Tags
alternaties, celebration, chirstmas, fake, faux, field roast, Gardein, Gravy, grocery, Holiday, holidays, meat, Meatless, relabeled, Review, Roast, stuffed, supermarket, Thanksgiving, Tofurky, trader joe, Trader Joes, turkey, Turkey-less, Turkeyless, Vegan, Vegetarian
-Trader Joe’s Turkey-less Stuffed Roast
I was excited this week to see the new Turkey-less Stuffed Roasts Trader Joe’s had to offer vegans for this Thanksgiving. I bought a couple roasts and decided to make one this weekend and write a review. You can skip to the last paragraph for the final verdict on this roast if you’re in a rush.
-Package Contents
Out of the box, the roast looks seasoned and a little larger than a Tofurky roast. I was happy to see a large portion of gravy included in the box. Although the roast is already stuffed, I decided to make a side of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and corn for my pre-Thanksgiving feast.
-Roast before heading into the oven
I heated the oven to 400F and covered the roast like the directions suggest. After a few minutes in the oven I seasoned with paprika and oil as the directions asked as well as heated the gravy in a dish.
-Roast after cooking
The roast was easy to cook and didn’t take much time at all. I was really excited to cut into it. As I explained in a previous post, these Trader Joe’s roasts are private labeled by Gardein. Gardein is known to create meats that have the texture and taste of meat.
-Roast Detail
The texture is definitely more like meat when compared with Tofurky as you can probably see from the above picture. The roast cut very easily and didn’t seem to come out rubbery like some say Tofurky can be depending on the way it’s cooked.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Turkey-Less Stuffed Roast with Gravy is a great alternative to those looking for something other than Tofurky’s Roast or Field Roast’s Celebration Roast. The texture and the taste of this roast stands out against the competition. The roast is a bit lighter than Field Roast and is more full-proof over Tofurky’s Roast. I made my own gravy with mushrooms since I heard that the gravy included here wasn’t very good and I wanted more for the other side dishes I was preparing. The gravy included with this roast is great for those who want the convenience. I don’t think the gravy was bad and would definitely use it as opposed to making my own. I might make the gravy a little more flavorful by adding spices next time I prepare this roast. Trader Joe’s seems to putting this roast in direct competition with Tofurky’s roast and I think it’s might win some fans over. My favorite roast is still Field Roast’s but I will definitely purchase these roasts in the future too since they’re only available around the holidays. I would give this roast a try!
Have you tried Trader Joe’s Turkey-less Stuffed Roast? Let me know what you thought in the comments or send me a message on Twitter!
Looking for my review of the new Breaded Turkey-Less Stuffed Roasts? Click here!
Pingback: Trader Joe’s New Turkey-less Stuffed Roast Now Available! « TOFUsenshi.com
Great review! Based on your experience, I will definitely give this a try.
If you do, let me know what you think!
Had it for Thanksgiving! I thought it was very good. Better than Tofurky by far. Can’t really compare it to Field Roast’s Celebration Roast since they’re two different things. But I was definitely happy with this product and would eat it again. Hope they bring it back next Thanksgiving! Thanks George.
I tried it the other evening. Delicious. Way better than the Tofurkey, in my opinion, but the stuffing could use a little bit of work.
Thanks for the comment! I agree. I would be fine with there being no stuffing 😉
I have the one that is by Gardein (i know you said the one you got from trader joes is a gardein one) and i think i might make this tmrw(the 21st) instead of on thanksgiving so than i can just heat up the left overs , i hope its good. I’ll let you know when i make it 🙂
That’s great! Let me know what you think and if you notice any difference between the two! Are you making anything else?
I made it tonight and i didnt like the “meat” at all but the stuffing and gravy was okay.I think it would be good if they put in more stuffing or just put it in a separate box with the gravy. I also had Silk seasonal nog and it tasted great with it!! i recommend having it also, it makes the holiday feel “normal”.
