While this seems like something that The Simpsons would come up with I first came across a real life tofurkey at an Orphans Xmas in Melbourne a few years ago..
The local paper had run a Christmas dinner on a budget special and the tofurkey was the centre piece.
I still have a cutting of the article somewhere but have adapted and refined mine over the years...
Its a hit with both non-meat and meat eaters as long as you make sure the tofu has some serious flavour to it. Plus the novelty factor is always a bonus.
The 'Turkey'
700g firm tofu
2tbsp vege or fake chicken stock
lots of pepper and a bit of salt
The Stuffing
2 grated carrots
1grated courgette
1 finely chopped green pepper
1tbsp soy sauce
1tbsp oregano
1tsp cayenne pepper or other chilli powder
100g Cranberry sauce
1 cup cous cous
1 cup breadcrumbs
1/3 cup shelled walnuts
Marinade
100g cranberry sauce
2tbsp balsamic vinegar
1tbsp olive oil
3 sprigs rosemary
lots of cracked pepper
Method
1) Foodprocess the 'turkey' ingredients until a thick paste. Line a colander with cheese cloth or other thin fabric. Spread 2/3 of the mixture around the inside of the colander to make a 1inch thick lining.
Use a heavy glass bowl to keep the shape by placing it inside the colander. Just make sure it leave about a 1 inch gap of tofu between the colander and the bowl. Leave for minimum 2 hours to drain (I leave overnight for best results)
Drain the rest through cheese cloth and leave to the side for the wings later.
2) Fry up the veges and soysauce and herbs and spices until soft and aromatic. Add the cranberry sauce and then the cous cous and crumb. crush the walnuts into small pieces and add them too. Combine well.
3) Pour stuffing into the tofu line colander and press firmly.
4)Tip the colander onto a baking tray so that the whole body slips out and carefully peel away the fabric careful not too peel off any tofu. This is your turkey body.
5)Mould the body so one end is more narrow than the other and take some of the extra tofu and shape a neck. Then shape the legs and wings onto the body and use your fingers to smooth over the lines so it looks like one single object. (I find google image searching "roast Turkey" helps with this lol). Don't be disheartened if it doesn't quite look right, my first attempt looked like a turtle! In the end its the thought that counts
6)Using a pastry brush generously lather the marinade all over the turkey and place fresh sprigs of rosemary on it. Use about half the marinade.
7)Bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees Celsius for about 40 mins taking care to baste the tofurkey every 10 mins until the marinade is all used up.
Leave to stand for ten mins before eating!!
Easiest to cut it like a cake as taht way you get an even tofurkey to stuffing ratio. Best with some vegan gravy! (the instant brown onion one works a treat)
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