Best Vegan Ham Recipe (Seitan) (2024)

Updated: Jan 20, 2023 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!

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!

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 processorwith 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 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
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 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.

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!)

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

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

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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 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,

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Reader Interactions

Comments

Kristine
April 10, 2023 at 4:56 am
Made this yesterday for Easter and it turned out great- definitely will make this again!
Reply
Melissa
April 08, 2023 at 11:31 am
Hi, how many packages of tofu did you use for the ham in your pictures? Thanks
Reply
- Bonnie
  September 16, 2023 at 5:20 pm
  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
Sarah Rolph
January 16, 2023 at 12:36 pm
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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FAQs

Why is my seitan so rubbery? ›

Boiling seitan makes it have a brainy spongey texture, frying seitan (without first steaming it) makes it rubbery and spongey, baking it makes it dry and rubbery. Steaming seitan, on the other hand, will yield the perfect meaty, juicy, chewy, yet tender seitan every single time.

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Why is my seitan falling apart? ›

The biggest trick for making seitan from bread flour is to knead it in cold water! Many people have stated that when they start washing the flour the ball of dough falls apart. This means chunks of gluten can get washed away with the starch and make it difficult to handle.

How to make seitan taste good? ›

soy sauce or tamari - Adds saltiness, umami, and depth of flavor. balsamic and apple cider vinegar - Vinegar rounds out the flavor profile and helps disguise the subtle bitterness of vital wheat gluten. fat - Including a little bit of oil or other fat improves the overall flavor and tenderizes the seitan.

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What is vegetarian ham made of? ›

Ingredients. Mycoprotein (74%), Rehydrated Free Range Egg White, Milk Proteins, Natural Flavourings (contain Milk, Colour: Iron Oxide), Pea Fibre, Humectant: Sorbitol, Preservative: Potassium Sorbate.

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Why is seitan not good? ›

High sodium content

While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it.

Know More ›

Which flour is best for seitan? ›

For a better flavor and a cheaper price, try washing the flour and make your seitan from bread flour! The brand of bread flour doesn't matter. Choose a high protein flour for a larger yield. You can make this with all-purpose flour, however you will have a smaller yield.

Find Out More ›

Why does my stomach hurt after eating seitan? ›

Gluten Sensitivity or Celiac Disease: Seitan is derived from wheat gluten, which contains gluten, a protein that can cause adverse reactions in people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Symptoms can include bloating, gas, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fatigue.

Learn More Now ›

Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›

Because of its meaty texture, seitan can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and stir-fries to stews and soups. The best part is that making seitan at home is easy, and it's much cheaper than buying pre-made or store-bought seitan.

Is vegan ham healthy? ›

How healthy vegan ham is depends on a few factors, like what ingredients it uses or where you buy it from. Many vegan meats from brands, for example, are packed with protein, but they may not have a ton of vitamins and minerals. If you choose to make vegan ham at home with chickpeas or even watermelon (yes, seriously!

Read The Full Story ›

How long can you keep seitan? ›

Cover each container tightly with a lid and store the seitan in the fridge for up to ten days, or in the freezer for up to six months. To extend the life of fresh or defrosted seitan indefinitely, boil it in its broth for ten minutes two times a week.

Show Me More ›

How to stop seitan being chewy? ›

You Need to Knead

Kneading helps develop the gluten and brings elasticity and stretch into the dough. The longer you knead the dough, the more gluten you develop leading to a chewier seitan. If you want a less chewy and more tender seitan, knead it for a shorter period of time.

Get More Info ›

Is seitan supposed to be gummy? ›

I often have people message me that the texture of their setian is off/gummy/soft or anything but right, and most of time it is because they did not let it rest. Seitan, much like myself, appreciates a nice long nap. If you don't let it rest, do not expect the texture to be what you are wanting.

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How to tell if seitan has gone bad? ›

How do you tell if seitan is bad? Like many foods, seitan will show tell-tale signs when it's past its prime. Firstly, there might a strange, unusual smell that's different from its normal, neutral, yeast-like aroma.