Easy Tofu Turkey Recipe (2024)

Published: Nov 10, 2023 by Nisha Melvani, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

Jump to Recipe

An easy Tofu Turkey (or Tofurkey) recipe that's healthy, vegan, and tastes incredible. This faux turkey even has a crispy skin! The flavorful tofu-potato filling is made with a blend of seasonings that stays true to the taste of Thanksgiving. Plus, this recipe can be made gluten-free and oil-free.

this RECIPE

Prepare to impress your guests with this incredible plant-based turkey. This tofurkey is a creative and compassionate twist on the traditional Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Enjoy your gluten-free Tofu Turkey with my healthy Vegan Stuffing, Roasted Vegetable Salad, and Easy Pickled Shallots for a complete and delicious vegan Thanksgiving dinner. These four recipes can be made ahead of time.

This recipe was inspired by my Easy Vegan Turkey recipe and pairs well with this 6-Ingredient Gluten-Free Vegan Gravy on my site.

Jump to:

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients
📖 How to Make Tofu Turkey
🥔 Substitutions
💡 Expert Tips
🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
🍽 Related Recipes
👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Extra-firm tofu
Russet potatoes
Breadcrumbs
Onion
Cornstarch or arrowroot
Nutritional yeast
Poultry seasoning
Black pepper
Garlic powder
Mustard powder (optional)
Kala namak (optional)

Rice spring roll wrappers
Tamari or soy sauce (optional for glaze)
Maple syrup (optional for glaze)
Sriracha (optional for glaze)

See the recipe card for quantities.

📖 How to Make Tofu Turkey

Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

Step 1. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan with enough water to cover by about 2 inches. Add 1 ½ teaspoons salt. Bring the water to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer the potatoes for about 7 minutes, or until fork tender. Do not overcook them. Drain them before placing them back into the saucepan for 30 seconds to remove excess moisture and dry out. Transfer them to a large bowl.

Step 2. Use your hands to break the tofu into small crumbles.

Step 3. Heat the olive oil or broth in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, tofu, and a generous sprinkle of salt and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic powder, black pepper, poultry seasoning, and ground mustard and cook another 30 seconds.

Step 4. Mash the potatoeswith a potato masher or fork until mostly smooth.

Step 5. Add the tofu mixture to the mashed potatoes. Mix in the nutritional yeast, breadcrumbs, cornstarch, kala namak (if using), and salt to taste. Use your hands to incorporate the ingredients until the batter is dough-like in texture.

Step 6. Form a large ballwith the dough and divide it evenly into two equal parts. Then shape both parts into a roughly oval or oblong shape, like a cooked turkey.

For the Tofu Turkey Skin:

Step 7. Wet one spring roll wrapper and place it over one tofu turkey. Use your hands to smooth it over the top half. Then flip the tofu turkey over and use a second wet spring roll wrapper to cover the bottom of the tofu turkey. The sides of both rice paper wrappers should overlap so that they stick to one another, covering the dough entirely. Repeat for the remaining dough.

Step 8. Place the tofu turkeys onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze, if using. Mix the tamari, maple syrup, and sriracha in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to generously brush the glaze over the top and sides of the tofu turkeys. Bake them for 10 minutes more, and brush again. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes more, or until the rice paper is crispy and browned all over.

Place the tofu turkeys onto a cooling rackfor at least 10 minutes before slicing. Reheat the slices in the oven as needed. Place them on a baking sheet, cook for about 15 minutes, and flip them over halfway.

🥔 Substitutions

Kala namak - omit as needed
Mustard powder - omit as needed
Olive oil - use vegetable broth instead for oil-free
Breadcrumbs - use gluten-free breadcrumbs for gluten-free
Soy sauce - use gluten-free tamari instead for the glaze for gluten-free

See this high-protein vegan turkey on my website!

