The Best Plant-Based Alternatives to Ham
Squeaky Bean vegan ham is made with apple-smoked pea protein
Most vegans get the boring accusation of ‘why do you eat ham?’ Well, because it tastes good, and there’s no reason to kill animals to make one of England’s popular foods.
Most bacon sold in England is from factory-farmed pigs, and there is not enough land for everyone to eat free-range.
Recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins, if kerbside does not collect.
Do not give these brands to pets, due to salt and other unsafe ingredients (read more on food safety for people & pets).
Suma Pea & Vegan Ham Soup
Suma Organic Pea and Vegan Ham Soup is sold in health stores, Co-op and NISA supermarkets. Just open, heat and serve.
Vegan Ham (from France?)
La Vie Plant-Based Ham is a French company, known for its vegan bacon (that flies off the shelves worldwide). Made with pea protein and radish extract, this is great in a vegan cheese and ham toastie.
Vegan Ham (from Barcelona)
Heura is a young fresh Spanish company, based in beautiful Barcelona. Its plant-based ‘cold cuts’ are sold in sustainable packaging, and sold across Europe. Free from additives, these are great in a sandwich or spaghetti carbonara.
Vegan Ham Slices from Switzerland
Vegusto Sandwich Slices are found in good health shops This award-winning Swiss company (which also makes amazing nut cheeses) produces the plant-based equivalent of ‘luncheon meat’ slices. Sold in plain, herbed or smoky versions.
How to Make Your Own Vegan Ham
If you don’t want to use seitan, this Vegan Ham (School Night Vegan) uses the vegetable celeriac. Just boil the ‘ham’, make the glaze and pour it over, before baking.
Serve with tangy vegan cheddar cheese or as a Sunday roast with spuds, stuffing and gravy. Also good in sandwiches with baby spinach, sauerkraut and vegan mayo.
This vegan ham (A Virtual Vegan) is made with seitan, a ‘wheat-meat’ popular in Buddhist cultures. When properly prepared and cooked with marinated ingredients, it looks, smells and tastes just like meat.
This is a complicated recipe, but ideal for ambitious cooks, or chefs wishing to offer ham on the menu for veggie diners.
This Vegan Christmas Ham (Gaz Oakley) is a recipe by one of the world’s top chefs. Yet it’s simple to make, after you get through the seitan bit. Then cover with mustard maple glaze. Leftovers store well, ideal in sandwiches.
Homemade Vegan Smoked Deli Slices
Do you remember visiting the deli with your parents, to get sliced luncheon meat sliced by the man and his machine? Well now, you can make your own smoked deli slices (and they are vegan too, with this recipe at Full of Plants).
Note this is NOT a beginner recipe, you’ll need to find seitan and tofu (Tofoo makes both in Yorkshire). But if you run a cafe or are an ambitious cook, give it a go! You can then use the sliced to top pizza or put in sandwiches, or mix into pasta dishes. Sure to impress!
People often wonder why vegans make ‘fake meats’. The truth is, that’s the taste that most people like. And in a country of 60 million people, even people who eat meat have to know there is not enough land for everyone to eat free-range.
Even meat-eating chefs like Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall say people have to eat less meat, if you don’t agree with factory farming. Plant foods are also all cholesterol-free!
