Smoky Maple Vegan Ham

This vegan ham is nothing short of a m a z i n g.  You can proudly serve it to meat-eaters at Easter, that’s how good it is. 

1 cup vegetable broth

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon liquid smoke

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

1 tablespoon ketchup

1 clove minced garlic or ½ teaspoon garlic powder

1 ½ teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons refined coconut oil, or any neutral-flavored oil

14 oz. extra firm tofu

1 ½ cups vital wheat gluten

Basting glaze

½ cup vegetable broth

2 tablespoons olive oil, or any neutral oil

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

2 tablespoons maple syrup

½ teaspoon salt

15 whole cloves, for decorating the outside of the ham

Make the ham: In a small saucepan, warm 1 cup of broth and add paprika, liquid smoke, nutritional yeast, refined coconut oil, ketchup, garlic powder, and salt.  Stir.

Drain and press the tofu, removing as much liquid as possible.  Add it to the food processor.

Pour the broth into the food processor (or blender) and blend with the tofu until smooth.

Transfer the liquid to a glass bowl and fold in the wheat gluten ½ cup at a time with a silicone spatula.  It may be easier to knead the last ½ cup of the gluten as it gets thick at the end.

Knead the gluten loaf for about 30 seconds and make sure the flour is fully incorporated, form into a ham-shaped loaf.

Wrap your ham tightly in a large piece of foil making sure that none of the ham is exposed.

Place the ham in a large pot with a steamer basket.  Fill with enough water below your steamer.

Cover with a lid and steam the ham for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Check the water frequently to make sure it doesn’t get too low, add more water as needed.

Glaze and roast the ham: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Remove the foil from your ham and cut diagonal lines in it about 2 centimeters thick crisscrossing each other and place the ham in a small 8 x 8-inch baking dish.

Place a whole clove in the center of each diamond.

In a small saucepan, mix together the broth, oil, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and salt then pour it evenly over the ham.

Bake your ham uncovered for 25 minutes taking it out of the oven a few times during the baking process to spoon the glaze evenly over the ham.

Slice with a serrated knife and serve as you would a real ham.

TiPS::

-Be sure to use a glass bowl and silicone spatula to mix it.  Vital wheat gluten is very sticky once it gets wet and will stick like glue to a plastic bowl or wooden spoon.

-Be sure to press the tofu well to get out as much liquid as possible.