Make a stunning Vegan Tofu Ham for the holidays with a savory dairy-free and gluten-free gravy that will wow your guests. 

During the holidays, it can be especially hard to find vegan and gluten-free options, especially when it comes to entrees. While you may find dairy-free side dishes and the occasional gluten-free dessert (my favorites are Butternut Squash Snickerdoodle Cookies), most holiday entrees are meat-based. 

That’s why I’m excited for you to try this beautifully glazed tofu ham this holiday season. It’s full of savory flavors from soy sauce and nutritional yeast and even has a smooth and delicious vegan gravy to spoon on top. 

Ingredients for Tofu Holiday Ham

You don’t need anything special or hard to find to make this vegan holiday recipe. Here’s what you need:

• Tofu. Make sure to use high=protein tofu, which has less water and a better texture for the ham. 
• Tamari. You can also use gluten-free soy sauce. 
• Lime juice
• Garlic and onion powder for savoriness. 
• Liquid smoke. A little goes a long way here!
• Nutritional yeast. My favorite dairy-free ingredient for umami. 
• Sugar. You can use organic cane sugar, coconut or brown sugar. 

How to Make Tofu Ham

The first step in this recipe is to marinate the tofu. This way, the high-protein tofu will absorb the flavors from soy sauce, lime and your seasonings. Tofu is like a sponge, so every bite will be packed with flavor if you give it enough time to marinate. 

Scoring the tofu also helps with this. Just make sure not to cut too deep, as want your ham to stay in one piece!

After marinating, reserve the extra marindde to glaze your tofu ham. While the ham bakes, you’ll simmer the marinade until it’s thick and shiny, then use this to paint your tofu for a nice caramelized flavor on the edges. 

Vegan Gravy

Don’t forget the savory gravy on this tofu ham. It’s so easy to make and will easily be the star of the show at your holiday table. You’ll need these ingredients:

• Vegetable broth. Make your own or use low-sodium store-bought broth. 
• Garlic and onion powder
• Tamari or gluten-free soy sauce
• Nutritional yeast
• Fresh thyme. You can also use dried in a pinch. 
• Cornstarch. A great gluten-free thickener for gravy. 

Serving Suggestions

To serve, simply slice the tofu ham into thick pieces and drizzle with gravy. On the side, add Creamy Cashew Broccoli Salad and Garlic Mashed Cauliflower.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover ham and gravy in airtight containers for up to four days. You can reheat them on the stove or in the microwave. 

More Vegan Holiday Recipes

Outfit your holiday table with more vegan and gluten-free side dishes, entrees and desserts. Here’s what I’ll serve this ham with:

• Holiday Harvest Rice (vegan, gluten free)
• Gingerbread Iced Oatmeal Cookies (vegan, gluten free, oil free)
• Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie (vegan, gluten free)
• Triple Chocolate Hot Chocolate (vegan, dairy free)

If you make this Tofu Ham and Gravy, be sure to let me know what you think with a comment below!

Tofu Holiday Glazed “Ham” (vegan, gluten free)

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★★★★★

5 from 5 reviews

• Author: Remy Park
• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 10 servings 1x

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Description

Make a beautiful glazed tofu ham with high-protein tofu, tamari, and nutritional yeast served with savory vegan gravy to wow guests this holiday season.

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Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

Tofu “Ham”

• 2 16oz blocks of high protein tofu*
• 1/2 cup tamari or gluten free soy sauce
• juice of 1 lime
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp liquid smoke
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
• crack of black pepper
• 1/3 cup sugar (you can use light brown sugar or coconut sugar)

Simple Vegan Gravy

• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp tamari
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 sprig fresh thyme
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

Marinate your tofu

1. Start by preparing your tofu to marinate. Gently pat dry with a kitchen towel and make diagonal cuts across the top of the tofu block in both directions to form an x pattern throughout. Be sure not to cut too far into the tofu, it should just be a light score.
2. Whisk together tamari, lime juice, garlic and onion powder, liquid smoke, paprika, nutritional yeast and black pepper until smooth. Place your tofu blocks in an airtight container and pour marinade on top. Allow to marinate for about 1 hour, then flip the tofu to ensure all sides are exposed to the marinade.

Bake your tofu

1. Preheat your oven to 375F and line a baking tray with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper. Add your remaining marinade to a small sauce pan and add sugar. Cook on low heat until sugar is dissolved, whisking constantly, then bring to a low simmer and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
2. Brush all sides of your tofu with your simmered marinade and pop into the oven to bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, brush all sides again with marinade and bake again for 5 minutes. Repeat once more, brushing and baking for 5 minutes this time.
3. Remove your tofu from the oven and give it one more light brush of marinade and using a blowtorch, lightly torch to caramelize and char further.

Making simple vegan gravy

1. Add veggie broth to a small sauce pan and bring to a low simmer.
2. In a small ramekin or bowl, whisk a few tablespoons of your hot broth and cornstarch until dissolved to create a slurry. Add this mixture into the sauce pan and whisk.
3. Next add garlic powder, onion powder, tamari, nutritional yeast and fresh thyme. Whisk over medium heat until the mixture reduces and thickens and you end up with a gravy-like texture.
4. Season with salt and pepper as needed and enjoy!

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A post shared by Remy Morimoto Park | Vegan (@veggiekins)

Notes

• Tofu recipe method adapted from PlantBasedRD’s Brown Sugar Glazed Tofu
• High protein tofu is extremely dense, firmer than extra firm tofu! Please use this variety of tofu–silken, soft or regular firm tofu will not work. Extra firm/super firm tofu might work, but high protein tofu is the easiest to work with.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: main dishes