All About Tofurky: The Vegan Alternative for Thanksgiving Dinner

Tuesday

Nov172009

If you plan to eat vegan on Thanksgiving next Thursday, be sure to consider Tofurky as your main course. Our family LOVES these little beauties and enjoy them not just for Thanksgiving dinner, but as a special "any day" meal whenever we can splurge.

Tofurky is made by Turtle Island Foods, a family-owned and operated company in Hood River, Oregon, that has been making nutritious and delicious veg food for nearly 30 years. Their products are made with organic soybeans and/or organic tofu and they contain no MSG, artificial ingredients or preservatives.
They state: "We use organic soybeans and organic tofu as a soy protein base for all our products. All our products are formulated to promote the health and vitality of both the consumer and the planet’s ecosystems. We make everything in small batches using only the finest ingredients and go the extra mile to maintain the taste and integrity of our products. Our products are vegan, kosher, packaged in recycled paperboard and cholesterol free."

Seth Tibbott invented Tofurky many years ago because he was tired of eating just potatoes and yams each year at holiday meals. He became a vegetarian in 1974, after reading a book by Frances Moore Lappe called, "Diet For a Small Planet," and was startled at the idea of how much grain (15 pounds) was required to feed the livestock that produced just one pound of beef.

Tibbott was a teacher in Oregon until the Ronald Reagan era, when the outdoor-education program he was involved in was phased out by the Reagan regime. After years of preparing tempah, he decided to focus more on this business and set out to produce and market it full-time.

While strapped for cash while first starting the venture, he built a tree house (complete with running water and a stove) in 1984, paying just $25 a week to the tree owner, and lived in it while the company got established, until 1992.

Initially, the products were sold via mail order and in specialty stores in the Northwest, but as word spread and more vegetarians and vegans realized that they could be included in the full-course dining experience at special meals too, it wasn't long before Tofurky was a hit.

Last year, over 300,000 Tofurky Roasts were sold, compared to just 500 when the Roast product was introduced in 1995.
While it takes 4.87 pounds of grain to produce one pound of turkey meat, it requires only .47 pounds of grain to produce one pound of Tofurky.
Pounds of grain saved by Tofurky Roast eaters last year (2008) = 1,781,216
Average lifespan of a turkey in the wild: 10 years or more

Average lifespan of a commercial turkey: 6 months

Tofurky Roasts must be thawed like a traditional turkey.

Thaw frozen Tofurky Roast in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours prior to cooking.

1 stuffed Tofurky Roast
Quarter and Peel 3-4 Potatoes
Cut 3-4 carrots into slices
Chop 1 onion
*if you prefer additional veggies, get creative and use your favorites to cook alongside the Tofurky*

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
When your Tofurky is thawed and ready for preparation, remove the plastic casing using scissors.
Remove roast from plastic casing.
Place roast in a tightly covered baking/casserole dish (or wrap with aluminum foil) with your veggies.
Cook for 3 hours and 15 minutes at 300° F.
At this time, open and baste, then cook for 10 more minutes, uncovered.
Enjoy!

Photo by Jake of 8bitjoystick.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at 2:02PM | |

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Reader Comments (15)

I have been excited to try one of these this year for dinner. Thanks for the history and tips, Jinxi.
btw, is one Tofurky enough for your family?

November 18, 2009 |

Adrienne

@ Adrienne,

Thank you for the kind words. I hope you love the Tofurky this year!

We usually prepare two of them for Thanksgiving. One is enough when we just have it as a regular meal, but you know how you want leftovers for Thanksgiving? Two gives us plenty to enjoy that day, plus have some in the fridge for awhile (like, one day - ha ha) after the big dining experience.

Winx, Jinxi

November 18, 2009 |

Jinxi Boo

I have been reading reviews on Tofurkey for a few weeks now, and it seems that you either love it or hate it! I don't want to risk it by buying it only to find out that the texture is all wrong. Assuming you've had real turkey before, is the texture the same or is the texture more like turkey? Taste doesn't matter much to me, being as I can eat anything so long as the texture of the food is right.

November 18, 2009 |

Kaet

i so hope i can find 1 @ a local grocery store, i'm dying to try one this yr. still lookin for some vegan gravy recipies, any chance you have any???? it's one thing i really miss, since all gravies are meat based.

November 18, 2009 |

tammi

Yummy :)! Will be making one for sure! I'll have to cook 3 or 4 with the hungry Clayton in the house ;)

November 18, 2009 |

Cassie

@ Tammi,

I will be posting a vegan gravy recipe very soon. I promise to get it up in time for Thanksgiving. Hope you can find a Tofurky! You will love them!!

@ Cass,

Yay that you are making Tofurky (and extra at that). 3 or 4 will get gobbled up in a snap! ;)

November 18, 2009 |

Jinxi Boo

awesome can't wait for the gravy recipe. i called and found 2 stores that have them so yay i get something other than just veggies n taters for thanksgiving!! woohooo

November 18, 2009 |

tammi

Perfect! Wifey and I are going to get one for the first time this year. We're bringing it over to my moms house so that we can enjoy it with the rest of the fixin's and hopefully introduce my family to a healthier alternative :-)

Great post, thanks Jinxi!

November 18, 2009 |

RaphNouveau

Bought 3 of them yesterday!

November 18, 2009 |

Michele

wish for animals is that one day they will be seen by everyone as loving, caring, FEELING, creatures. Animals are aware of the pain they suffer. You wouldn't eat your dog, so why would you eat a cow, pig, or chicken? Fish are friends, Not food, right? GO VEGAN...
Glucosamine

November 19, 2009 |

Glucosamine

How much are they? At Wholefoods?

November 24, 2009 |

Stef

Tofurky is great, but the amount of sodium that is in this product is so high!

Kaet: The texture is similar to chic-un foux meat. But once you accompany it with the rest of the ensemble (Mashed Potatoes, Gravey....) taste and cause will overcome the texture.

-Adam

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