Top 5 Vegan Ham Alternatives

The holidays are an awesome time of year, with gifts, friends and fam, parties, and fooood! But it can be a major bumout when you have to stare at the dead, burned flesh of a formerly adorable, intelligent, and loving animal.

We already hooked you up with great vegan turkey alternatives. Now let’s talk about how to keep pigs off your table, too. Here are our top five vegan-ham alternatives for the holidays (and beyond)!

Support Local
If you’re lucky, your town has a natural-food store or another vegan-friendly restaurant. Ask the store’s employees about what vegan options they may have. For example, Los Angeles-area restaurant Vinh Loi Tofu—famous for its homemade tofu and faux meats—offers a 1-pound “ham” for just $12!

May Wah Vegetarian Market
Not only does May Wah hook it up with several different kinds of vegan hams, the store also pretty much has the entire vegan-meat alternative market covered. From vegan squid to vegan-chicken nuggets, tasty, cruelty-free food is this store’s thing!

Yves Meatless Ham Slices
Why not get a little crazy with your holiday meal and try something off the beaten path? Dig this: Spice up that vegan turkey substitute by wrapping it in a layer of Yves Meatless Ham Slices. Keep it covered while cooking until the last 15 minutes or so and make sure you brush it generously with some melted vegan margarine, olive oil and herbs, or whatever flavorings you like to keep it moist.

Loving Hut
That’s right, you can buy a yummy vegan ham from the national restaurant chain! If there’s no Loving Hut near you, don’t fret: Just order your Cheerful Spring Vegan Ham Log online

Go DIY!
Making your own seitan is really not that scary, trust. Grab the basic recipe from vegan goddesses Sarah Kramer or Isa Chandra Moskowitz and have fun. Kramer has a ham-flavored seitan recipe in one of her books, or try experimenting with different flavors on your own. Why not substitute vegan ham broth in the recipe, and add a dash of liquid smoke to the mix (easy, though, because a little smoke goes a long way!). Then brush a mixture of brown sugar, soy sauce, and orange juice on your “ham” before you bake it for a crispy, flesh-free crust!

Try one, try ‘em all, but most of all, remember to have fun and enjoy your holiday season with the peeps who mean the most to you. And who knows? You might even convince a family member or friend to ditch dead animals for good!

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