Vegan Ham Recipe
This vegan ham recipe is a perfect dish to share with your loved ones this holiday season. Plus, it couldn’t be easier to make!
One of my favorite things about the holidays is the way they bring people together. Whether you’re hosting your family or bringing a dish to someone else’s house, it’s good to have plant-based options that look and taste like familiar favorites.
This vegan ham recipe fits right in alongside traditional sides like stuffing, vegan mac and cheese, potato stacks, smashed Brussels sprouts, and more!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Using extra firm tofu, it is extremely easy to make it look and taste similar to roasted ham! If you miss this holiday dish since going plant-based, this is a perfect recipe for you.
- If you are hosting or visiting family for the holiday who are not vegan, this is a great dish to serve to your guests or bring with you.
- Generally speaking, you don’t have to wait for the holidays to make this. This vegan ham recipe is a great option for a Sunday roast or a dinner party.
- It’s SO EASY to make! Most of the process is hands-off. You just have to be patient while the tofu marinates and then bakes in the oven.
- Most, if not all, of the ingredients are available from regular stores. No special magical vegan ingredients required!
Key Ingredients
- Extra firm tofu is remarkably meaty in texture. It’s also more affordable compared to store-bought vegan “ham”.
- Orange zest and juice create a little “zing” of flavor in the marinade and glaze, respectively.
- Soy sauce is a great way to evoke a deep savory flavor that marinates the outer layer of your tofu slabs.
- Maple syrup adds sweetness to balance other elements of this dish and create a sticky, festive glaze on the outside of vegan ham.
- Whole cloves are a traditional way to infuse a roast.
Hack It!
- Just because you’re done with the marinade, doesn’t mean you should throw it away. It’s all about getting Scrappy! Leftover marinade can become a lovely salad dressing or stir-fry sauce.
- This technique for a vegan ham recipe will work on soy-free tofu as well. In recent years, stores have started stocking some soy-free alternatives such as pumpkin seed tofu or red lentil tofu.
- As for the marinade, soy sauce can be swapped for liquid aminos to avoid triggering an allergy or intolerance.
- If you don’t like the flavor of cloves, you can roast the tofu with sprigs of rosemary instead. It’s a great way to infuse flavor into the “ham”.
- Gluten-free? Use tamari in place of regular soy sauce.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Press your tofu. Slice your tofu blocks in half lengthwise, aim for about an inch in thickness. Then, carefully score the top of each “ham” in a criss-cross pattern.
Step 2: Select a container or bag that would be big enough for all of the tofu. Combine the marinade ingredients and transfer the tofu straight to the same container.
Ensure that the marinade covers as much tofu as possible, and leave everything to marinate for at least an hour in the fridge (ideally overnight).
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 375F. After marinating, carefully extract the tofu from the marinade and transfer it to a lined baking sheet.
Step 4: Stick the cloves into the cross points. Allow the tofu to bake for 20 minutes, until it is slightly browned on the outside.
Step 5: Use this time to combine the marinade ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring the contents to a low simmer, until the mixture thickens slightly.
Step 6: After the initial 20 minutes, remove the tofu from the oven, and using a brush, liberally coat the “hams” with the glaze. Place the tofu back in the oven for 15-20 minutes, until the outside is caramelized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not quite, but that’s kind of beside the point. The marinade, glaze, and cloves carry a lot of the same flavors, but the texture and shape are different. More importantly, it’s a delicious holiday centerpiece that means you get to enjoy a family gathering without starving.
Just like regular Thanksgiving or Christmas leftovers, you can create an amazing sandwich, wrap, or nourishing salad bowl with all the fixings.
Why We Eat Vegan Meat Substitutes
Whenever I create a recipe that imitates a traditional meat or dairy-based dish, the questions start flooding in. Why do vegans eat things that look like meat?
People who follow a vegan diet choose to avoid animal products for various reasons, such as ethical concerns, environmental sustainability, or health considerations. It has nothing to do with disliking the flavors, not for the majority anyways.
- People transitioning to a vegan lifestyle find meat substitutes helpful as they adjust to the change.
- Vegan meat substitutes make it easier for to recreate familiar meals without using animal products.
- Eating dishes that resemble meat can help vegans participate in shared meals with friends and family who may not follow a vegan diet.
- Many plant-based chefs and home cooks enjoy experimenting to create delicious and innovative dishes that mimic the flavors and textures of meat.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Vegan Sticky Ribs
- Seitan Roast Beef
- Easy Vegan Brown Gravy
- Crispy Tofu Cutlets
- Whole Roasted Cauliflower
If you’re an adventurous cook who likes to try new recipes every week, you’ll love the PlantYou Planner! It’s an interactive meal planner app that’s fully vegan and largely WFPB. You get to choose from over 600 delicious recipes to create your own meal plan, or follow one of the plans curated by our team. In addition to all that, the app provides allergy swaps for most recipes and generates a custom shopping list. How amazing is that?
The Recipe: Vegan Ham Recipe
Ingredients
- 750 gram extra firm tofu, two blocks, pressed for 20 minutes
- 12 cloves, or more to taste
Marinade
- ¼ cup soy sauce, tamari if gluten-free
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 orange , zest only
Glaze
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 4 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp molasses
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
- 1 orange, same one you zested, juiced
Equipment
- Tofu press or kitchen towel
- Container or bag for marinating
- Parchment or reusable lining sheet
- BBQ brush
Instructions
- First, press the tofu, either using a tofu presser, or by wrapping in a clean cloth and topping with something heavy, like a stack of books. Allow the excess liquid to press out for around 20 minutes.
- Once pressed, slice the tofu blocks in half length wise. Carefully score the top in a cross stitch pattern.
- In a Tupperware container or reusable bag, combine the marinade ingredients. Transfer the tofu to the container and using a bbq brush, cover with the marinade. Allow to set for at least an hour, up to overnight in the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Remove the tofu from the marinade, reserving excess for a salad dressing if desired. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet, and add the cloves into the cross stitch connecting points, and bake for 20 minutes, until browned slightly.
- While the tofu bakes, prepare the glaze. Combine the listed glaze ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, until thickened slightly.
- Remove the tofu hams from the oven, and using a bbq brush, liberally cover the “hams” with the glaze. Place back in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until caramelized on the outside. You can put on broil to caramelize for the last 2 to 3 minutes, watching to avoid burning. Remove the cloves and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Leftover marinade can become a lovely salad dressing or stir-fry sauce.
- This technique for a vegan ham recipe will work on soy-free tofu such as pumpkin seed tofu or red lentil tofu.
- As for the marinade, soy sauce can be swapped for liquid aminos to avoid triggering an allergy or intolerance.
- If you don’t like the flavor of cloves, you can roast the tofu with sprigs of rosemary instead. It’s a great way to infuse flavor into the “ham”.