Spicy and flavorful Andouille-Style Vegan Sausage is easy to prepare and incredibly versatile. You can make your own vegan sausage and put it in your favorite grain bowls, stews and soups, snack boards, sandwiches, and Cajun dishes. You can also make it without oil.
I’ve made vegan sausages at home many times over the years, but most of the time they were Italian-style, using Isa Chandra’s recipe for Simple Italian Sausages as a guide.
It wasn’t until last year that I thought to try seasoning my favorite seitan sausage with traditional andouille spices. And from the very first test batch Mark and I both loved it!.
After putting it off for months, I finally got around to making it again for the blog.
As of late, I’ve been craving all kinds of spicy foods, so I went back to this recipe and tweaked it! If you like cayenne, I think you’ll LOVE these vegan andouille sausages.
Pepper, soy sauce, thyme, garlic, smoked and sweet paprika, and ground mustard give them flavor and color as well.
And since youre here, Im guessing you also love spicy vegan meats. So be sure to check out this Vegan Chorizo!.
Andouille sausage is a staple of Cajun and Creole cooking. With its spicy, garlicky, smoky flavor it’s practically synonymous with jambalaya gumbo, red beans and rice, and other New Orleans classics. But many people are now seeking plant-based alternatives to traditional meat sausages. Luckily it’s easier than ever to find delicious vegan andouille sausage to satisfy your cravings.
In this complete guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about purchasing mouthwatering vegan andouille sausage, from where to find it to how to pick the best brand. Let’s get cooking!
What Exactly is Vegan Andouille Sausage?
Traditional andouille sausage has origins in French cuisine and is made from pork. Vegan andouille sausage replicates the texture and smoky, spicy flavor using plant-based ingredients instead of meat.
Common main ingredients include:
- Vital wheat gluten – Gives a meaty, chewy texture
- Soy protein or TVP – Adds protein and heartiness
- Spices like garlic, paprika, thyme, oregano, cayenne – For signature Cajun kick
- Salt, maple syrup, liquid smoke – Enhance flavor
- Vegetable broth or oil – For moisture
Quality vegan andouille can be remarkably similar to the classic pork version. It’s packed with flavor and makes a perfect meat substitute in recipes. Now let’s find out where to get your hands on some!
Check National Grocery Store Chains
Many major mainstream grocery stores now carry vegan and vegetarian specialty products due to increasing consumer demand. When shopping at your local supermarket, check these sections:
- Refrigerated vegetarian meats
- Frozen meat alternatives
- Natural/organic frozen foods
Some specific brands to look for include Field Roast, Tofurky Beyond Meat Lightlife, Yves, and Gardein. Large chains like Kroger, Safeway, Wegmans, Publix, HEB, and Winn-Dixie often carry vegan sausage varieties.
Search Natural Food Stores and Co-ops
Health food stores and food co-ops tend to have expansive selections of vegan meats, including andouille sausage. Some top chains to browse include:
- Whole Foods Market
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Earth Fare
- Fresh Thyme
Independent natural grocers and food co-ops are also great spots to discover vegan andouille sausage from smaller specialty brands not found in mainstream supermarkets.
Check Your Local Farmers Market
More and more small-scale vendors at local farmers markets are selling their own homemade vegan meats and sausages Search for keywords like “vegan” and “vegetarian” on your farmers market website or social media pages to find relevant sellers.
Buying direct from the source is a great way to get deliciously fresh vegan andouille sausage made with high quality whole food ingredients. You’ll be supporting local businesses too.
Order Online for Convenience
If you can’t find vegan andouille sausage locally, turn to the internet. Many online grocery delivery services make it easy to shop for specialty vegan items.
Top picks include:
- Instacart
- Amazon Fresh
- Walmart Grocery Pickup & Delivery
- Thrive Market
- Vegan Essentials
You can also order directly from vegan meat brands that sell online. Search for “vegan andouille sausage” and browse your options. Home delivery means you can enjoy meatless Cajun goodness without ever leaving the house.