💡 Expert Tips

Make sandwiches with leftover turkey: Let it cool completely before cutting it into one-half-inch slices. Then fry the slices in a squirt of olive oil over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, slightly salting them while cooking.
Storage: Slice the tofu turkey into ½-inch-thick slices. Refrigerate the slices in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
To reheat: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. (Optional: Brush both sides of the turkey slices with olive oil.) Bake the tofu turkey for about 15 minutes, or until heated through, flipping them over halfway.
To make one large tofu turkey instead: Form one large oval shape (similar to a cooked turkey) with the dough. Wet one spring roll wrapper and place it over the top. Use your hands to smooth it over the top half. Then flip the turkey over and use a second wet spring roll wrapper to cover the bottom of the turkey. If the sides of both rice paper wrappers do not overlap so that they stick to one another, cut a third wrapper in half. Wet one-half piece and place it over the gap so that the entire tofu turkey is covered. Repeat with the other half-piece of the wrapper as needed.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What sides go well with vegan turkey?

Tofu turkey pairs well with traditional vegan stuffing, cranberry sauce, vegan gravy, roasted vegetable salad, and vegan pies for dessert.

Can you buy a tofu turkey?

Tofurkey brand sells a variety of vegan tofu turkey roasts made from tofu and vital wheat gluten. These are not gluten-free.

Can I make tofu turkey ahead of time?

Yes! This Tofu Turkey recipe can be made up to 3 days beforehand and refrigerated in an airtight container. Reheat in the microwave or oven.

Healthy Cranberry Sauce Recipe
Best Vegan Stuffing Recipe
Vegan Roasted Cauliflower Recipe
Vegan Roasted Vegetable Salad

👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?

Leave a review for my easyTofu Turkey and share your creation with me onInstagram. It makes my day to see you recreate my recipes.

I would love it if you would ⭐️ rate this recipe and leave a comment. Thank you in advance.

📖 Recipe

Tofu Turkey (Tofurkey)

Nisha Melvani

An easy Tofu Turkey recipe that's healthy, vegan, and tastes incredible. The flavorful tofu-potato filling is made with a blend of seasonings that stays true to the taste of Thanksgiving. (Gluten-free and oil-free options.)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Vegan

Servings 4 people (makes 2 small turkeys)

Calories 531 kcal

Ingredients

▢ 2 large russet potatoes peeled and sliced into ¼-inch-thick rounds (about 3 ½ to 4 cups)
▢ Salt
▢ 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil or vegetable broth
▢ 1 medium yellow onion diced (about 1 ½ cups)
▢ 1 (14 to 16-ounce) block extra-firm tofu pressed and crumbled into small crumbles
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
▢ ¾ teaspoon poultry seasoning
▢ ½ teaspoon mustard powder (optional)
▢ 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
▢ 1 cup dried breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs
▢ 3 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot
▢ ¼ teaspoon kala namak (optional)
▢ 4 rice paper spring roll wrappers

Optional for the glaze:

▢ 2 tablspoons tamari or soy sauce
▢ 2 tabelspoons maple syrup
▢ 1 teaspoon sriracha

