When I first transitioned to a vegan lifestyle I stumbled upon Tofurkey's Italian Sausages at at local Trader Joe's in southern California. Curious, I picked up a package and tried them out. A hint of spice, packed with flavor, the ability to cut into slices, fry in a log, in slices, crumble, bake...and it tasted way better than I hoped for. I was hooked. Every time I went to Trader Joe's or a health food store I'd pick up a package if they had them.
When my husband and I traveled and wed in 2011, we lived in Arkansas for a spell. Way out in the country. It was a big deal to go to the health food store and buy some Tofurkey. Even if it was double the price than in CA, those little links brought comfort to our home. We've since traveled around a lot in our travel trailer and there are so many times that the magical Tofurkey links are not available. Tear. So many small towns along the way that have probably never even heard of the alternative sausage links. What is a girl to do? Make them. Roll up your sleeves and create something special.
This recipe is SO worth it, I can't even tell you how much you and others will thank you. My husband perked up when he saw what I was up to. The intense flavor from the spice mix, garlic, beans, herbs, mushrooms and more make these a keeper. Thankfully they turned out better than I hoped for. The flavor and smell is unbeatable. I even put them to the test. I sliced them, I fried them as logs, in slices and crumbled as ground sausage. All worked better than hoped for, each time creating a delightful meal.
Spices:
Ingredients:
Peaceful Preparation:
- 1 1/2 Tbsp Paprika
- 1/2 Tbsp Cayenne (less if desired)
- 1/2 Tbsp Dried Sage
- 1/2 Tbsp Dried Basil
- 1/2 Tbsp Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (+/- as desired)
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1/2 tsp Ground Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp All Spice
Ingredients:
- 3 Cups Cannellini Beans (or Great White Northern)
- 3 TBSP Tamari Sauce (Use Coconut Amino for Soy-free)
- 2 TBSP Rice vinegar
- 1/2 Cup Diced Red Onion
- 4 Cloves Garlic - Minced
- 1 1/2 Heaping Cup Diced Mushrooms
- 2 tsp Guar Gum
- 1/3 Cup Corn Flour (Harina de Maiz)
- 1/2 Cup Oats
- 1 Tbsp Flax Meal with 1/4 Cup Warm Water; Mixed together and set aside.
Peaceful Preparation:
- Mix together all of the ingredients and spices in a large bowl until well combined.
- Mash together the ingredients with a potato masher until very fine, mixed together and only a few small chunks of beans remain.
- For best results, refrigerate overnight. Otherwise, proceed to steam. Divide into 8 sections. Take a piece of foil, line it with parchment paper, shape the vegan sausage into a sausage shape, roll it up and twist the ends. Complete until you have 8 sausages.
- Steam for 30 minutes, thicker sausages may have to steam longer to firm up. Allow to cool for 10+ minutes. The longer they cool, the easier they are to handle. I was able to carefully unwrap and use immediately. They are best when placed in the fridge for 4+ hours, they transform to firm sausages. When ready unwrap, enjoy steamed, baked, sliced, fried, crumbled or as your heart desires!
Ways to Enjoy This Recipe:
Meatless Meal: Italian Spiced Sausage with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
Meatless Meal: Italian Spiced Sausage with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus
In a bun with onions and peppers!
Mmm! This is made by Jack known as @gone2happyplace on Instagram.
He said: "omg these are great."? "..I used my pressure cooker to steam them for 10 minutes. I've eaten two and they came out perfect."
He also said:
"Omg so versatile!! Made this Cuban dish called Picadillo that's tomatoey chili with raisins and green olive. I had made a simple chili and said...Hmm...Wonder if I crumbled in one of those sausages!! It did make the chili less runny for the meal but as a "meat" chili...Pretty darn good. :)"
He also used it as a meat sub in pitas, a "tasty protein source in a breakfast protein bowl I threw together, Shepherd's Pie, and sausage patties for breakfast topped with maple syrup and next to some pancakes. Total boss recipe!!! :). Freeze great btw in the foil and let thaw in advance of use."
WOW, great feedback!!! What are you waiting for? Lets get cookin'! :)
He said: "omg these are great."? "..I used my pressure cooker to steam them for 10 minutes. I've eaten two and they came out perfect."
He also said:
"Omg so versatile!! Made this Cuban dish called Picadillo that's tomatoey chili with raisins and green olive. I had made a simple chili and said...Hmm...Wonder if I crumbled in one of those sausages!! It did make the chili less runny for the meal but as a "meat" chili...Pretty darn good. :)"
He also used it as a meat sub in pitas, a "tasty protein source in a breakfast protein bowl I threw together, Shepherd's Pie, and sausage patties for breakfast topped with maple syrup and next to some pancakes. Total boss recipe!!! :). Freeze great btw in the foil and let thaw in advance of use."
WOW, great feedback!!! What are you waiting for? Lets get cookin'! :)
Random Recipe of the day: World Fusion Tofu Scramble with House Fries
