Thanksgiving is just around the corner (two weeks and two days, to be exact). And, if you’re anything like me, you’ve already started making menu plans. The only problem is that we are on a very tight budget this holiday season. My usual Thanksgiving favorites like Tofurky, Silk nog, and Tofutti frozen dessert may not make the plate this year, because I’m really trying to save money by making more stuff myself, so to speak.
As you may suspect, there has been some experimenting going on in the VeganYumminess kitchen. And I am pleased to announce that I have fought hard and dirty with tofu and gluten flour and won victoriously! The best part of all is that this roast tastes just like tofurky, and it is SO much cheaper.
Here’s the approximate cost breakdown of the roast itself:
- Stuffing for roast center: $1.00 (or less)
- Tofu: $2.19
- Sunflower oil: $0.50 (or less)
- Seasonings: $0.50 (more or less)
- Vital wheat gluten: $1.00
TOTAL: $5.19
At my local Kroger’s grocery store, a Tofurky roast was selling for $9.99, which I think is pretty standard. I’m pretty excited about the cash saved!
Making a Vegan “Turkey” Roast (a.k.a. Gluten Gobbler)
I am listing the recipe for the roast itself here step-by-step, but there will be a printable version of the roast recipe and my stuffing recipe (although any vegan stuffing recipe will work) at the end of this post.
You will need:
- One 14 oz block of extra firm tofu (I used Nasoya brand)
- 1/3 cup sunflower oil
- 1 3/4 tsp seasoned salt
- 1 1/2 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 3/4 tsp lemon juice
- 2 1/2 tsp Bragg’s liquid aminos (or soy sauce)
- 2 tsp sage
- 1/4 tsp savory
- 1 cup gluten flour (may need more or less depending on the type of tofu that you use)
First, blend the tofu, oil, and seasonings in a powerful blender. I use vitamix, but any strong blender will work.
Next, move tofu mixture to a bowl, and add gluten flour, mixing gradually. Kneed with your hands until very little dough is sticking to the sides of the bowl. Separate dough in to 2 equal sections.
Press each half of dough into the bottom of a shallow bowl, allowing the dough to climb the side of the bowl about 1/2 inch.
Next, spoon stuffing into the crater of one of the dough halves. Press the stuffing to form a mound.
Place other half of dough on top of stuffing mound, and pinch dough edges together. Wrap the whole roast snugly in cheese cloth, tying at the top.
Then, wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil, and place it in your steamer and cover. Steam for 1 hour, adding water periodically as needed. This idea came from VeganDad, who makes his own vegan lunch meat by steaming his seitan. Check out his lunch meat recipe here.
After you have steamed your roast, remove the aluminum foil and cheese cloth. Place the roast in a baking dish and pour baste sauce over the top. I used a a few tablespoons of olive oil, a few tablespoons of Bragg’s liquid aminos, 1 teaspoon of orange juice concentrate, and a sprinkle of sage for my baste. The tofurky website has some baste recipes here that look fabulous.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour and 15 minutes, approximately. Check on you roast after about 45 minutes of baking, to re-baste.
Once you take it out of the oven, you’re ready to serve. Or freeze! You could probably even freeze it after the steaming stage, so that all you have to do is bake it Thanksgiving morning. Enjoy!
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Vegan Turkey Roast
Ingredients
For the Stuffing:
- 2 celery stalks finely chopped
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 14 oz vegan cornbread stuffing of your choice
- 2/3 cups brown rice cooked
- 2 cups warm water
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 cup black olives sliced
- 1/4 cup pecans finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries optional
- 1/4 cup mushrooms canned (optional)
For the Roast:
- 14 oz extra firm tofu
- 1/3 cup sunflower oil
- 1 3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon nutritional yeast flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- 3/4 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Bragg’s liquid aminos or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons sage ground
- 1/4 teaspoon savory
- 1 cup vital wheat gluten
Instructions
For the Stuffing:
- Saute chopped onion and celery in olive oil for 5-10 minutes, or until onion is nearly clear.
