Paul, I don't think you're supposed to roast it with the gravy. At least, I've never heard of anyone doing that. The classic marinade that I usually use is a blend of soy sauce and orange juice.
Here are the three basting options from the Tofurky site:
You totally neglected to mention the fact that after eating Tofurkey, your urine smells like turkey for the next day and a half. Chemical odors perhaps?
As the others have said, Field Roast is the best non-meat option. As a 9-year-old vegetarian, I'll eat Tofurkey when it's around because it's close to what I remember, but Field Roast will appeal to even the most die-hard meat eater.
I'm like you - not a vegetarian but I like to buy and eat those sorts of vegetarian products when possible. I like the Gardenburger / Morningstar / Boca type products that don't pretend to be meat. Almost anything that pretends to be meat is disgusting (e.g., Morningstar Spicy Black Bean Burger = tasty, Morningstar "Grillers" = disgusting).
The exceptions that I have found are the Quorn fake chicken that you mentioned, and the Tofurkey lunchmeat, which I think is pretty good.
I'm one of the 0.001% of people allergic to the mycoprotein used to make Quorn. I get queasy and then turn beet red from the chest up. It actually looks pretty funny.
Le sigh.
Anyway, yeah, I love Tofurky. It's way better than I thought something with the syllable 'furk' in it would ever be. But I've only ever made it with a soy-sauce-based baste (the soy sauce is pretty effective at penetrating the soy-based 'meat').
I don't know where you got the idea that you should baste it in the gravy, it tells you what to do right on the box. Then again, it tells you how to spell 'Tofurky' right on the box, too.
I use the second basting option from above, then pour the gravy on afterwards. The box lists the first two basting options and tells you to heat the gravy separately.
I like the taste and texture of Tofurky. It's not at all like turkey, which I remember loving, but it's pretty good. The stuffing is very good, I've never had pre-made stuffing that was better. It does scent you urine, as do asparagus, coffee, vitamin supplements...
It's because you made the classic mistake of following the terrible recipe on the box. I as well am a meat eater, but my wife is vegetarian, so I often experiment with fake meat as well. I've discovered that there is a way to make it that will result in a delicious and moist and flavorful tofurkey without all the icky dryness and bad aftertaste.
Instead of roasting it, brown it in olive oil in a pot, and then add 2 cups of veggie broth, 1/2 cup oj, 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/8 cup soy sauce. Simmer it on low for about two hours, then add the gravy. Simmer on low for an additional hour. Voila! Delicious, even to a diehard omnivore like myself.
Most vegetarian foods (not just fake meats) take some getting used to if you're used to the overwhelming umami of animal fat/protein at every meal, very common in southern/midwestern/latin diets. Some people get headaches when they withdraw from it, similar to sugar withdrawal. Dump a lot of MSG, soy sauce, or parmesan cheese (glutamates similar to meat flavor) onto your vegetarian foods to replicate the flavor.
@12: something like 1 in 100,000 people are allergic to it, and the allergy is basically "You don't feel so good for a couple hours, and then you look silly for a couple more hours but feel fine." Give it a try.
Huh, 1 in 1 million according to the Quorn site. Intriguing! I noticed that gruyere Quorn in Whole Foods yesterday so I'll have to try it out. Thanks folks.
Quorn tastes good, but one of its main ingredients is eggs, which is just another form of chicken. It doesn't bother me, but it's a bit ironic or funny or whatever the appropriate word for that is. The Quorn Cranberry & Goat Cheese Chik'n Cutlet is da bomb.
And I'll raise my hand with all the others in support of Field Roast. Their apple and sage sausages are the best sausages I've ever had, meat or veggie. Just the best, period.
I use the Quorn chicken tenders in my "chicken" paprikosh recipe (from my little hungarian gramma). It's quite amazing. While I love the Field Roast, all that gluten is scary to me. I like to at least pretend that my fake meat has some sort of nutritional value, and with the almost all-gluten products there's no pretending. At least with most of the tofurkey stuff they use vegetable protien first and fill it out with some gluten. I write this as I eat my tofurkey lunchmeat sandwich brought from home.