I think Tofurky has a bit more stuffing, so I know what you mean. I liked the “meat” but I can understand it not being for everyone. Have you tried other alternatives?
The nog is a bit too sweet for me! I mixed it in my coffee! 😉
Thanks for checking out the blog! Make sure you subscribe if you find it interesting! 🙂
I made the last night. It was pretty good. I did like the texture of the “meat.” It was very meaty to me, but I have been a vegetarian for a long time. As for the stuffing and gravy, it was eh. I was able to work with the gravy, but the stuffing is take it or leave it as it is inside the “meat” log. My daughter on the other hand, really liked the stuffing and thought the “meat” was just so so. It did pair up nicely with cranberry sauce. I prepared mine as the holiday feast, and it looked good surrounded by a bed a vegetables. It looks really pale. You definitely have to use the smoked paprika and olive oil to give it color. I actually added low-sodium soy sauce, a little orange juice and additional spices to create a color rub. I would buy it again.
This roast probably has the most similar texture to meat. Good suggestions for alternatives rubs with the roast. I made another roast last night and used soy sauce and I think it came out rather well. Thanks for the comment!
I have been eating Tofurkey roasts (whose green worldview I love, as well … google them) for many years now and when I tasted TJ’s alternative to it all I could say was … well, maybe not. The “meat” was flavorless, bland and “soft,” the stuffing, well … that was just a bundle of mush. Gravy was excellent, though :). Tofurkey’s roast stuffing is a very flavorful wild rice blend and, comparatively, I love the chewier consistency of their tofurkey. I LOVE Trader Joe’s products generally but I just don’t think that this is their bailiwick, you know? If you’re looking for a non-turkey alternative to Thanksgiving dinners, I would vote hands down for Tofurkey roasts (both politically and taste-wise). Kudos to TJ’s for trying, though!
I have loved Tofurkey roasts for years. When I saw this year’s Trader Joe’s tofu turkey in a different box, I figured they just repackaged the Tofurkey product under their own name. My wife and I were VERY disappointed in the new TJ roast. Consistency was mushy vs. Tofurkey. The gravy and stuffing were loaded with too much rosemary, which I’m not a fan of. It all seemed way saltier than before too. Bring back the Tofurkey Trader Joe, or we’ll have to (reluctantly) pay more at the local health food store and get our old favorite.
(Actually, the BEST tofu turkey was called Un-Turkey by Now and Zen. It hasn’t been around since 2006)
Thanks for the comment and checking out the blog! I think there’s room for both the Tofurky and Trader Joe’s brand. I heard a lot of the employees complain about the previous fake turkey, which I guess was the Tofurky one. I’m just glad to see more alternatives to dead turkeys! 😉
We definitely enjoy the Tofurkey version of this roast more than the Trader Joe’s. The TJ’s texture was a bit mushier and the stuffing was a disappointing mix of unidentifiable foods. In our household, the Tofurkey roast is generally devoured in a day or two, but we’re left with half of the TJ’s version 4 days later..it’s time to get creative so none goes to waste! I usually love everything TJ’s….props for offering a veg option, regardless!
It seems like you’re not alone! I heard TJ switched from a Tofurky roast to this one, so maybe they’ll go back. I like both so no complaints from me! Thanks for the comment and be sure to check back!
i liked it, but havn’t gotton the knack of cooking it yet as i’ve made maney tofurkeys. years ago in socal i found another roast that i havn’t seen in years that even had a crispy skin after cooked that was all vegan. havn’t seen it in a long time. i made some for a food not bombs serving in venice/santa monica. i’m looking for recipes for the trader joes turkey-less roast now for xmas 🙂 blessed be, wil
I saw this mentioned on several vegan blogs but wasn’t able to find it until this weekend. I thought it was fantastic! I too found the texture to be very much like that of real meat and not at all rubbery. Admittedly I’ve never tried the Torfurky roasts so I can’t speak to whether it would be superior TJ’s but I really don’t have any complaints about the TJ version.
Thanks for the comment Noreen. I could’t agree more!
