Updated on November 9th, 2022
If you’re considering buying a vegan ham, read this guide first! It will tell you how to prepare and store the dish, what’s in it, and taste it! You’ll also learn how to prepare it without using preservatives and other unnecessary ingredients. You’ll also learn how to prepare a vegan ham the traditional way and save money! Here are a few tips to get you started.
I realize that creating a vegan ham sounds difficult and frightening, but believe me when I say that you can do it. It simply takes a few minutes to combine all of the ingredients, and then all you have to do is wait for it to cook.
This vegan ham dish will take your breath away! Seitan fake meat with a salty, smoky flavor cooked to perfection. It’ll make any holiday dinner extra memorable, and it’s ideal for a vegan ham sandwich! Even the most skeptics will be surprised by this faux meat created from seitan (wheat meat).
Recipe to Cook Vegan Ham
The broth is used to add flavor to the dish. I like to use a beef-flavored vegan broth for the most genuine flavor, but you can use any veggie broth you like. (If your broth comes in a 2-cup cube, cut it in half and combine with 1 cup of hot water.)
For the smokey flavor and red color, use smoked paprika.
For a smoky flavor, use Liquid Smoke. If you don’t have any, more smoked paprika will suffice.
Color and sweetness are provided by ketchup.
For an umami flavor, use nutritional yeast. Although I believe it enhances the flavor, you may just leave it out if you don’t have any. Your vegan ham will still be delicious.
Garlic powder is used to provide flavor. Instead, a fresh minced garlic clove can be used.
For a salty ham flavor, add salt. Reduce it if you want a lower sodium ham.
To give the mouthfeel of real ham, use oil. Although I believe that refined coconut oil provides the finest consistency, you can use any neutral-flavored oil. If you don’t want to use the oil, the dish may taste a little dryer. (Use refined coconut oil; unrefined coconut oil will taste like coconut!)
Tofu offers the ham a supple, silky texture while preventing the gluten from becoming too chewy. You can also use a can of drained white beans or garbanzo beans instead of tofu, although tofu has the most realistic texture.
For the meaty texture, use Vital Wheat Gluten. This is the most important component of every seitan and cannot be replaced with anything else, and I’m afraid you won’t be able to make this dish gluten-free.
To Make the Glaze:
The broth is used to provide moisture and taste to the dish. Any vegan broth should suffice.
Drizzle it with mild olive oil to give your ham a luscious and somewhat crispy outside coating. You can use any neutral-flavored oil in place of this one, and I don’t use coconut oil in the glaze since it will solidify and produce a strange texture when the ham cools.
For the red color and smokey flavor, use smoked paprika.
Maple Syrup is used to add sweetness. Agave nectar or any other vegan liquid sweetener can also be used.
For flavor, add a little salt. Reduce it if you want a lower sodium ham.
Cloves, whole – optional for decoration and flavoring the ham.
Instructions
To make the fake meat, follow these steps:
Warm 1 cup broth in a small saucepan, then add paprika, liquid smoke, nutritional yeast, ketchup, garlic powder, and salt, stirring well.
Drain and press a 14-ounce block of extra firm tofu to extract as much moisture as possible before putting it in the food processor.
Blend the broth with the tofu in a food processor until smooth.
With a silicone spatula, fold roughly 1/2 cup of the wheat gluten at a time into the liquid in a glass bowl. (Because the dough thickens towards the end, you may find it best to knead in the remaining 1/2 cup of gluten.)
Knead the gluten loaf for 30 seconds to ensure that all of the gluten is properly absorbed, then shape it into a ham-shaped loaf.
Wrap the vegan ham in a large sheet of foil tightly, making sure no seitan is visible.
In a big saucepan with a steamer basket, place the ham (or use jelly jar rings to keep the roast lifted up out of the water). Fill with water until it reaches just below the steamer basket.
Steam the ham for 1 hour, covered with a lid. Check the water level often to ensure it does not go too low, and top it off if necessary.
To glaze and roast your vegan ham, follow these steps:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
Remove the foil from the ham and cut 2 centimeter-thick diagonal lines across it, crisscrossing each other. Place the ham in a small 8 × 8-inch baking dish.
Combine the broth, oil, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and salt in a small saucepan, then pour equally over the ham.
Bake the vegan ham uncovered at 375° F (190° C) for 25 minutes, taking it out of the oven a few times to spread the glaze evenly over the ham.
Serve like you would ham, sliced with a serrated knife.
What are the Pro Tips for Cooking Vegan Ham?
Mix your seitan in a glass bowl with a silicone spatula. When vital wheat gluten is wet, it becomes extremely sticky and clings to a plastic bowl or a wooden spoon like glue.
Make sure to press the tofu as much as possible to extract as much liquid as feasible. To get rid of all the excess water, I break the block into quarters and squeeze it with my hands over the sink like I’m packing a snowball.
Wheat gluten is an extremely fine powder that will get everywhere if not handled carefully. Pour it slowly over the tofu mixture so that it does not splash out of the bowl.
Knead the seitan until all of the gluten flour has been incorporated and the dough is slightly firmer than bread dough. To keep your wheat meat from becoming too chewy, only knead it for 30- 60 seconds.