The horrible thing about Tofurky is that a lot of meat eaters start their foray into vegetarian food by trying Tofurky first, the taste of which IMMEDIATELY SPOILS THEM OF ANY INCLINATION TO EXPAND THEIR RESEARCH.
I've been vegetarian for five years and vegan for two. I still refuse to eat Tofurky. That shit is disgusting.
Thanks for the tip, I won't try Tofurkey.
But morningstar corn dogs are delicious. The best morningstar product I've tasted.
I'll have to check out this "Field Roast" thing.
The best thing about a Tofurky is if you get the whole "Tofurky feast," you get these really really tasty dumplings that come with it. I would buy them alone if I could, but I've never found them separately.
The best Tofurky product, other than that, is the beer brats. Damn, those are good.
I like the Tofurkey. It's not my favorite; I definitely prefer the Field Roast (especially their sausages), but I like to have Tofurkey from time to time. Once a year, maybe. I reiterate: you shouldn't roast it with the included gravy. That should be prepared separately on the stovetop. Baste with the marinades that they suggest on the box, or come up with one on your own.
Here are the three basting options from the Tofurky site:
Tofurky Baste - option 1:
3 tablespoons olive oil (or other vegetable oil)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground sage
Tofurky Baste - option 2:
1/8 cup orange juice
1/8 cup soy sauce
1 Tablespoon sweetener of your choice.
Tofurky Baste - option 3:
1 tablespoon apricot jam or spread
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons water
When cooked properly, I find Tofurky to be quite delicious. Of course, I haven't had real turkey in over a dozen years, so what do I know?
As the others have said, Field Roast is the best non-meat option. As a 9-year-old vegetarian, I'll eat Tofurkey when it's around because it's close to what I remember, but Field Roast will appeal to even the most die-hard meat eater.
The exceptions that I have found are the Quorn fake chicken that you mentioned, and the Tofurkey lunchmeat, which I think is pretty good.
Le sigh.
Anyway, yeah, I love Tofurky. It's way better than I thought something with the syllable 'furk' in it would ever be. But I've only ever made it with a soy-sauce-based baste (the soy sauce is pretty effective at penetrating the soy-based 'meat').
I don't know where you got the idea that you should baste it in the gravy, it tells you what to do right on the box. Then again, it tells you how to spell 'Tofurky' right on the box, too.
I like the taste and texture of Tofurky. It's not at all like turkey, which I remember loving, but it's pretty good. The stuffing is very good, I've never had pre-made stuffing that was better. It does scent you urine, as do asparagus, coffee, vitamin supplements...
Instead of roasting it, brown it in olive oil in a pot, and then add 2 cups of veggie broth, 1/2 cup oj, 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/8 cup soy sauce. Simmer it on low for about two hours, then add the gravy. Simmer on low for an additional hour. Voila! Delicious, even to a diehard omnivore like myself.
Oh my god that looks disgusting.
BombasticMo: You are quite articulate for a 9-year-old! Congrats.
@12: something like 1 in 100,000 people are allergic to it, and the allergy is basically "You don't feel so good for a couple hours, and then you look silly for a couple more hours but feel fine." Give it a try.
And I'll raise my hand with all the others in support of Field Roast. Their apple and sage sausages are the best sausages I've ever had, meat or veggie. Just the best, period.
I've been vegetarian for five years and vegan for two. I still refuse to eat Tofurky. That shit is disgusting.
I do like field roast a lot. Sad Comment, you can get it at Madison Market and at some of the grocery store's fake meat sections.
THAT SAID, Tofurky's (or Turtle Island's) OTHER meatless products are good too.. the veggie kielbasa, beer brats, and italian sausage are quite good.
Field Roast makes far more kickass fake meat, of course -- but the Tofurky brats are good too!
It's sad irony that Tofurky's worst product by far is the Tofurky itself.
(I once saw a Fremont PCC shopper fight over grabbing the last Unturkey!)
But morningstar corn dogs are delicious. The best morningstar product I've tasted.
I'll have to check out this "Field Roast" thing.
The best Tofurky product, other than that, is the beer brats. Damn, those are good.