Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (2024)

Updated: by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 75 Comments

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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!

Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (1)

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!

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!

Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (2)

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

  1. To make mock ham: Drain tofu wrap in paper bowl squeeze out extra moisture with your hands. Break into chunks and add to food processorwith rest of ingredients EXCEPT GLUTEN and process until smooth like a puree.
  2. 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.
  3. Turn dough onto counter and knead 20-25 times and form into a ham shaped loaf.
  4. Wrap tightly and completely with a large piece of tin foil andplace 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
  5. While ham is steaming preheat oven to 375° and whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
  6. 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!

Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (3)

Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (4)

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 ½ 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.

Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (5)

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
  • Vegan Turkey Recipe
  • Vegetarian Salsbury Steak meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy (Meatball version)
  • Vegan Burger (Best Grillable Vegan Burger Ever!)

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Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (6)

Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan)

★★★★★5 from 23 reviews
  • Author: Verna
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6-8 Servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

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

Scale

For Ham:

  • 2 teaspoons better than bouillon vegetarian no beef soup base (vegan)
  • ¾ 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
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 package (400 grams) extra firm tofu
  • a few drops of red food colouring (optional for colour)
  • 1 and ½ cups vital wheat gluten
  • whole cloves (for decorating- optional)

For glaze:

  • 1 teaspoon better than beef bouillon
  • ½ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 and ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons dijon mustard

Instructions

  1. 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
  2. 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.
  3. Turn dough onto counter and knead 20-25 times and form into a ham shaped loaf.
  4. 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
  5. While ham is steaming preheat oven to 375° and whisk the glaze ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
  6. 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 likevegan scalloped potatoes, ormashed potatoes,gravy,stuffing,cornbread,roasted vegetables,pumpkin piefor 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 myVegan Meatloafmade 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 ½ 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,

More Mains

  • Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
  • Sweet and Savory Summer Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
  • Vegan Tofu Salmon Rice Bowl
  • The Best Vegan BBQ Ribs

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristine

    Made this yesterday for Easter and it turned out great- definitely will make this again!

    Reply

  2. Melissa

    Hi, how many packages of tofu did you use for the ham in your pictures? Thanks

    Reply

    • Bonnie

      I made this today. We have been vegan for 7 years and my husband misses ham. My whole kitchen smelled like baked ham while it was cooking. It tastes so good!!! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply

  3. Sarah Rolph

    I am new to vegan food. I don't know what seitan should taste like and I don't think this recipe actually tastes like ham. Having said that, it really does taste very good indeed and the recipe was very easy to follow and the end result looked just like your picture. I look forward to trying more of your recipes.

    Reply

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Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (2024)

FAQs

Is seitan good or bad for you? ›

Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.

How do you make seitan not rubbery? ›

Add a little less water and knead it thoroughly. Let it stay for 30 minutes and knead it again, I even use a wooden roll for that. I some times add a tablespoon of potato starch or cornstarch, this adds consistency without making it too rubbery or hard (don't knead as much).

How do you make seitan a complete protein? ›

Ingredients like chickpea flour, soy flour, and soy sauce can be added to your seitan dough to complete the string of essential amino acids.

What do vegans eat instead of ham? ›

Whether you're after sliced vegan ham or a vegan roast ham for the holiday table, it's easy to find different options made from ingredients like seitan, tofu, beans, and more. They all have a similar texture and taste, only without the many environmental, ethical, and health issues that come from the real thing.

Who should avoid seitan? ›

While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it. Premade seitan can also be high in sodium, so it's important to read the nutrition label if you monitor your sodium intake.

What are the disadvantages of seitan? ›

What are the cons?
  • Not suitable for those with gluten-sensitivities or coeliac disease.
  • Doesn't absorb much flavour.
  • High amounts of sodium (salt) in the packaged product.
  • Seitan is hard to source unlike other vegetarian protein alternatives meaning you may have to venture to a specialty vegetarian “butcher”

Why does seitan hurt my stomach? ›

There's some evidence in medical research that wheat gluten may increase the permeability of your intestines, leading to what some health authorities call "leaky gut syndrome." If you find you experience bloating, gassiness, or other digestive symptoms after eating seitan, you may want to avoid it next time.

Is it cheaper to make your own seitan? ›

Compared to $6 - $8 for an 8 ounce package, you can see how much more affordable it is to make your own seitan - even after factoring in the cost of the other ingredients!

Why is my seitan so tough? ›

Make sure you're using vital wheat gluten and not regular flour for making seitan - otherwise, you'll end up with a very tough bread. You can use water for the cheapest, most basic seitan, but I like to use broth throughout the process.

Can I eat seitan everyday? ›

Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.” That said, Mora says there's no denying that folks can benefit from adding seitan to their menu—especially since it comes in a variety of flavor profiles.

Which is healthier tempeh or seitan? ›

Nutritionally, seitan offers more protein per serving than tempeh; but seitan is not a complete protein like tempeh. While seitan and tempeh can be healthy protein sources, not everyone should include them in their diet.

Is it OK to eat homemade seitan everyday? ›

The answer is, yes! —as long it's part of a well-rounded diet. A 100g serving of seitan has about 141 calories and 25 grams of protein, making it comparable to the amount of protein in chicken or beef. Because the starches are removed from the wheat when seitan is made, it has very little fat and carbs.

What happened to Tofurky? ›

The Oregon plant-based food pioneer Turtle Island Foods, better known by its Tofurky brand, has been sold to a Japanese company. The buyer is Torfurky's longtime tofu supplier, Morinaga Nutritional Foods.

What do vegans eat instead of eggs? ›

What are the best egg substitutions?
  • Aquafaba. That's right, you can make an impressive egg white substitute using the water from a drained can of chickpeas. ...
  • Ground flax seeds. ...
  • Apple purée. ...
  • Yogurt (regular or dairy-free) ...
  • Mashed banana. ...
  • Silken tofu. ...
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Coconut oil.

What is the best substitute for ham? ›

What are some healthy alternatives?
  • Canned tuna or salmon.
  • Boiled eggs.
  • Falafel.
  • Hummus.
  • Cheese.
  • Leftover home-cooked meat such as slices of roast.
  • Home cooked rissoles.
  • More sandwich filling ideas.

Is it OK to eat seitan everyday? ›

The answer is, yes! —as long it's part of a well-rounded diet. A 100g serving of seitan has about 141 calories and 25 grams of protein, making it comparable to the amount of protein in chicken or beef. Because the starches are removed from the wheat when seitan is made, it has very little fat and carbs.

Which is healthier tofu or seitan? ›

However, while seitan is an excellent plant-based protein alternative, tofu is a complete protein (seitan lacks the amino acid lysine). Unseasoned tofu is typically lower in sodium than store-bought seitan, which can be processed with salt, sugar or other flavors added.

Is seitan safe to eat everyday? ›

Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.” That said, Mora says there's no denying that folks can benefit from adding seitan to their menu—especially since it comes in a variety of flavor profiles.

Can you lose weight eating seitan? ›

So seitan is the perfect ingredient for meals in a protein diet. If you're on a protein diet, you often lose a lot of weight in a short time. It's also important to be aware that, at the start, you'll lose quite a lot of fluids. So if you have problems with fluid retention, a protein diet would be great for you.

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