Vegetarian Turkey Subsitutes

Vegetarian turkey substitutes reviewed, listed and pictured. A complete guide for a turkey-free meatless Thanksgiving celebration for vegetarians and vegans. They're not all made from tofu, don't worry!

1. Gardein Stuffed Turkey

Gardein's "Savory Stuffed Turk'y" is a welcome addition to the growing family of vegetarian turkeys

From the makers of Gardein brand mock meats (the stuff Whole Foods uses at their deli) comes this seasonal product" Stuffed Savory Turk'y. Look in the frozen foods aisle to find this veggie turkey or try your natural foods store or Whole Foods. Want to get more details about the Gardein turky? Read on!

2. Tofurky

The original and most popular of the vegetarian turkey substitutes, Tofurky!

Learn more about the name that revolutionized Thanksgiving and mock for every. Sold alone, as just the mock turkey, or with stuffing as part of a complete vegetarian Thanksgiving meal (the Tofurky "feast"), which includes the Tofurky roast, stuffing, gravy, dessert, a "wishbone" and? even a "Happy Tofurky Day" card. What's not to love? Learn more about Tofurky here, including vegetarian and vegan Tofurky recipes and pros and cons of this mock turkey product.

3. Quorn Turk'y Roast

• Pros: Quorn products are always reliably tasty, and the Turk'y Roast is no exception. Probably the best priced option of all those listed here. The loaf serves five, and costs less than $8.
  
• Cons: Just like a real turkey, Quorn's turkey substitute needs to be spruced up with gravy, and perhaps even a spice rub or basting sauce. Not vegan
  ?

4. "Vegetarian Plus" Whole Turkey

• Pros: Shaped like a turkey! Comes with stuffing which you can place inside the bird, or, use your own homemade stuffing. Vegan
• Cons: You won't be able to stop laughing at how it's shaped like a turkey! A bit pricier than other options, but it is a full 6 pounds, and should feed 12 - 16 people. Plenty of leftovers!

5. Harvest Celebration Field Roast

• Pros: Pre-spiced, no basting or spice rub needed. About one pound and less than $10, so good for smaller Thanksgivings. Like the Gardein brand, this roast is made from all-natural ingredients that you'll be able to recognize, and is also soy-free.
• Cons: Might not be for everyone. Some people rave about it, while others find it simply mediocre.?

6. Stuffed Hazlenut and Cranberry Roast

• Pros: A lovely centerpiece that doesn't pretend to be a turkey. Hazlenuts! Cranberries! Perfect for vegetarians who want a centerpiece dish but don't like fake meats.
• Cons: While this is a lovely centerpiece, it's not really a turkey substitute, so if that's what you're looking for, this won't quite do it.

7. Homemade Tofu Turkey

A homemade vegetarian "turkey" loaf can be prepared at home with your choice of stuffing and spices.

• Pros: Healthier and less processed. You control the spices. Fun!
• Cons: More work. Likely to be less aesthetically pleasing than the store bought turkey substitutes.

8. Vegan Ham Substitute

• Pros: People that like ham say that vegan ham is really darn tasty. Makes a nice substitute for the turkey, and might also be nice for Easter or Christmas, not just Thanksgiving. Looks quite real.
• Cons: I never like ham, so the thought of vegan ham is a bit much for me, but plenty of other people like it.?

View the original article here

Egg Subsitutes 101

Answer: Although the good news is that just about any recipe that calls for eggs can be made vegan by using the proper egg substitute, there's no single answer to what the best substitute will be. Eggs perform a different function, depending on what you're making, so you may also need a different egg substitute, depending on the dish.

In a cake, for example, the eggs serve as a leavening agent, helping to make the cake light and fluffy. In baked goods such as cookies and muffins, the eggs add moisture and act as a binder, gluing all the other ingredients together. And, if you're looking to substitute eggs in a quiche or a mayonnaise, where eggs are central to the finished product, you'll probably need something like tofu to mimic the consistency of the eggs, while making other adjustments to the recipe as well to add flavor and body. See also: Vegan cake recipes
Egg-free Mayonnaise Recipe

As a general rule, the fewer eggs a recipe calls for, the easier they will be to substitute. So, if a cookie recipe calls for one egg, using an egg substitute will work much better than in a recipe that requires three or four eggs. Also consider how the substitute will affect the overall taste of the finished dish. Bananas, for example, may add a welcome hint of fruity sweetness to pancakes and cookies, but if you are making a casserole or another savory dish, you will want to use something else.

Here's a few of the most useful egg substitutes, as well as suggestions for their use.

Commercial Egg Replacer

Ener-G is an incredibly versatile and easy to use commercial egg replacer available in most health food stores and larger well-stocked grocery stores. I find that despite the instructions on the package to mix Ener-G with two tablespoons of water, some recipes will need a bit more moisture when replacing eggs using Ener-G, so you may need to compensate with an extra tablespoon of water or soy milk. Ener-G and other store-bought egg substitutes are relatively flavorless and work best in baked goods, such as cookies, muffins and cakes, and can also be used to bind ingredients together in a vegan casserole or loaf. Ener-G is vegan and certified kosher, but be sure to read the labels carefully on other brands, as some may contain egg whites.
Sample recipe: Vegan Cake Mix Cookie Recipe

Bananas and Applesauce

Smash up or blend about a half a banana or 1/4 cup applesauce to use as an egg replacer in baked goods such as muffins, pancakes or yeast-free quick breads, such as pumpkin bread, and of course, banana bread! Bananas and applesauce add the perfect amount of thick moisture, like eggs, but they won't help your dishes rise or turn out light and fluffy, so be sure the recipe you are using includes a bit of baking powder or baking soda to help it rise if needed.
Sample recipe: Egg-free French Toast Recipe With Bananas

Tofu

Tofu is the best way to substitute eggs in dishes such as a quiche, fritatta or egg salad. The texture of silken tofu or crumbled regular tofu is surprisingly similar to boiled or cooked eggs when used in a similar recipe and, by adding a bit of mustard, turmeric or nutritional yeast to your dish to give it a yellow hue, your eyes will be tricked as well as your taste buds! Because other recipe adjustments are probably needed to make an egg-free fritatta, for example, its best to follow a recipe rather than just replacing the eggs with tofu.
Sample recipe: Egg-free Tofu "Egg" Salad Recipe

Silken tofu is also an appropriate egg substitute in baked goods. To use, blend 1/4 cup silken tofu with liquid ingredients until tofu is smooth and creamy. While it won't alter the flavor of a recipe, using tofu as an egg substitute will make baked goods a bit on the heavy and thick side, so it works well in brownies and pancakes, but wouldn't work well in something like an angel food cake that needs to be light and fluffy.

Other Substitutes

In a pinch, or with a good recipe, vinegar mixed with water or even plain run-of-the-mill soda can work as a decent egg replacer. For savory entrees such as a vegetarian casserole or a loaf, try using 2-3 tablespoons of bread crumbs or oats.
Sample recipe: Soda Cake Recipe
Sample recipe: Raspberry Mocha Cake Recipe with Vinegar

Like this article?

Sign up to receive free vegetarian and vegan recipes, resources and tips in a weekly email newsletter. Click here.

View the original article here