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Vegan Ham
This recipe for vegan ham makes up a hearty and delicious meat-free dish you can really sink your teeth into. Made with a combination of chickpeas and vital wheat gluten covered in a sticky and sweet glaze this vegan ham is sure to please.
Serve this vegan ham at your next holiday celebration or when you are craving something hearty and savory.
Why You’ll Love This Imitation Ham
Just because you are following a vegan diet doesn’t mean you have to give up the taste of ham. This vegan ham recipe replicates the flavor and texture of ham nicely so you can serve up an awesome plant-based ham everyone will enjoy.
Helpful Equipment To Make Vegan Glazed Ham
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Food processor
- Cutting board and knife
- Wire cooling rack
- Roasting pan
- Pastry brush
Vegan Ham Ingredients
- 15 ounce Can of Chickpeas (Drained) (425g)
- 2/3 cup of Vegetable Stock/Broth (160ml)
- 1/4 cup of Sesame Oil (60ml)
- 1/4 cup of Soy Sauce (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons of Tomato Paste
- 2 tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast
- 2 teaspoons of Smoked Paprika
- 2 teaspoons of Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon of Salt
- 1 teaspoon of Liquid Smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon of Red Gel Food Coloring
- 1 and 1/2 cups of Vital Wheat Gluten (225g)
Maple Glaze:
- 1/3 cup of Light Brown Sugar
- 1/3 cup of Vegetable Stock/Broth (80ml)
- 2 tablespoons of Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 teaspoon of Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 cup of Maple Syrup (120ml)
- 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce
How To Make Vegan Ham
In the bowl of a food processor add the chickpeas, vegetable stock, sesame oil, soy sauce, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, liquid smoke, and the red gel food coloring. Process until smooth.
Remove the mixture from the food processor and place it in a mixing bowl along with the vital wheat gluten. Mix until roughly combined.
Using your hands, knead the mixture for a minute to a minute and a half, until the dough becomes soft and firm.
Shape the dough into a ham-shaped ball and wrap it well with aluminum foil.
Place the dough in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water and steam for 1 hour. After 1 hour remove from the steamer and let it cool on the kitchen counter for 20 minutes.
Prepare the glaze while the ham cools. Add light brown sugar and vegetable stock to a measuring jug and mix well until all the sugar has dissolved.
Pour in the sesame oil, maple syrup, and soy sauce, and then add the smoked paprika. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
Once the ham has cooled, remove it from the foil. Make shallow cuts across the top of the ham from one corner to the other using a sharp knife. Make this same pattern going from the other corner to corner to make a criss-cross pattern.
Using a non-stick baking dish to bake the ham, place the ham in the dish and pour ⅓ of the glaze over the top and use a pastry brush to ensure it is well covered in glaze.
Bake the ham for 25 minutes, removing it from the oven at the 10-minute mark and the 20-minute mark to drizzle another 1/3 of the glaze on the ham each time. Brush it well to ensure the ham is completely covered in the glaze.
After 25 minutes remove the ham from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes at room temperature. Use the pastry brush to brush any of the glaze that may have fallen to the bottom of the baking dish on the ham again.
It is now time to slice and serve the ham. Serve it with more glaze and some freshly chopped parsley. Any glaze that is in the bottom of the roasting pan can be placed in a jug or jar to be served with the ham.
All About Vegan Ham
If you aren’t familiar with vegan cooking this recipe contains a few ingredients that you may not cook with on a regular basis.
Nutritional yeast is a powder that is often added to vegan foods, and even some non-vegan foods, to add a cheesy flavor. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals that are important for those following a vegan diet.
The other ingredient is vital wheat gluten which comes from all-purpose flour. Vital wheat gluten is used to make a variety of mock meats. It can be seasoned in many different ways and when prepared has a chewy texture similar to chicken.
So, if you are looking to add meat alternatives to your vegan diet this ham recipe is a good place to start.
Variations of Vegan Ham
- To change up the flavor of the ham try different spices; Cajun or blackened seasonings.
- Use non-chicken chicken or non-beef beef broth instead of the vegetable broth.
- Garnish the ham with whole cloves.
Tips and Tricks/Notes
- Chickpeas: This recipe calls for 1 15-ounce can of chickpeas (drained). If you have soaked and cooked your chickpeas you’ll need 1 ½ cups.
- Vital Wheat Gluten: This is something you may need to buy at a specialty store as not all grocery stores will carry it. It is essential to this ham recipe so, unfortunately, this ham can not be made gluten-free. Vital wheat gluten is used to make seitan which is a vegan meat alternative.
