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This vegan turkey roast is tender on the inside & crispy on the outside with a meaty herb-roasted flavor! It's easy to make and it can be parbaked ahead of time for a fuss-free thanksgiving. Even meat eaters will devour this one!
With Thanksgiving dinner just around the corner, it only felt right to master a vegan roast turkey. It had to be herbaceous with spices like thyme and rosemary, but more importantly have a meaty, sliceable texture. It took a few tries to perfect, but I finally made a vegan turkey loaf that made my mouth sing! You will love this roast vegan turkey!
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This vegan turkey recipe is made with chickpeas instead of tofu and vital wheat gluten. Vital wheat gluten holds moisture to make it juicy and is crucial for a chewy, meat-like texture that doesn't fall apart. It's low in fat, high in protein, and a good source of iron and selenium.
I like to make the seitan ahead of time, then baste and cook it in the oven right before it's time to eat. Enjoy this vegan Thanksgiving turkey alternative with all the vegan trimmings! It's great for family gatherings and for feeding a crowd. I always serve it with a side of roasted vegetables and vegan mashed potatoes.
👩🍳 Why This Recipe Works
- Tastes like real turkey
- Perfect centerpiece for a holiday meal
- Juicy main course with a meaty texture
- Worlds better than a tofurky roast
- Your family members will love it
- Cut into vegan turkey slices for sandwiches
- No preservatives or natural flavors
- Far better than store-bought vegan meats
- Best vegan turkey roast recipe ever!
🥘 Ingredients
This vegetarian Thanksgiving turkey requires simple ingredients found at most grocery stores. Here's what you need:
- Chickpeas: Garbanzo beans are a rich source of plant-based protein and fiber. A can of chickpeas work great. Just remember to drain and wash them to remove the aquafaba. Oftentimes, plant-based roasts are made with extra-firm tofu, but I think chickpeas form a better texture.
- Vegan Chicken Broth: If you can't find this at your local grocery store, try a health food store like Whole Foods. It moistens the plant based turkey and adds flavor to the basting liquid. You can also swap it with vegetable broth if needed.
- Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional yeast has a nutty, savory flavor. It can typically be found in a plastic container in the spice aisle.
- Coconut Oil: Adds moisture so the "meat" isn't dry.
- Seasoning: Garlic powder, onion powder, poultry seasoning, rosemary, sea salt, black pepper, and thyme give you a quintessential turkey flavor.
- Soy Sauce: Adds an umami flavor to this vegan meat substitute! Look for a vegan brand like Kikkoman's. For a soy-free roast, leave out the soy sauce.
- Vital Wheat Gluten: This wheat protein is just as it sounds - powdered gluten! Almost all the wheat starch has been removed. It improves the elasticity and chewiness of breads and in this case, seitan. It's crucial for a firm but juicy texture that doesn't fall apart.
- Vegan Butter: To baste this easy vegan turkey!
📖 Variations
- Sides: Serve this vegan holiday roast with any of your favorite vegan sides. Try vegan mashed potatoes, wild rice stuffing, roasted vegetables, vegan stuffing, or vegan dinner rolls!
- Sandwiches: Cut the entire roast into slices and use it for vegan sandwiches. I like to make it into club sandwiches and also use it for thanksgiving leftover sandwiches with cranberry sauce.
🔪 Instructions
My vegan Thanksgiving roast is easy to make! You can make the seitan up to two days ahead of time if you prefer. Just steam it, then refrigerate it until ready to bake.
Blend Ingredients: Place all the "turkey" ingredients, except for the vital wheat gluten, into a high-speed food processor or blender and blend until smooth.
Make Seitan: Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir in the vital wheat gluten.
Knead: Use your hands to bring the dough together and knead the dough for 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful not to overdo it. Shape the seitan dough into a loaf.
Steam Seitan, Combine Basting Ingredients: Wrap the loaf in aluminum foil and place in a steamer basket over boiling water. Steam for one hour. Remove the foil and let it cool. While the seitan is steaming, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. And in a small bowl, whisk the basting ingredients.
Baste Fake Turkey: Place the meatless turkey into an oven dish and pour the basting liquid over it. Use a spoon to scoop it up and cover the meat with the liquid.
Bake Turkey: Cook for 25 minutes, carefully removing the vegetarian turkey from the oven every 10 minutes and scooping the sauce over it.
Cool & Serve: Remove it from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy with vegan gravy and your favorite sides!
❓ Recipe FAQs
What is vegan turkey made of?
It's made from seitan, a vegan meat alternative made from vital wheat gluten. It has a sliceable yet juicy, meat-like texture that's flavored with spices to mimic the authentic taste of turkey!
Is vegan turkey healthy?
Yes! Because it's made from plants, and not actual meat, most plant based turkey is lower in calories and fat than its meat counterpart. This seitan turkey recipe is super healthy for you as it's high in protein, low in fat, and a rich source of potassium, iron, and selenium. It's a healthy part of a plant-based diet!
What do vegetarians eat instead of turkey for Thanksgiving?
There are so many different options for vegetarian main dishes on Thanksgiving, but here are a few of our favorites (besides vegetarian friendly turkey of course!)
** Tofu steaks
** Whole roasted cauliflower steaks
** Vegan pot pie (or shepherd's pie)
** Lasagna
** Enchiladas
** Veggie Burgers
** Hearty salads and ALL of the traditional Thanksgiving side dishes!
How should I store vegan turkey?
Store this vegan turkey dinner in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 20-second increments until hot throughout, or in the oven on low heat until just warmed through. Try not to overcook it or the texture will suffer.
Can I make it ahead of time?
Yes, this vegan holiday roast can be prepared ahead of time, so all you have to do is bake it. Make the seitan loaf through step 4 (in the recipe card below) up to two days in advance. Refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to bake it.
💭 Expert Tips
- Knead the dough 1-2 minutes to bring everything together but do not over knead it otherwise it will become rubbery.
- Unfortunately, there is no good substitute for vital wheat gluten, which means this seitan recipe can't be gluten-free.
- The seitan just gets better as it sits in the fridge so making it ahead is a no-brainer! Plus it frees up valuable time for side dishes. If you can, serve it fresh (from the fridge or freshly made), as it will taste just a little better than after it's been frozen and defrosted (although, the defrosted version still tastes pretty good!)
- The best vegan chicken broth I've found is Better Than Bouillon's No Chicken Base - it adds a really rich flavor (more so than vegetable broth)
- If you don't have a steamer basket, you can make your own by rolling up 5-6 balls of foil, placing them in the bottom of your pot, and then adding an oven-safe plate on top of the balls that your vegan turkey loaf can sit on.