What to Look for When Buying
Not all vegan sausages are created equal. Here are key factors to consider when selecting vegan andouille sausage:
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Ingredients – Choose products made from whole foods like vital wheat gluten, legumes, and herbs/spices. Avoid artificial preservatives.
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Flavor – It should have an authentic smoky, spicy, garlicky Cajun taste. Read reviews to help guide your pick.
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Texture – Seek sausages that are dense and chewy but still juicy. They should mimic meat.
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Brand Reputation – Established vegan brands tend to offer higher quality.
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Cost – Prices range from $3-$8 per sausage. Balance budget with quality.
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Storage – Opt for refrigerated sausages for freshness if cooking soon. Frozen works well for stocking up.
Following these tips will ensure you wind up with appetizing vegan andouille sausage worthy of any Creole feast.
Get Cooking with Vegan Andouille Sausage
Now comes the best part – cooking up delicious dishes! Here are just a few ideas for savoring your vegan andouille:
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Make a classic Louisiana jambalaya – add sausage to rice along with veggies and Creole seasoning
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Stuff it into bell peppers or cabbage leaves
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Grill it up and serve with charred corn on the cob
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Chop and add to red beans and rice for flavor
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Layer it into a vegan gumbo or étouffée
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Fry up with okra and tomatoes for a meatless skillet meal
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Combine with kale and chickpeas for a sausage stew
Let your tastebuds explore the possibilities! Vegan andouille sausage packs a flavor punch sure to spice up any meal.
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How to Make Vegan Sausage
If youve never made seitan sausages before, please dont be intimidated. It really is incredibly easy. Ill break it down for you.
- For starters, cut 8 pieces of foil about 7 or 8 inches long, which is long enough to wrap each sausage link. You will also cut 8 pieces of parchment paper in case you don’t want foil to touch your food. The parchment can be considerably smaller, though, about 5 inches.
- In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Toss all the wet ingredients (except the pinto beans) in a smaller bowl until they are well mixed.
- Join the beans and the wet mixture into the dry ones. And here comes the fun part. get your hands in there! No spoon required. It’s time to mix everything together. Squish, squeeze, mix, punch, and knead it. See the picture on the right? That’s how the soft, fluffy dough will look after you mix it all together in the bowl.
- Next, put the dough on a flat surface. If your countertop is porous and gets stained easily, I suggest using a cutting board. Knead the dough for three to four minutes, and don’t be afraid to rough it up. This isnt like kneading bread. It can be torn, squished, and mashed up! If any whole pinto beans come out, just mash them up and press them back into the dough.
- Make a rectangle out of the dough once it feels pretty firm. This doesnt have to be precise. Cut the rectangle into 4 pieces that are all the same size (see picture on the left). Then cut each of those four pieces in half, making a total of eight pieces of dough.
- Wrap one log in parchment (if using), then in foil. Twist the foil like a Tootsie Roll wrapper to hold the ends together. NOTE: Make sure you wrap the sausages very tightly. This will help them snap into shape and keep their moisture.
- When the oven is hot enough (375 degrees), put the sausages on a baking sheet and wrap them in foil. Bake for about 55 minutes. Press the middle of one of the sausages with tongs to see if it’s done. Carefully take it out of the box to see the color and feel if it feels firm.
Now you have eight spicy, gorgeous vegan sausages ready to eat or use in your favorite recipes!
Ive also cooked these sausages by steaming them, but I preferred their texture when baked. When they touch the hot baking pan, they brown like a skillet, and the texture and firmness were better all around.
If you prefer to steam the sausages, cook time will be about 45 to 55 minutes.
We are in the middle of party season, and I can see these sausages on a beautiful vegan snack board. Cut them up and serve them with different kinds of vegan cheeses, vegetables, crackers, bread, olives, mustards, pickles, hummus, and more.
Cut these sausage links into thin slices or use a food processor to break them up. Then you can add them to stir fries, tofu scrambles (like this Cajun Tofu Scramble), pastas, soups, wraps, and sandwiches.
Of course, these can be eaten straight out of the oven when hot or refrigerated for later use.
If you want to serve these seitan sausages later, the best ways to warm them up are in a hot skillet, for a short time in the microwave, or on the grill. Reheating seitan in the oven tends to dry it out pretty quickly.
