Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner

Easy Homemade Vegan Salami is a crispy, smoky, and flavorful plant-based alternative to traditional salami. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the recipe for a quick, healthier dinner that’s better than store-bought. The trick I discovered is using vital wheat gluten for that meaty texture. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Baked Sea Bass with Olives and Cherry Tomatoes and Easy Spanish Potato Soup with Chorizo Recipe.

What You'll Need for Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 cup vital wheat gluten
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• Optional: Fresh basil leaves
• Optional: Red pepper flakes
• Optional: Vegan parmesan cheese

How to Make Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner

1. Prepare the dough: In a bowl, combine vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Add cold water and olive oil, then knead until a dough forms.
2. Shape the salami: Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 1-inch in diameter. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap.
3. Steam the salami: Place the wrapped logs in a steamer basket over boiling water. Steam for 40 minutes, adding more water as needed.
4. Bake the salami: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Unwrap the logs and brush them with the seasoning mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crispy and golden.
5. Cool and slice: Let the salami cool completely before slicing. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Storing & Reheating Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Make-ahead tip: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Freezing Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a more authentic texture, use a meat grinder to process the dough before shaping it into logs.
• Best substitution: If you can't find vital wheat gluten, you can use a mix of chickpea flour and gluten-free flour.
• Make-ahead: The salami can be made up to a week ahead and stored in the fridge.
• Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your salami is too soft, try steaming it for a few more minutes or baking it for a bit longer.

Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 minutes

🍳

Cook

1 hour

⏳

Total

1 hour 15 minutes

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Vegan, Gluten-Free (optional)

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 cup vital wheat gluten
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Seasonings

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
• 1 tsp maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Optional Toppings

• Fresh basil leaves
• Red pepper flakes
• Vegan parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Prepare the dough: In a bowl, combine vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt. Add cold water and olive oil, then knead until a dough forms.
2. Shape the salami: Divide the dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 1-inch in diameter. Wrap each log tightly in plastic wrap.
3. Steam the salami: Place the wrapped logs in a steamer basket over boiling water. Steam for 40 minutes, adding more water as needed.
4. Bake the salami: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Unwrap the logs and brush them with the seasoning mixture. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crispy and golden.
5. Cool and slice: Let the salami cool completely before slicing. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a more authentic texture, use a meat grinder to process the dough before shaping it into logs.
• Best substitution: If you can't find vital wheat gluten, you can use a mix of chickpea flour and gluten-free flour.
• Make-ahead: The salami can be made up to a week ahead and stored in the fridge.
• Scaling: This recipe can be doubled or halved depending on your needs.
• Troubleshooting: If your salami is too soft, try steaming it for a few more minutes or baking it for a bit longer.

Storage

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
• Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds.
• Make ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 220
• Protein: 25g
• Fat: 6g
• Carbs: 22g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 1g
• Sodium: 700mg
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sat. Fat: 1g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Homemade Vegan Salami Recipe for Plant-Based Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!