Instructions

Cook the potatoes: Place the potatoes in a large saucepan with enough water to cover by about 2 inches. Add 1 ½ teaspoons salt. Bring the water to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer the potatoes for about 7 minutes, or until fork tender. Do not overcook them. Drain them before placing them back into the saucepan for 30 seconds to remove excess moisture and dry out. Transfer them to a large bowl.
Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
Cook the tofu and onion: Heat the olive oil or broth in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, tofu, and a generous sprinkle of salt and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic powder, black pepper, poultry seasoning, and ground mustard and cook another 30 seconds.
Mash the potatoes with a potato masher or fork until mostly smooth. Add the tofu mixture to the mashed potatoes. Mix in the nutritional yeast, breadcrumbs, cornstarch, kala namak (if using), and salt to taste. Use your hands to incorporate the ingredients until the batter is dough-like in texture.
Form a large ball with the dough and divide it evenly into two equal parts. Then shape both parts into a roughly oval or oblong shape, like a cooked turkey.
Cover the dough: Place the turkey onto a nonstick surface. Wet one spring roll wrapper and place it over one tofu turkey. Use your hands to smooth it over the top half. Then flip the turkey over and use a second wet spring roll wrapper to cover the bottom of the turkey. The sides of both rice paper wrappers should overlap so that they stick to one another, covering the dough entirely. Repeat for the remaining dough.
Bake: Place the tofu turkeys onto the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze, if using. Mix the tamari, maple syrup, and sriracha in a small bowl. Use a pastry brush to generously brush the glaze over the top and sides of the turkeys. Bake them for 10 minutes more, and brush again. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes more, or until the rice paper is crispy and browned all over.
Place the turkeys onto a cooling rack for at least 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

- Make sandwiches with leftover turkey: Let it cool completely before cutting it into one-half-inch slices. Then fry the slices in a squirt of olive oil over medium heat for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, slightly salting them while cooking. Use to make turkey sandwiches.
- Storage: Slice the tofu turkey into ½-inch-thick slices. Refrigerate the slices in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- To reheat: Preheat the oven to 400ºF. (Optional: Brush both sides of the turkey slices with olive oil.) Bake the tofu turkey for about 15 minutes, or until heated through, flipping them over halfway.

Nutrition

This information is provided as a courtesy and is an ESTIMATE only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe.

Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

Share with @cookingforpeanuts or tag #cookingforpeanuts!

Vegan Tofu Recipes

Best Vegan Patties Recipe
Best Miso Noodle Soup
Healthy Sweet Potato Recipes
Health Salad

Reader Interactions

Comments

Kathleen
January 22, 2024 at 8:15 pm

This turned out nicely. Thanks! 😋
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  January 25, 2024 at 3:19 pm
  Yay so glad! Thank you.
  Reply
Chris
November 27, 2023 at 2:43 pm
Has anyone had success freezing this?
Reply
Deanna
November 23, 2023 at 12:18 pm
Can you freeze once made ?
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  See Also
  The Best Vegan Chocolate Muffins | Gluten-Free Recipe - Elavegan
  November 23, 2023 at 1:22 pm
  I'm not sure how the potato and skin will hold up.
  Reply
Mary Jo
November 22, 2023 at 12:29 pm
Can you prepare everything up until baking ahead of time. Refrigerate overnight and then put rice paper on and bake?
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 22, 2023 at 2:43 pm
  Yes!
  Reply
Sunny Alston
November 22, 2023 at 11:24 am
Hi,
I am wondering if I can assemble this a day ahead and bake it day of?
Thanks again...it was delicious when I did a trial run!
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 22, 2023 at 2:45 pm
  I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I would bring the filling to room temperature and add the rice paper the day of baking/serving.
  Reply
Samantha Miller
November 21, 2023 at 11:43 am

I made this last night and the flavor is fantastic! I took a lazy shortcut and used instant potato flakes instead of boiling a potato and it worked great.
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 22, 2023 at 6:03 am
  Great tip!!! Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
  Reply
Karen
November 18, 2023 at 8:21 am

Made this last night. Interesting recipe that comes together in a short time. My husband and I agree - delicious !! Looking forward to leftovers later today!
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 19, 2023 at 4:42 am
  Thanks Karen. I'm thrilled you enjoyed it. Yes it is a bit unusual but it works:)
  Reply
Jennifer
November 17, 2023 at 12:17 pm

I am so excited!!! This really was easy! The hardest part was buying and gathering ingredients. Thank you!
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 19, 2023 at 4:43 am
  Yay! I'm so happy that you like the recipe. Thank you.
  Reply
Mike
November 17, 2023 at 9:18 am