- Mix onion, cellery, and remaining stuffing ingredients in a large bowl, then pour into a 9 X 13 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes covered, then for an additional 5-10 minutes uncovered.
For the Roast:
- Place all roast ingredients except gluten flour in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.
- Place tofu mixture in a bowl. Slowly mix in vital wheat gluten about 1/4 cup at a time (until you reach about 1 cup). Adjust amount of gluten flour as needed. Very little dough should be sticking to the side of your mixing bowl.
- Separate dough into 2 equal halves, then press each half into the bottom of a shallow bowl, until the dough extends about 1/2 inch up the side of the bowl.
- Spoon about 1 1/2 cup prepared stuffing into the center of one half. Press stuffing into dome. Place other dough half on top of dome, and press dough edges together.
- Place several cups of water in steamer and bring to boil. Wrap roast snuggly in cheese cloth, followed by aluminum foil, and place in steamer. Cover and steam for 1 hour.
- Remove roast from steamer, and remove aluminum foil and cheese cloth.
- Place roast in a baking dish, and pour baste over it. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check roast after 45 minutes of baking to re-baste, as needed.
- Serve and enjoy!
I’m so going to try this! Looks delish!
Yay! Thanks, sis!
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I finally made a roast using the vital wheat flour, wrapping it and steaming it, and it is amazing how easy it is to do and how delicious it was, even on my first try. Once you have the basic recipe you can tweek it by adding less liquid, different herbs, kneading it or not kneading it, etc. Just play with it. But I am so happy to finally have such a versatile recipe that I can now make roasts, slice them to make “steaks”, grind them for sheppard’s pie, etc. I encourage anyone who wants to try it to just do it and not be afraid. It really is extremely simple to make and there are tons of recipes on the web with instructions.
Is there anyway to not use vital wheat gluten? I’d like to make a gf ‘turkey’. Thanks!
Me too, Cindy. Have you tried to make it gluten-free yet? I heard that you can replace vital-wheat gluten with xanthan gum… I don’t know if the ratio is the same, though, and I’m nervous to try to this Thanksgiving. Update us on if you figure out a way or not??
Hi Isys! Sorry for this slow reply. That’s a very good question. A friend of mine made a similar version with xanthan gum and tapioca starch (without gluten). I haven’t made it myself yet, so I couldn’t give you the instructions. Let us know if you give it a try. :)
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Hi, is it possible to make this to step 5 a few days before, and then do step 6/7 on Thanksgiving?
I am failing at this! Why is my roast actually rising while being baked? It has an airy texture almost like bread? What am I doing wrong?
Mine puffs up a bit as well. I think you’re ok. :D
Hi, I’m just curious what savory means in the ingredients. Is that a spice?
yes! Savory is a spice. :)
Hello Lindsay,
I was directed to this page for a gluten free version of a tofukey. In reading the ingredients you have listed vital wheat gluten. Have you a substitute recipe tucked away that I’m not finding? Thanks, my husband will love this style anyway, if you don’t. Blessings!
Hi Chrissie,
Unfortunately, I don’t personally have a gluten-free tofu turkey recipe available on VeganYumminess. Sorry it was somehow advertised to you that I did. BUT, I do know someone who has a pretty great GF tofu turkey roast recipe that is really good. If I can get a hold of the recipe from my mom-in-law, I will email it to you. :) Happy vegan cooking!
Hi Lindsay,
Is it possible that you could share the gluten free version with me as well?
Thanks!
Hi Natasha,
Yes! I will look for the recipe and email it to you if I can find it. :)
Excited to try this but wondering if I could skip the stuffing? Would this work just the same?
Yes, you could totally leave out the stuffing. It would cook essentially the same. :)
This recipe is life changing!! Oh my!! Such an absolutely amazing roast. Thanks for this wonderful recipe, I will definitely be making it on the regular