turned out very spongy, not at all like seitan. Anyone know what I did wrong (and/or how I can fix it)? I did all according to directions, 30 minutes in the Instant Pot and then 30 minutes in the oven with basting every ten. Thanks!
★★★★★
Verna
Hi Kim sorry to hear that, next time you could try squeezing out more water from tofu or add a bit more gluten and bake a little longer. Try the steaming method next time that is my favourite cooking method. Hope that helps 🙂 Texture will improve the next day as well.
Kim
Okay, great! Thank you for responding so quickly! 🙂
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BP
Turned out amazing, wow. I used a vegan ham boullion and it was wild. Thanks a ton
★★★★★
Verna
You're so welcome! thanks for the feedback really appreciate it. I haven't come across vegan ham bouillon yet where did you find it?
Nancy
I just came across Orrington Farms' vegan ham flavored base in an online search for vegetarian ham-flavored broth/soup base. Wicked expensive on Amazon, but there may be other sources. I will be making your ham recipe using Better Than Bouillon vegetarian no beef soup base for St. Patrick's Day next week; attempts at vegetarian corned beef and pastrami have turned out less than stellar. I think the addition of tofu, which I recipes I've tried did not include, make me think this may be the one..
Verna
Enjoy Nancy!! Let me know how you like it 🙂 I have never made it with "ham" flavoured base. I can't find it here yet but I am very happy with the flavour as it is now and yes amazon prices are brutal sometimes! (oh and FYI my vegan corned beef is really tasty too!!)
Nancy
Thank you, Verna! Going to give it one more go and try your vegan corned beef 🙂
Verna
Awesome enjoy Nancy! 🙂
Sandra
I would love to try this, but I'm allergic to gluten - not just sensitive, but allergic. Is there an alternative? This looks so yummy.
Verna
Sorry Sandra there is no substitute for this recipe. Try my tofu steaks from my vegan gyro recipe! 🙂
Dani
Hi I'm going to be making this, and your scalloped potatoes, today for our Easter Dinner. I was wondering if you think a powdered no beef bouillon will be a good substitution for the better than bouillon? Thanks in advance!
Verna
Hi Dani although I haven't tried it I am sure it would be just fine or use 'no chicken' if you like. Enjoy and Happy Easter!! FYI you can taste the wet mix before adding the gluten and don't worry if it tastes salty it's supposed to 🙂
Dani
Thanks so much for your reply! I did use the vegetarian beef bouillon I have. The ham is out of the instant pot and waiting to go in the oven now. My scalloped potatoes look DIVINE and like they are made with cheddar cheese, they came out such a beautiful orange colour. Also, I've made your seitan pepperoni and we loved it on my homemade pizza. Happy Easter to you!
★★★★★
Verna
Thanks for your feedback Dani!! xo 🙂
Jessica
I want to make this recipe this week but I can't find the No Beef Bouillon anywhere :(! Any suggestions for substitutes?
Thanks!
Verna
You could try another brand? and they also sell the 'no chicken'- and vegetable variety too. or I bet miso would be a tasty sub?! Enjoy Jessica Happy holidays!
Tierra
Truly delicious! I make this ham for even my non vegan friends and they love it. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful recipes
★★★★★
Verna
What a nice compliment thank you so much! Appreciate you're feedback!
Jonathan
This was incredible we are making it again over the holidays
★★★★★
Verna
Thank you so much! So thrilled you enjoyed it. Really appreciate your comment
Jane
My kids went nuts for this It's a keeper!
★★★★★
Verna
So nice to hear! Thank you so much for the feedback so happy you all enjoyed it
Ann
Exceeded our expectations! Delicious
★★★★★
Verna
Wonderful! glad you enjoyed it