r/vegetarian • u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie • 8d ago
Beginner Question ham replacements
hellooo im a relatively new vegetatian (started 3 months ago) and ive been trying to find a good replacement for ham ive tried some of the popular ones like quorn and lavie but i hate the taste and the texture of them im looking for something similar to wafer thin ham and im also in the uk any suggestions would be really helpful thank youu!!
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u/Lyceumhq 8d ago
My favourite is the Richmond one.
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u/archiekane 6d ago
Of all the companies to make the best veggie alternative, it's the mass slaughterhouse one.
Sucks, but you're bang on the money. We haven't found a better one.
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u/Ok_Woodpecker_1378 8d ago
Itās the one meat I ate the most. Canāt find any good ones in the us except Morningstar bacon. But I miss like lunchmeat. I lived off sandwiches for years
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u/Alone-Variation-7719 8d ago
Me and my Gf thinly slice and marinate tofu and make lunch meat sandwiches and they are really good imo
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
this is my exact issue i never ate that much meat other than ham before turning veggie and its the only thing i cant find anything good to replace it with
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u/Ok_Woodpecker_1378 8d ago
Same! I might have had an occasional hamburger but it was really all ham lol. Sucks. They gotta exist somewhere
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
hopefully if not they gotta make a good one in the next few years hahaha
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u/pterosaurLoser 2d ago
Have you tried the Kroger store brand fake ham slices?
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u/Ok_Woodpecker_1378 2d ago
I donāt live near any real grocery stores. Iām too far away and no car. The store in my town did get me some tofurky slices a few times but she canāt get ham š
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u/Kinac 8d ago
In My experience I find that meat replacements are never that good so I try to change what I'm actually eating. If I like this saltiness and sweetness of ham maybe I'll try red peppers and tomatoes on a sandwich to satisfy that craving.
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
this is a really good idea im not the biggest fan of vegetables so i dont think itll work for me personally but thanks ahaha
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u/KrissyCat 8d ago
I commend you for going vegetarian when you dont enjoy veggies, that's awesome! Over time the tastes and textures will become familiar and I think you will naturally come to really like them. Good luck on your journey :)
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
thank youu!! im hoping thats the case im gonna try incorporate some more into my diet cause at the minuite im mostly just eating carbs hahaha
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u/Mysterious-Rest7562 8d ago
A vegetarian who is ānot the biggest fan of vegetables .ā Please elaborate. Iām not criticizing, just extremely curious.
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
yeah i see the irony hahaha im autistic so the way the texture of most vegetables change each time you buy them makes them unpredictable as well as me just not liking the taste of many so i barely eat them the only ones i have are carrots and broccoli which is still rare
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u/jortsinstock 8d ago
I hope you take a good multivitamin each day friend!! I totally get the sensory issues but make sure youāre getting everything you need. Do you like smoothies? Thereās some great super green blends that are dehydrated veggies and fruit and truly have no taste :)
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
i dont i definately should though im gonna look into finding a good one and i do like some smoothies thats a really good idea i might buy a blender and start making some thanks a lot!!
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u/jortsinstock 8d ago
It would help diversify your diet in an easy way for sure! I love chocolate banana smoothies for breakfast a lot and they donāt feel super healthy if that makes sense haha
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
yeah i get what you mean ahaha ill have a look at some strawberry based smoothie recipies cause there my fave fruit
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u/Mysterious-Rest7562 8d ago
I understand. Thanks for clarifying. I know you didnāt ask (and sorry if Iām overstepping) but might I suggest working with a registered dietitian?
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
your not dont worry ahaha and that could be a good idea i just dont really see a need for it obviously im not the healthiest but being veggie has made me want to be healthier i think ill be okay on my own but if i do start having issues ill consider it thank you :)
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u/yeehaw0987 mostly vegetarian 3d ago
I'm also autistic and super picky about textures, plus fresh produce where I live has a very short shelf life. I have switched almost entirely to frozen veggies. broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans in the air fryer come out exactly the same each time (I do 5 minutes at 400, then oil & season, and 7 more minutes). I cook tofu similarly in the airfryer and toss with cornstarch for crispiness. the steam-in-bag veggies are also very consistent in the microwave, I like the mixed bag of carrots and peas. cooking is my main hobby so I'm very good at attaining the texture I want when chopping & sauteing fresh veg as well, I just don't do it as often due to the supply chain where I live. "sheet pan meals" or otherwise oven roasting veg is trickiest for me, I feel I cannot control the texture as well so I don't often do it. practice makes perfect!!
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u/Charming_While5109 8d ago
You could try and make tofu sandwich slices?
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u/Charming_While5109 8d ago
Or get the ham flavoured seitan by tofoo and slice it
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
i didnt even know that was a thing ill defo have a look at that thank youu
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u/HenryKjnr 8d ago
Did you try the Smoky no ham vegan slices by Quorn? they are much better than the Vegetarian ham slices
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
yeah those are the ones i bought first i wasnt really a fan of them i did only have them on their own though they could be better with bread but yeah hahaha
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u/HenryKjnr 7d ago
they need to be in a no ham sandwich with English mustard!