Flavor was amazing. Texture didn't come out exactly how I wanted. I was kind of in a rush and I may not have cooked the potatoes long enough or pressed the tofu enough (thinking about freezing it next time), and probably didnt "knead" the final mix well/long enough. Do you wait for the tofu/onion mixture to cool before mixing it in with the potato?
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 19, 2023 at 4:45 am
  Hi. Yes you have to cook the potatoes until just tender for the right texture. You do not have to wait for it too cool but it won't hurt! You can spread it onto a plate to cool quickly and then add it.
  Reply
Bonny L Saxon
November 16, 2023 at 10:11 pm
My sister is allergic to gluten, dairy, AND turkey, which makes the upcoming holiday particularly challenging. I'm going to make this for her so she doesn't feel so left out of the traditional holiday goodies.
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 17, 2023 at 4:52 am
  Wow! Poor thing. I'm glad there will be an option for her now. Thank you.
  Reply
Laurie
November 15, 2023 at 4:53 pm

This is a beautiful “turkey” and tastes amazing! Mine is very soft inside, I’m wondering if I continue cooking it at a lower temp for awhile longer, it will firm up. Either way, it will proudly grace our table, next to the poor feathered fellow most of the other family will eat next week. I’ll next try some of your sides and gravy recipe. Thanks for these wonderful alternatives!
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 17, 2023 at 4:47 am
  Thank you for making it! I'm so glad your enjoyed it. Cook the potatoes until just tender and transfer them back to the empty hot saucepan to dry out. If they are too moist, it will be softer.
  Reply
Carla Jackson
November 15, 2023 at 11:33 am
Is there an alternative to the potato as I can’t have potatoes.
Thanks Carla
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 17, 2023 at 4:46 am
  You can try my other vegan turkey. I have two recipes.
  Reply
Karen McLain
November 15, 2023 at 5:04 am
The tofu turkey looks exquisitely delicious. Will try making it Thursday. I go to a health store for a lot of things. I can get yeast flakes for a great price. They sell vegan turkeys there for $40.00 each. I can never buy one as it is too expensive. Thankyou so much for sharing this recipe. You are such a jewel.
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 17, 2023 at 4:44 am
  Wow! That's so expensive. You can omit them. Thank you so much for your kind words.
  Reply
Sunny Alston
November 13, 2023 at 3:23 pm

This was fantastic! It made a lovely dinner last night and wonderful sandwiches today. I did add some sesame oil to the marinade. Yummy.
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 13, 2023 at 10:02 pm
  I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Have a great week.
  Reply
Felisa
November 12, 2023 at 10:38 pm

I made this tonight to practice for Thanksgiving! I really, really enjoyed it. I had to use fava bean tofu and gluten free bread crumbs due to allergies. The crispy rice paper “skin” and glaze were so good! I think the insides of mine were softer than the recipe would be its extra firm tofu and glutenous breadcrumbs but it was still very tasty. I paired it with a plant based cashew gravy and it was really, really good. Thank you for sharing this recipe for those of us struggling to find a tasty main dish!
Reply
- Nisha Melvani, RDN
  November 13, 2023 at 7:39 am
  It makes me so happy to read this. I really wanted to come up with a good-tasting alternative for turkey without using seitan. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you.
  Reply

FAQs

What is tofu turkey made of? ›

Make the “Turkey”: Add the pressed tofu to a food processor along with the tamari, garlic, tomato paste, oil, poultry seasoning, and chicken-flavored bouillon. Blend for a full 60 seconds, pausing about halfway to scrape the sides of the food processor.

Keep Reading ›

How do you cook tofurky? ›

HOW TO MAKE ONE THAWED TOFURKY ROAST: (Thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours) With a knife or scissors, remove plastic casing and clips from the Roast. Place on a pan in foil. Pour half the baste over the roast. Cover and cook at 350°F for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Discover More Details ›

Is tofu turkey good for you? ›

The faux turkeys are generally packed with protein thanks to their soy content. (In fact, most store-bought versions have just as much protein as the actual bird itself!) Tofu also brings other vitamins and minerals to the table, such as calcium, folate, magnesium and selenium.