The recipe calls for a range of 2 to 2 ½ teaspoons of cayenne pepper. I would consider both of those amounts to create a moderately spicy sausage.
This batch had more heat than Mark and I liked, but you know your own taste! If you only want a little heat, you could cut the cayenne to 1 or 1 ½ teaspoons, but I haven’t tried that amount.
I hope you enjoy this Vegan Andouille Sausage recipe! If you try it I would love to hear from you. Snap a pic and tag me on facebook or insta with @myquietkitchen. You can also leave a comment and star rating below to let everyone know how they turned out!
Enjoy!
- Weigh the flour or “whisk and fluff” it, then spoon it into a measuring cup. This will give you 2 ¾ cups of vital wheat gluten (330 g).
- ⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 ½ tsp cayenne
- 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- No oil? Use 2 tablespoons of tomato paste instead of 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic puree made from 4 large cloves that have been freshly grated
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp molasses
- 1 cup cooked pinto beans; if using canned beans, drain, rinse, and pat dry to get rid of extra water.
- Cut 8 pieces of foil about 7 inches by 12 inches, which is just big enough to wrap the sausage links securely. Cut 8 5×7-inch pieces of parchment paper if you want to put a layer of parchment paper between the food and the foil.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- The dry ingredients are vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, cayenne, regular paprika, smoked paprika, thyme, mustard powder, pepper, and salt. Put them all in a large bowl and mix them together using a whisk.
- To make the sauce, mix the broth, oil, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, and molasses in a small or medium bowl.
- Add the cup of pinto beans to the bowl with the dry ingredients after adding the wet ingredients. Pull your sleeves up and get your hands in there! Squish and squeeze everything together for about a minute, or until it’s all well mixed. Finger-mash the beans and press them into the dough.
- Put the dough on a flat surface and knead it for a few minutes, or until it gets firm and stretchy. You can tear and squish the dough with your hands as well as knead it in the usual way.
- Shape the dough into a rectangle. Cut the dough into four pieces that are all the same size. Then, cut each piece in half to make eight logs or links. The dough will look rough and bumpy, but it will flatten out inside the foil while it cooks.
- If using parchment, wrap a sausage link in parchment. Put that on a piece of foil and wrap it up tight. Roll the ends up like a Tootsie Roll so that the sausage is completely enclosed in the foil. This will keep the moisture inside. If you don’t have parchment paper, just put each sausage link on a piece of foil and wrap it up like you did above.
- The sausages should be put on a baking sheet and wrapped in foil. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, flipping them over halfway through. When the sausages are done, pressing them with tongs will make them feel firm. You can also check by carefully unwrapping one foil package. The outside of the sausage should be getting brown, and when you press on it, it should feel firm.
- Unwrap each sausage and allow to cool.
Tofu Sausage is my NEW favorite Sausage
FAQ
Does Trader Joe’s sell vegan sausage?
Does Costco sell plant-based sausage?
What can I substitute for andouille sausage?
Who makes vegan sausage?
What do vegan andouille sausages taste like?
These vegan andouille sausages taste alarmingly similar to the regular ones! Meaty, smoky, and packed with flavors, they will leave you craving more. These sausages are also extremely high in protein! Prepare 6 sheets of 7-8 inches of aluminum foils. (I am using 12 inches wide foil .)
Can vegan andouille sausages be frozen?
Freezer – Vegan andouille sausages can be frozen for up to 3 months. I recommend portioning them out using freezer bags before freezing, so you will only take out what you need. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. Reheating – You can reheat sausages in the microwave, grill, or pan-fry them in some oil.
Can You bake vegan andouille sausage?
Baking sausages – Alternatively, you can bake vegan andouille sausage in the oven at 180C/350F for around an hour. As mentioned above, these vegan andouille sausages are incredibly versatile and can be added to many dishes. Here are some of my favorite ways to use them:
Can vegan sausages be frozen?
Vegan sausages can also be frozen. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating in a skillet or in the microwave. Reheating in the oven is not recommended as the sausages will dry out. Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used.