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 7d ago
nooo i think mustard tastes really weird hahaha not a fan
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u/HenryKjnr 6d ago
Sorry for you! Maybe rethink the Frankenfoods!
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 6d ago
what do you mean by frankenfoods sorry š
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u/Witty-Dimension-2800 5d ago
Ok so the Quorn ham slices donāt fare very well on the Yuka app due to various additives but there is a Quorn ham roast listed as Excellent on Yuka with a score of 90. Might be worth checking out.
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u/Witty-Dimension-2800 6d ago
They are a bit dry so I add Heinz salad cream to them, really elevates them!
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 6d ago
thats fair i can still like feel the texture and taste of them no matter what sauce is on there though hahaha
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u/goodhumansbad vegetarian 20+ years 8d ago
The UK has such a huge variety of plant-based products compared to a lot of other countries so the good news is you have so many interesting things to try! The bad news is you're not going to know if you like it until you've tried it yourself - and the products you have in your local shops are going to be very different than what somebody has across the country.Ā
Whenever I visit Northern Ireland or England, I've found Sainsbury's to have a great selection of meatless products, but whatever you have near you, you're just going to have to try the various brands until you settle on something you enjoy. It's also possible that you'll just get used to a different kind of sliced ham over time.
There was a great brand called Cheatin' Ham by Vbites, but I'm but sure it exists anymore.Ā
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
yeah i think a lot of them are really good like i love the quorn nuggets and a lot of their other fake chicken products and it is annoying buying something then not liking it but its just part of the process, i agree that sainsburys is really good for veggie and vegan things. i hope so either that or ill just accept i wont have something similar for a while unless they come out with a new brand i like hahaha and ill have a look for that one thank youu!!
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u/jessaruh 8d ago
If there is one around you, an Asian grocery store *might* have a vegetarian section and I have seen many plant based meat alternatives, including ham.
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
there is a small one ive seen in my town ill have a look next time im in there thank youu
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u/Alnonnymouse 8d ago
Some oven baked smoked tofu with various spiced marinades goes hard in sandwiches.
Experiment with making your own.
Obviously itās not the same texture as ham but for that smokey flavour itās amazing
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u/riddlegirl21 8d ago
I love adding liquid smoke to tofu marinades!! Just a dash, though - it is potent
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u/spicyzsurviving 8d ago
The Quorn vegan ham (not the veggie one!) is so good, totally different texture (aka not dryyyyy)
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u/Squidoriya 8d ago
Ham was my favorite meat before I became a vegetarian and itās been hard to replace. I tried the fake ham deli slices, but I thought they were disgusting and smelled like dog food.
Itās not an exact match obviously, but the closest I can get to scratching that deli ham itch is thinly sliced baked tofu. Slice the tofu super thin, brush it with a sauce (like bbq, honey mustard, a maple sauce), cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes (depending on how thinly sliced), flip and brush with more sauce, cook another 10-20 minutes. It turns out kinda chewy and slightly jerky like, and itās really good on a sandwich. Itād probably be good seared or pan fried too, but I havenāt tried that yet.
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
thank youuu ill try that, im not the best cook but im sure itll be fine hahaha
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u/Morlgoff 7d ago
La Vie ham if you are in the UK
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 7d ago
yeah ive tried that one and didnt really like it the taste and the texture both felt off in my opinion hahaha
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u/Prof_BananaMonkey 4d ago
Tofurkey makes sliced smoked tofu. Ā The taste is similar, but if you want the texture right then you need to simmer for 1min.
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u/ThinkWishbone2495 4d ago
I've never found a replacement for ham and I've been a vegetarian since 1980. Morningstar Farms bacon strips is the only faux pork product I've found. Faux chicken, beef, & fish that's it.
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 4d ago
wow that is a while ahaha yeah ive found that fake chicken tends to be the best tasting meat alternative
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u/ThinkWishbone2495 4d ago
I think it's Gardein that has the "chicken breasts" that are off the chart delicious! Really, really good. Perfect for chicken Parm and we'll be having them for Thanksgiving too with gravy.
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u/Healthy-Cheferee 8d ago
mmm I think you should go for smoked tofu, in my store they sell it in slices. or maybe carrot ham? it's carrot with marinated spices.
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u/Isis_J 8d ago
Havenāt tried a ham I liked yet but I really liked la vie bacon in a VLT āŗļø
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
ive had a look at it and from the packaging im not sure how i feel about it but i might give it a try thank youu
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u/achillea4 8d ago
The vegan deli meat alternatives all seem so highly processed and full of all sorts of odd ingredients. Maybe try cheese or marinated grilled vegetables, mushroom pate, marinated grilled tofu etc.
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u/grayce_mai vegetarian newbie 8d ago
thats fair i do usually have cheese and ketchup when i have sandwiches and ive not actually had tofu yet im a bit scared to try it as ive seen a lot of people say its gross when you dont make it right
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u/KeeperOfTheMarsh 8d ago
My partner really likes the Squeaky Bean ham and it's definitely firmer than the Quorn one which I find helps! I think Richmond also do a ham but we've not tried that one.