- Make ahead: If you are looking to save some time the day you want to serve this ham you can easily prepare it up until the steaming stage and once cool refrigerate it until you are ready to glaze and roast it.
How To Store This Vegan Ham
Storing: You can keep this vegan ham in the fridge for up to one week.
Freezing: You can freeze leftovers though this ham does taste better freshly made. It is best to thaw in the fridge overnight.
FAQs
Is there a vegan substitute for ham?
This recipe is the perfect vegan substitute for ham!
Is vegan ham healthy?
Yes, vegan ham can be part of a healthy diet eaten with a fresh green salad and some veggies on the side.
Is vegan ham gluten-free?
Unfortunately, this recipe requires vital wheat gluten so this vegan ham recipe is not gluten-free.
Conclusion
This recipe makes up a vegan ham perfect for a special occasion. This ham is ‘meaty’ in texture with sweet, salt, and smoky flavor notes. Smothered in a gorgeous glaze of maple syrup and brown sugar this ham roasts up perfectly in the oven. Leftovers are great, sliced, for a vegan ham sandwich.
Print
Vegan Ham
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This recipe for vegan ham makes up a hearty and delicious meat-free dish you can really sink your teeth into. Made with a combination of chickpeas and vital wheat gluten covered in a sticky and sweet glaze this vegan ham is sure to please.
Serve this vegan ham at your next holiday celebration or when you are craving something hearty and savory.
Just because you are following a vegan diet doesn’t mean you have to give up the taste of ham. This vegan ham recipe replicates the flavor and texture of ham nicely so you can serve up an awesome plant-based ham everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
- 15 ounce Can of Chickpeas (Drained) (425g)
- 2/3 cup of Vegetable Stock/Broth (160ml)
- 1/4 cup of Sesame Oil (60ml)
- 1/4 cup of Soy Sauce (60ml)
- 2 tablespoons of Tomato Paste
- 2 tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast
- 2 teaspoons of Smoked Paprika
- 2 teaspoons of Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon of Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon of Salt
- 1 teaspoon of Liquid Smoke
- 1/2 teaspoon of Red Gel Food Coloring
- 1 and 1/2 cups of Vital Wheat Gluten (225g)
Maple Glaze:
- 1/3 cup of Light Brown Sugar
- 1/3 cup of Vegetable Stock/Broth (80ml)
- 2 tablespoons of Toasted Sesame Oil
- 1 teaspoon of Smoked Paprika
- 1/2 cup of Maple Syrup (120ml)
- 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce
Instructions
- Adding chickpeas, vegetable stock, sesame oil, soy sauce, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, onion, garlic, and salt to the food processor, Processing till smooth.
- Add vital wheat gluten after transferring to a mixing bowl. Stir quickly until evenly distributed.
- Once the dough is soft but firm, start working it with your hands for a minute to a minute and a half.
- Wrap the dough in foil firmly after shaping it into the shape of a ham.
- Put the food in a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water (or in any other type of steamer you may have) and steam for one hour. Next, remove the vegan ham from the steamer and let it cool for 20 minutes at room temperature.
- Prepare the glaze by combining light brown sugar and vegetable stock in a measuring jug and stirring until the sugar dissolves.
- Whisk in the toasted sesame oil, smoked paprika, maple syrup, and soy sauce until thoroughly combined.
- Set the oven’s temperature to 350°F (180°C).
- Remove the ham from the foil once it has cooled. Make shallow slashes from one corner to the other across the top of the ham using a sharp knife. Repeat the process from corner to corner.
- Put the ham in a baking dish that’s lined with parchment paper. Make sure the glaze is covering the ham by pouring 1/3 of it over the top and then thoroughly brushing it in with a pastry brush.
- Bake for 25 minutes, removing it twice to add another third of the glaze by brush it on again: at the 10-minute and 20-minute marks.
- Remove the ham from the oven once it’s done roasting and let it cool slightly to room temperature. When it cools, the glazing will become thicker.
- Brush on more of the glaze with the brush from the dish’s bottom and apply it once more to the ham.
- It can now be served and cut into slices.
- Serve with a drizzle of glaze (from the pan’s bottom) and some finely chopped fresh parsley.
- Sliced ham can be served with extra glaze that has been collected at the bottom of the roasting pan in a jug.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 85 mins
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snack
- Method: Steaming & Oven
- Cuisine: International
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