What Should I do with the Leftover Vegan Ham?
Leftovers, like non-vegan Thanksgiving, may necessitate some ingenuity.
Try a couple of these alternatives if you don’t feel like cooking up extra sliced seitan and veggies.
Make seitan ham sandwiches with everything you like, including mustard and pickles, vegan mayo, and sliced vegan cheddar cheese.
Cut the vegan ham into cubes and toss it with avocado, shredded vegan cheese, greens, crunchy veggies, and dressing on a salad. Vegan honey mustard or vegan ranch are two of my favorites!
Serve it with tofu scramble or hash browns for breakfast.
It’s fantastic on a JustEgg breakfast sandwich or a folded vegan omelet with vegan cheese.
Put it in the freezer for later! Seitan is a versatile protein that freezes well. Wrap it tightly in foil or plastic wrap and freeze for 90 days in a freezer-safe container.
What are the Other Ways to Use Vegan Ham?
This vegan ham can be used in a variety of ways. You can serve it as a roast for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter (or any other occasion), with a side of vegetables, or in various other ways.
Make a grilled cheese or slice and use it in sandwiches with hot mustard.
Toss a few into your split pea soup.
It can be diced and used on pizza (with or without pineapple).
Make a stir-fried with the strips.
Pasta dishes like this vegan carbonara or mac & cheese can benefit.
Serve on top of baked potatoes or in a frittata.
What are the Nutritional Value of Vegan Ham?
The nutritional value of vegan ham is provided for a given amount of cooked food, and data are calculated for an average 180-lb person. This information is not specific to a particular product, as individual needs will vary. Also, the actual requirement for a given nutrient may vary depending on age, gender, physical activity, and medical history. Consult a physician before making dietary changes. Food images are for illustration purposes only and do not necessarily represent the actual product.
Studies show that eating red meat raises blood levels of a chemical called TMAO, related to heart disease. Research has shown that people who eat red meat have three times the amount of TMAO in their blood compared to those who eat no meat. Furthermore, eating ham can raise the risk of developing heart disease, as it contains more sodium than other kinds of meat. Therefore, a vegan’s best bet is to consume this food in moderation.
What are the Ways to Store Vegan Ham?
To prepare vegan ham, follow the steps outlined below. Wrap the slices in foil to keep them fresh. Store them in the refrigerator for up to five days. You can also freeze vegan ham in slices for up to three months. Thaw the slices overnight in the fridge before reheating. To serve, slice them and enjoy! Keep in mind that vegan ham is more likely to turn brown if it is stored in the fridge for longer than usual.
Once cooled, wrap the ham tightly in foil, ensuring that it doesn’t have any seitan exposed. Place it in a large pot with water just below the steamer basket. Cover the pot tightly. Let it sit for twenty minutes before serving. Place the ham in the oven and glaze it. Slices should be ready to serve. You can store the remaining ham for up to five days or freeze portions until needed.
What is Vital Wheat Gluten, and How does it Work?
Gluten is the primary protein found in the endosperm of wheat berries. When gluten is removed from wheat, essential wheat gluten is left, a flour-like material utilized in many vegan and vegetarian dishes. Because of its similar texture to the flesh, it is referred to as “wheat meat.” As a result, it’s frequently utilized to manufacture meat substitutes for vegetarians. It can also give texture and volume to yeast pieces of bread.
What are the Various Steaming Options of Vegan Ham?
Place the wrapped vegetable ham in a steaming basket inside the pressure cooker to cook. Fill just below your steamer basket with water. Place the lid on top of the pressure regulator and heat until the pressure regulator is swaying steadily. Reduce the heat to gently rock for 40 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally.
Place the wrapped vegetarian ham on the steaming rack inside the Instant Pot. Fill to just below the steamer basket with water (about 2 cups). Set the pressure valve to sealing, select “steam,” and then set the timer for 30 minutes. Press the start button and wait for it to come to pressure, cook, and then naturally release the pressure. It will take roughly 45 minutes to complete this operation.
What is the Composition of Vegan Ham?
Most vegan hams are created from essential wheat gluten, often known as wheat meat. It takes on the color and flavor of ham when combined with other stabilizing components like tofu, beets (for color), vegetarian broth, and seasonings (such as liquid smoke).
Is Vegan Ham Good for you?
Vegan ham isn’t exactly health food, but it’s better for people, pigs, and the environment. Including beloved plant-based meat in your vegan diet in moderation is terrific to broaden your horizons, add variety, and experience the flavors of meals you’ve enjoyed for years.
Conclusion
Save money and add some flair to your family dinner with this vegan ham. This plant-based ham loaf is seasoned to perfection, with sweet smokey flavors and a maple-infused pineapple sauce on top.
If you think a vegan diet requires you to give up ham, you’re correct. Vegans do not consume meat because ham is made from pigs. You can make an exceptionally delicious vegan ham by breaking down the traditional flavors of ham — smokey and sweet — and applying them to plant-based bread in just the right manner. And it’s delicious, especially with vegan scalloped potatoes on the side.