Glazed Vegan Seitan Turkey Roast

Making vegan seitan turkey feels like kicking off the holidays with a fun little kitchen celebration. You mash chickpeas, mix in vital wheat gluten, and suddenly the dough turns into something tender and festive. The whole thing comes together fast, and the warm, savory smell makes your home feel extra cozy. It slices beautifully, looks great on a holiday plate, and brings that joyful “wow, I made this!” moment.

We’re share simple steps that make the whole process feel relaxed and playful. Each ingredient has a job to do, and learning how they work together feels a bit like holiday magic. You can even make it ahead, so the big day feels calmer and more fun. In the end, you get a flavorful homemade centerpiece that fits right in with all the cheerful holiday vibes.

Savory, sliceable, and simply divine, no one will ever miss the meat.

Key Vegan Turkey Roast Ingredients and Substitutions

This seitan turkey uses simple, tasty ingredients that give it a tender texture and rich, savory flavor. You can also swap a few items, like the vegetable broth or seasonings, to make it fit your taste or whatever you have on hand.

• Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas) – There’s nothing this little legume can’t do! Here, it adds substance and tenderness to the roast. Seitan made without beans tends to be super chewy and almost rubbery, so you don’t want to skip it. You can, however, substitute white beans (like in this white bean hummus) in a pinch.
• Vegetable Broth – Used for both blending into the roast and steaming the dough, chose a low-sodium vegetable broth option to prevent it from getting too salty. If you’d like an earthier depth of flavor, seek out mushroom broth instead.
• Soy Sauce – Made by fermenting soybeans and wheat, this classic Chinese condiment makes everything super savory and almost meaty. It’s also quite high in sodium, so you might want a “lite” version here, which refers to the salt level and not flavor. Use tamari for a gluten-free option.
• Tomato Paste – Super concentrated tomato goodness adds another umami wallop without the whole thing tasting like red sauce. Just a little bit goes a long way!
• Nutritional Yeast – I like to consider nutritional yeast “vegan catnip.” This stuff makes everything irresistible, particularly cheese sauces and buttery breads. A dash of white miso would also do the trick.
• Vital Wheat Gluten – Vital wheat gluten is the most important ingredient to making seitan and cannot be substituted with any other ingredient. You can find it in the baking aisle of most health food stores or online, direct from the source.

Making a seitan turkey is simple because you just blend the wet ingredients, mix in the vital wheat gluten, and shape it into a cozy little roast. Then you steam, glaze, and bake it until it’s tender, flavorful, and ready for your holiday table.

Step 1: Blend the Wet Mix – Add the beans, broth, oil, soy sauce, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, spices, and herbs to a food processor. Blend until the mixture is super smooth.

Step 2: Make the Dough – Pour the mix into a large bowl and stir in the vital wheat gluten. Switch to your hands once it gets thick and make sure everything is fully combined.

Then, Step 3: Knead and Shape – Turn the dough onto a lightly gluten-dusted surface, knead about 10 times, and shape it into a loaf.

Step 4: Steam the Loaf – Set up a steamer basket in a large pot and add enough broth to sit about ½ inch above the basket. Place the loaf inside, bring it to a boil, then cover and simmer for 1 hour, checking the liquid every 20 minutes. Let the loaf rest for 10 minutes afterward.

Step 5: Glaze and Bake – Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet. Mix the glaze, brush half of it over the loaf (including the bottom), and bake for 20 minutes.

Finally, Step 6: Finish and Serve – Brush on the rest of the glaze, skip the bottom this time, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Slice and enjoy with gravy if you like.