Vegan Thanksgiving Options
Vegan Turkey - Oxymoron?
If you're tired of Tofurky and don't feel like trying something new like the Holiday Nut Loaf or Tofurky Take 2, Whole Foods has an option that looks like a lot of fun... a vegan turkey. At $50, it's not that steep if it truly feeds the 10-16 people it claims it will feed. However, it's only 4 pounds so we're skeptical.
Thought you all might find it interesting. (Sorry about the poor quality photo, we don't usually have our camera when we're at the grocery store.)
* Note: If you were planning on making the Vegetarian Plus Whole Turkey, make sure you got/get the package that reads Vegetarian Plus VEGAN Whole Turkey. The photo above is of the vegetarian, not vegan, product.
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15 comments
quarrygirl on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at
are you sure that’s vegan? i almost picked one up the other day from whole foods and it had egg whites in it. i think that’s why it says “vegetarian turkey” and not “vegan turkey”! it was the same brand and came from that box.
the only ones i have found that are totally vegan are tofurkey and field roast. both quite tasty!
ficious on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at
this isn’t actually vegan. has eggs in it. sorry!
Lane on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at
Hi quarrygirl and ficious,
Yes, this is vegan. The Whole Foods version is made with no eggs or dairy. See this link. But thanks for pointing out that if you buy this product elsewhere, it may not be vegan.
quarrygirl on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at
man, i hope i see that at my whole foods! thanks for pointing there’s a vegan one. i will be sure to check.
Barry Kottler on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at
While I think it is great that there are more vegetarian and vegan options available, I find my wife and I can enjoy Thanksgiving without the turkey. We eat many of the classic “side” dishes as our main meal.
It is always nice to have options, but on this one I will pass.
Tofu Mom on Friday, November 21, 2008 at
Wow. Just… wow. Not having access to a Whole Foods, I had no idea there was such a thing…
I really love mock meats. An unhealthy amount, in fact, but this just skeeves me out for some reason… looks way oo real. And I never thought I’d say that!!
Gary on Friday, November 21, 2008 at
I’m all for more vegan main dish options that may appeal to the masses, and if people who ordinarily might not forego turkey buy this product and it saves turkeys, right on. But the fact that it looks so much like the killed bird is creepy to me.
Lane on Monday, November 24, 2008 at
Hi quarrygirl,
Glad to be of help. Hopefully, if you did pick one up, you got one that reads “Vegan.” Jane noticed that on her trip today. (I hope that’s not too late!!!)
Hi Barry,
Agreed, the best parts of the feast are the sides. But a lot of people “need” their thing to carve… so here’s another option.
Hi Tofu Mom,
Yeah, we had no idea either. We wouldn’t buy it (price more than appearance), but if it works to get some people to eschew the bird… Personally, I’m looking forward to my Tofurky.
Hi Gary,
I agree, more vegan options are great. You’re not the only one who finds the shape creepy. Actually, I find it somewhat humorous, and if it weren’t so expensive, we probably would have tried it. But I can understand how it would bother people. I look at it this way, you can still have the drumstick, without killing the bird!
Christina on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at
OK. So I bought the Vegan version of this from Whole Foods… and now, after reading some bad reviews online, I’m afraid to try it at our Thanksgiving Party this weekend. Has anyone tried the Vegetarian Plus VEGAN Whole Turkey? Does it emit a foul odor like the review I read states?
Lane on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at
Hi Christina,
That Wall Street Journal article also said they contacted the vendor and they said they’d never had any complaints of that nature. They suggested that it may have been improperly refrigerated prior to being prepared.
We haven’t tried it ourselves, having just seen it in the store last week. Hopefully it will work out fine for you!
Christina on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at
Hi Lane,
Thanks for the info. I saw that part on the vendors response, so I’m hoping that’s all it was… Kind of like when my Mom told me that Tofurkey is disgusting (She made it with my sister one year, but didn’t bother basting it, or cooking it with broth), but really if you know how to prepare it, then it comes out great. I guess after my party this Saturday, I’ll come back, and right my own review.
Christina on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at
BTW… if anyone has made this with success I’d REALLY appreciate you posting a comment with an explanation of how it was prepared!
Lane on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at
Hi Christina,
Just wondering how your party went. Hope it worked out okay….
Christina on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at
OK. So, we made two Vegetarian Plus VEGAN Whole Turkeys, and they were FANTASTIC!
I will definitely make these again next year instead of Tofurky. They can be thinly sliced, and the flavor & texture were great.
We had more than 20 people over for a vegan potluck (not everyone was Veg), and everyone loved it! It was almost all gone at the end of the party, and we had a crazy amount of food!
However, I wasn’t a fan of the stuffing that came with it, so next year I will make my own stuffing to put inside. The stuffing was kind of flavorless, and unexciting… I mean, come on? Who wants stuffing made of rice? I didn’t really care for the fake ham chunks in it either. They were tuff & chewy. Maybe it’s just me, but I think stuffing should have bread, celery, & mushrooms in it.
I roasted the the VEGAN Whole Turkeys together at a 400F for 2 1/2 hours. I also surrounded the “Turkey” with carrots, celery, onions, two different kinds of sweet potatoes, salt/pepper & fresh herbs. Then I poured a whole container of Pacific Foods vegetable broth over the veggies in each pot to make sure they came out moist. (All this accounts for the added time & temperature.)
Next year, I will do it a little differently. I think I will still make two of them… provided we have this big of a party again. (Side note: One would have been sufficient for twenty ppl with all the different side dishes, but I’m glad I have left overs.) However, I think I’ll roast them together in the same large pan, and put fewer veggies around them, and less broth. I’m also going to make my own stuffing.
If you really like a good mock meat, I would highly recommend this product!
HAPPY EATING EVERYONE!
Lane on Sunday, November 30, 2008 at
Hey Christina,
I’m so happy it worked out for you. Jane was stressing that we suggested an option that might be awful.
I agree about the rice stuffing… Sounds unappealing to me too.