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Glazed vegan ham

Name: Glazed vegan ham
Total time: 5 h
Ingredients: vital wheat gluten 400g, (see cook's notes); onion powder 2 tbsp; garlic powder 1 tbsp; cooked, peeled beetroot 300g; silken tofu 190g; white or brown miso paste 4 tbsp; Marmite 3 tbsp; vegetable oil 50ml; liquid smoke 3 tbsp; fine sea salt 1 tsp; vegetable stock 200ml; sea salt flakes; vital wheat gluten 120g; white miso paste 1 tbsp; cannellini beans 115g tin, drained; vegetable oil 2 tbsp; silken tofu 155g; plant milk 100ml; fine sea salt ½ tsp; soft light brown sugar 150g; maple or agave syrup 60g; mustard powder ½ tsp; apple cider vinegar 60ml; black peppercorns ground to make ½ tsp; ground cinnamon ½ tsp; ground allspice ¼ tsp

5 hours
serves 8-10
A little effort

This seitan ‘ham’ is a perfectly festive meat alternative which will hold its own as a Christmas dinner centrepiece. Leftovers make fantastic ‘ham’ and mustard sandwiches for Boxing Day

By Richard Makin

November 12, 2020 at 10:24 am

Try this vegan ham recipe for a vegan Christmas dinner then check out our vegan wellington and vegan nut roast.

The seitan is steamed for a tender, meaty texture before being glazed and roasted until golden and caramelised on the outside. Sliced thinly and served hot, this is a perfect accompaniment to roasties and all the trimmings.

Ingredients

SEITAN HAM

vital wheat gluten 400g, (see cook's notes)
onion powder 2 tbsp
garlic powder 1 tbsp
cooked, peeled beetroot 300g
silken tofu 190g
white or brown miso paste 4 tbsp
Marmite 3 tbsp
vegetable oil 50ml
liquid smoke 3 tbsp
fine sea salt 1 tsp
vegetable stock 200ml
sea salt flakes

SEITAN MARBLING

vital wheat gluten 120g
white miso paste 1 tbsp
cannellini beans 115g tin, drained
vegetable oil 2 tbsp
silken tofu 155g
plant milk 100ml
fine sea salt ½ tsp

BROWN SUGAR GLAZE

soft light brown sugar 150g
maple or agave syrup 60g
mustard powder ½ tsp
apple cider vinegar 60ml
black peppercorns ground to make ½ tsp
ground cinnamon ½ tsp
ground allspice ¼ tsp

Method

Step 1

To make the seitan ham, put the vital wheat gluten, and onion and garlic powders in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook.
Step 2

Blend the remaining seitan ham ingredients in a high-speed blender until very smooth, then pour over the gluten. Knead on a medium speed for 5-8 minutes or until a dough forms. Remove, wrap tightly and set aside.
Step 3

To make the seitan marbling, clean the stand mixer bowl and blender. Put the vital wheat gluten in the bowl of the stand mixer, and the remaining ingredients in the blender. Blend until smooth, then pour over the gluten. Knead the mixture using the dough hook on a medium speed for 5-8 minutes or until it forms a dough.
Step 4

Divide the seitan ham dough into three roughly even pieces.
Step 5

Divide the seitan marbling into two pieces. Slice one of the halves in half again so you have a total of three marbling pieces. Put one of the smaller pieces of marbling dough on a clean work surface. Roll it out as thin as you can. If the dough keeps springing back, cover and leave it to relax for 10 minutes – the dough should then be much more malleable.
Step 6

Once rolled out thinly, put one of the pieces of seitan ham onto the rolled out marbling. Wrap the marbling over the ham and pinch together to seal. Set aside.
Step 7

Repeat the process with the other small piece of marbling and one piece of the seitan ham dough. Set aside.
Step 8

Roughly form the three pieces of dough (two wrapped in marbling and one unwrapped) together into a cylinder or
‘roast meat’ shape. Set aside.
Step 9

Roll out the large piece of marbling and put the three pieces of dough into the centre. Wrap the marbling completely around the dough and pinch the bottom to seal.
Step 10

Wrap the seitan ham tightly with baking paper, followed by heat-safe clingfilm or muslin, tied with chef’s string.
Step 11

Put a steamer basket in a large pan of water and place the seitan ham into the basket. Cover with a lid and steam for 3 hours, topping up water, being careful not to let the pan dry out.
Step 12

Carefully remove the ham from the pan and heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Unwrap the ham and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Carefully score diamond shapes into its surface using a sharp knife.
Step 13

Put all the brown sugar glaze ingredients in a small pan with a pinch of sea salt and warm over a low heat. Simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat.
Step 14

Put the scored seitan in a roasting tray and baste all over (top and bottom) with half the glaze. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes. Roast for 40 minutes, adding more glaze across the entire surface every 10 minutes. The edges should be crisp and gently browned. If the seitan browns too quickly, cover it with foil to prevent it burning.
Step 15

Remove from the oven, baste one final time and allow to rest for 15 minutes before serving – this will make it easier to slice.

Cook's notes

Vital wheat gluten, also known as seitan, is isolated gluten from wheat flour and is used as a binder in doughs. It’s available from health food shops and online.