Discover More ›

How to make tofu taste good? ›

Press tofu and cube it. Coat it in garlic, black pepper, salt (plus more of your favourite seasonings), liquid aminos and some olive oil. Then mix it into some cornstarch and toss it all together, then bake for about 20 minutes. Cornstarch also helps to draw out excess moisture so it really gets the tofu crispy.

What is tofu turkey called? ›

Tofurkey (a portmanteau of tofu and turkey) is a plant-based meat substitute patterned after turkey, in the form of a loaf of vegetarian protein, usually made from tofu (soybean protein) or seitan (wheat protein) with a stuffing made from grains or bread, flavored with a broth and seasoned with herbs and spices.

Keep Reading ›

What is the main ingredient in Tofurky? ›

INGREDIENTS: Water, vital wheat gluten, tofu (water, soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride), soy sauce (water, soybeans, wheat, salt), expeller pressed canola oil, natural flavors, sea salt, contains less than 2% of onion, carrot, celery, garlic, leek, lemon juice concentrate, cornstarch, garbanzo bean flour, ...

Explore More ›

How to cook tofu for beginners? ›

Cut tofu into cubes. Step 2: Place those cubes in a bowl, and toss gently with 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. Step 3: Arrange tofu on a parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with some olive oil and salt. Step 4: Bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes, or until as crispy as you'd like.

Discover More ›

Does Tofurky go bad? ›

Can I freeze my Tofurky products? Yep, freeze 'em up - they should be good for up to one year. Once you have safely thawed your Tofurky product in the refrigerator, it should be stored in an air-tight container and consumed within 3-4 days.

Read On ›

Is Tofurky healthy for you? ›

Vitamins and Minerals

A serving of Tofurkey roast with stuffing provides about 2.8 grams of iron or about 15% of the recommended daily allowance if you consume 2000 calories per day. It also provides 900 milligrams of potassium or about 20% of your daily needs.

Know More ›

Is Tofurky healthier than turkey? ›

But here's where meat comes out ahead, according to White: "While tofurky is dominant in protein, it also has 10 grams of carbohydrates per serving, which turkey does not have." Miller points out something else in favor of meat, saying that "the fat in tofurky is comparable to that in a turkey with the skin, but ...

Find Out More ›

Is tofu healthier than chicken? ›

Tofu nutrition. This meatless option is a staple for vegetarians, and rightfully so. It boasts more fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and folate than chicken and contains fewer calories.

Tell Me More ›

What are 3 benefits of eating tofu? ›

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

Discover More Details ›

What not to mix with tofu? ›

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Find Out More ›

What should I season tofu with? ›

Most seafood seasonings include celery seed, paprika, mustard powder, salt, and black pepper. Add lime juice to the tofu marinade to bring forward more of that classic seafood flavor. 5. Soy sauce: Marinating tofu in soy sauce helps the tofu absorb flavor quickly.

What is the secret to cooking tofu? ›

Press it. Tofu contains a lot of water, and you'll want to squeeze most of it out, especially if you're baking, grilling, or frying it. I recommend using a tofu press to do this, because it gives the tofu a delicious chewy texture and makes cleanup a breeze. But having one isn't necessary.

See Details ›

What is tofu mostly made of? ›

Tofu is made from dried soybeans that are soaked in water, crushed, and boiled. The mixture is separated into solid pulp (okara) and soy “milk.” Salt coagulants, such as calcium and magnesium chlorides and sulfates, are added to the soy milk to separate the curds from the whey.

Learn More ›

Is tofurkey a real thing? ›

Tofurky is tasty food for plant-eaters, meat-eaters and people who resist labels. Our mission is to make great food everyone can enjoy, and do it with respect for people, animals and the planet.