Ham, whether processed or unprocessed, is a delicious, savory, and sometimes smoky slice of meat used to give a umami oomph to a variety of savory treats. But did you know any vegetarian ham substitute great for replacing this meaty product in food dishes for vegans?
Looking for the best and healthy ham alternative is a great hassle for people who have just started a vegetarian diet plan. And you will be please to know that substituting ham in your favorite recipes isn’t as challenging as you may think.
Here, we make your vegetarian cooking experience hassle-free by providing a collection of all suitable ham replacements which are readily available and flavorful.
Vegetarian Ham Substitute
The slightly sweet, savory, and smoky goodness of ham is what people crave and just love to eat this fleshy meat. And if we talk about satisfying ham pairings, there’s no hard and fast rule to do so. Ham goes great with everything you want to enjoy ranging from fruits, sauces, sandwiches, wraps, omelettes, and even liqueors.
People with diet restrictions can opt for other vegetarian ingredients rather than skipping their signature ham recipes. That’s why, we are here to address this problem and provide you with closest ham substitutes both in terms of flavor and texture. So, let’s see what’s coming next.
You may also like
Hummus (Similar Flavor)
Hummus is a thick and smooth blend for some people while a delicious, creamy, and fluffy spread for many. Its smooth creaminess also make it a good kewpie mayonnaise substitute.
It seems that the hummus ingredient profile is mainly designed for vegetarians including chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and various culinary herbs.
One can replace ham with hummus as a great vegan alternative in terms of flavor. Since it lacks the delicate meaty texture of ham, hummus will work great in savory wraps, sandwiches, salads, and casseroles.
So, remember you cannot use hummus in all recipes calling only ham, rather choose it where its texture blends nicely with other ingredients.
Further Reading
Seitan – Similar Texture
If you are looking for a vegetarian ham substitute to serve with sausages or steaks, think of seitan. Seitan is a common plant-based meat alternative insanely loved by vegetarians.
And in place of ham, seitan works great in so many savory recipes in terms of chewy smooth texture. Its neutral flavor profile opens the ways you can give a variety of sweet and savory flavor combinations to it.
Tofu
Tofu is another vegetarian sub for ham offering a plant-based protein to your dishes. Its neutral yet bland flavor can easily absorb your recipe goodness and turn out amazingly satisfying as you are craving.
Try to replace ham with tofu in sandwiches, soups, creamy sauces, and salad dressings where its meaty texture pairs well. If not have it on hand, seek other tofu substitutes to find out your star ingredient.
Remember tofu is not a good enough option to swap ham flavor in your beloved dishes but can only fake its texture as per recipe requirements. And opt for the tofu version having delicate, yet smooth ham-like consistency.
Tempeh
Tempeh is much closer to ham in terms of flavor than its close relative tofu. It’s a soybean derived food with characteristic earthy, savory, and nutty flavor notes you’ll really enjoy instead of ham.
Tempeh is considered a healthy, nutritious, and flavorful vegetarian replacement as compared to more common ingredient, tofu.
So, now you can enjoy your ham recipes using available vegetarian substitutes even without compromising the real oomph.
Further Reading
Insane Vegetarian Ham Substitute Ideas
Are you interested in exploring further insane ham substituting ideas rather than usual ones? If yes, we’ve some really creative options for you to caress your palate with a kick of irresistible sensations.
Gardein
Gardein is a whole range of meatless meat products especially made for replacing meaty ingredients for vegetarians. The ingredient profile of gardein shares common items such as vegetables, wheat protein, soy, and a variety of ancient grains.
The overall texture and flavor are amazing and also closer to ham. And the good thing is that you can replace many other meat products with gardein besides ham.
Tofurky Ham
Tofurky ham is a special thanksgiving treat enriches with smoky sweet sensations complemented with a quite tender mouthfeel. It’s a plant-based meat-free product with a similar flavor and texture profile as meaty ham.
So, try to save it as your game-changer alternative to make your recipes heavenly delicious and satisfying.
Pea Protein Ham
Despite pea protein ham, there’s also a range of other vegetarian products you can freely check out to meet your vegan diet plan. Pea protein products are also common in routine vegetarian food recipes in place of meat.
If you’re a crazy fan of pea protein flavor, you’ll be amazed to find pea protein ham as a great vegetarian substitute for regular ham.
Alternatives For Vegetarian Ham | ||
Ingredients | Similarity | Best For? |
Hummus | Flavor | Sauces, Dips, And Casseroles |
Seitan | Texture | Steaks, Sandwiches, And Curries |
Tofu | Texture | Sandwiches, Soups, And Salads |
Tempeh | Flavor | Sandwiches, Wraps, And Salads |
Gardein | Flavor | Salads, Noodles, And Casseroles |
Tofurky Ham | Texture | Wraps, Sauces, And Salads |
Pea Protein Ham | Texture | Curries, Stews, And Dips |
Note: Most of the above-listed alternatives are soy-based ingredients, so avoid them if you’re allergic to soy.
To conclude, try anyone idea of your choice instead of regular ham rather than skipping your favorite ham dishes. Think out of the box and take your culinary experience to the next level.