I’ve tried this product two years in a row now after Traders stopped selling Tofurky (big mistake). Turned out horrible two years running and I will never buy again. The taste and consistency reminded me a bit like bologna, or what I recall of bologna as I am vegan now. I tried to extend the cook time to make it less mushy (didn’t work) and as next day leftovers I tried microwaving to little improvement–certainly not enough to give it another try one day. Next year I’ll be crossing the street to Whole Foods to get a Tofurky at $3 more. I’m a long/longtime Traders fan, but this product is horrible and I didn’t even discuss the mushy “stuffing” that comprises far more than half this product. Buyer beware; vegans stay away….
Thanks for the comment Sarah! I have noticed my roast had gotten mushy once, but that was only after freezing it. I do not recommend that! I don’t know if you did that though. I like Field Roast best, but I do think Tofurky comes in second. I was able to try all three this Thanksgiving, so I can relate to what you’re saying. I do still like this Trader Joe’s roast and will continue to purchase them, since they’re only available for a few month’s out of the year.
-George
I’m pretty sure you just didn’t cook it long enough, or else they’ve greatly improved it. I have had this for Thanksgiving two years in a row with no complaints from anyone, including omnivores. I personally roast it a bit longer than it recommends on the box. They probably prepare these in commercial grade ovens, and home ovens may take longer.
I actually love the gravy, and have eaten it over bread. I read one review where the person actually suggested throwing it away, and I’m sorry, I think she was being a bit irrational, it probably didn’t suit her personal taste, it’s a little heavy on rosemary. I find it delicious, and I have fed this roast with the gravy, prepared in the oven with root vegetables and olive oil, to non vegans and they loved it. One person actually eats poultry and still thanked me for the “turkey” because it was “so good. “
I have just returned from Trader Joe’s…it’s 6 December and they are out of the product and won’t get it until next year. My problem? I LOVE this version of turkey; as a 66 year old vegan, I don’t have that many years left and would eat a roast once a week indefinitely. This year, I had already bought ten separate roasts since November 9th, and was shopping today for the next 5 or 6 boxes. The window of opportunity opened on 11/6 and was to close a day or two before Christmas.
Every year, I’ve asked them, verbally and in writing, to sell the item beyond the holidays and they’ve turned a deaf ear to those requests–with the fatuous bromide “it’s seasonal.” As if the dead turkey roasts they sell year around don’t find an audience.
Can anyone direct me to the actual producer of this roast so that I might buy directly from them…even in the off-season? I have tried Tofurkey and couldn’t finish it–taste and texture were not to my liking. At all.
I find the TJ gravy delicious–rosemary is a favorite herb of mine.
Even in 2014, it’s not easy finding good tasting vegan food.
Maybe, in 2015, it will be better.
Happy New Year.
HI Steve,
You can purchase the roast at Whole Foods or other placed from Gardein. The issue is that they only make it near the holidays as well. At least you can get some now and stock them up in your freezer until next year! Link:
http://gardein.com/products/holiday-roast/
Thanks very much for the information. I’ve eaten Gardein products prior to finding the TJ version of chicken strips and ground beef (probably made by Gardein, now that I know that it’s their turkey roast). I used to shop at Whole Foods until the owner started making his reactionary political philosophy public. I try to support more employee friendly companies, but if Gardein can’t identify another available outlet, I’ll eat a little crow along with whatever additional boxes I can find and fit into my freezer.
Hi George,
I had written a message of thanks, posted it and then used the link that you’d provided. I got the results back in seconds….nothing available anywhere.
What I don’t understand is this: Either the roast sells a sufficient number of units to make it profitable for the company or not. If there isn’t a market for the product, they would give it up after a couple of years of losses. Yet, they bring the product back year after year, so I’m left thinking that vegetarians and vegans only eat the late lamented turkey roast for Thanksgiving and no other holiday, event or season.
Am I the only one who would eat it at other times of the year?
What would Ayn Rand do?