What’s a vegan to do when the whole country eats Thanksgiving turkey and all he believes he can gnaw on is a lump of tofu? The creative vegan might respond that when life gives you tofu, make tofurky!
A company specializing in making food for vegans, ironically called Turtle Island Foods because it makes one wonder about just what is ground into the tofu, has created tofu turkeys for vegans who long for a meatless turkey around holiday time:
"Turtle Island Foods has been providing premium quality soy products at affordable prices since 1980.
"From our home on the banks of the Columbia River we manufacture Tofurky, Tempeh and other innovative soy products.
"Our goal is to produce alternatives to meat products of uncompromising taste and texture that are made from traditional soy foods like Tofu and Tempeh, not solvent extracted soy powders, isolates and concentrates. We are certified organic processors (by Oregon Tilth) and certified vegan (by the Vegan Society)."
Oh, and if your sense of gratitude at having spared the life of a turkey by slaughtering a tofurky spilleth over this holiday season, you can enter an essay contest devoted to honoring the best story about "featuring Tofurky in a peacemaking situation." No, first prize isn’t a turkey (or a tofurky), but an iPod.
SEE CONTEST FLYER. (Warning: Evil .pdf format.)
JIMMY ADDS: Although I personally have no problem with offing turkeys for Thanksgiving or any other occasion, I had to chime in on this one because I’ve actually eaten the Italian sausage tofurky franks pictured above, and (despite the fact it tastes nothing like turkey or Italian sausage) I actually kind of like it in a weird sort of way. (Though de gustibus non disputandum est.) They’re also low-carb.
Strange topic for my first comment on this blog, but I could not resist…
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics/archive.php?comicid=23
Looks like another case of fiction becoming reality :
It actually sounds good to me! I don’t eat tofu alone, but seasoned right and mixed in with other things makes a satisfying meal. You need some seasonings and/or sauce.
Sometimes meat feels very heavy in my stomach and gives me indigestion, and I want the protein, but something “lighter” in there.
I’ve had well-made tofu products, I don’t know what they do to it or what seasonings they use, but I’ve had some pretty satisfying meals. I’ll be doing some experimenting.
One thing I made myself was enchiladas with ground tofu. There is so much seasoning with those that even if you used meat instead, you wouldn’t taste it for all of the seasoning. My husband didn’t even know that I didn’t use meat! You have to find it in the right texture; some is sold in a texture more like ground beef.
I recommend giving some of these things a try even if you are still going to eat meat. Beans and their curd have their own health benefits and some women also find that tofu helps them during menopause.
Oh and remember, for meatless Fridays, there’s always tofu!
Tofurkey is PEOPLE!!!
I’m not vegetarian, but my fiance is. She has a Tofurky every Thanksgiving. They’re actually pretty good. The best part is the mushroom-based gravy that you can get from Turtle Island.
Tim J:
Darn you! Beat me to it…
Personally, I’ll opt for the Turducken!
Or, maybe John Madden’s 6-legged turkey … 🙂
One of the benign effects of my treatment for breast cancer several years ago is the knowledge that mine was the estrogen-positive variety. That fact, and the fact of naturally-occurring phytoestrogens in soy, provide me with a really plausible-sounding reason to avoid tofu and all its kin!
let’s not forget Hufu, Human Flavored Tofu
let’s not forget Hufu, Human Flavored Tofu…mmm…
Even when I was a vegetarian, I wouldn’t touch that. My still-vegetarian sister won’t touch it either. We do both like soy, but this is just… odd.
*Hermione voice*
“Turtle Island” is a reference to the common Native American story that North America, or the entire world, is on the back of a gigantic turtle. This myth has been adopted by many members of tribes who did not believe it back in the day, and used as a symbol in various pan-tribal movements.
However, as this oversimplification is a rampant offense against cultural diversity, and hence an insult to thousands of years of storytellers and believers, people should feel free to call the company by the name of the major creation myth features of their local tribes. Especially if it sounds really embarrassing and unappetizing.
I love tofu and every soybean product I’m aware of, but Tofurkey just sounds so unappetizing. Oh, what vegans have to go through (glad I’m carnivore).