The great gluten turkey, part one
10 servings
Ingredients
| Quantity | Ingredient | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | pounds | Whole wheat flour made into gluten use approx 14 cups water or 8 cups vital wheat gluten flour 6 cups water |
| ⅓ | cup | Light yeast flavoring 1/2 cup if using vital wheat gluten |
| 1 | Yard cheese cloth | |
| ⅔ | cup | Light yeast flavoring see recipe |
| 1 | gallon | Water |
| ⅓ | cup | Margarine |
| ⅓ | cup | White wine |
| 2 | Round circles chinese bean curd sheet (yuba) or enough smaller squares to cover \"turkey\" in 2 - 3 layers | |
| 8 | cups | Stuffing of choice see recipe ---- Light Yeast Flavoring |
| 1 | cup | Yeast flakes |
| 1 | tablespoon | Salt |
| ½ | teaspoon | Ginger |
| ½ | teaspoon | Turmeric |
| 1 | teaspoon | Black pepper |
| 1 | teaspoon | Marjoram |
| 1 | teaspoon | Tarragon |
| 1 | teaspoon | Paprika |
| 1 | teaspoon | Rosemary |
| 2 | teaspoons | Sage |
| 2 | teaspoons | Celery seed |
| 2 | teaspoons | Thyme |
| 2 | teaspoons | Garlic powder |
| 2 | teaspoons | Onion powder -- Great Glutten Dressing |
| 2 | tablespoons | Margarine |
| 1 | Large onion, chopped | |
| 2 | Stalks celery, chopped | |
| 6 | ounces | Mushrooms, sliced |
| 1½ | pounds | Bread crumbs |
| 1½ | teaspoon | Sage |
| 1½ | teaspoon | Marjoram |
| 1½ | teaspoon | Thyme |
| 1 | teaspoon | Salt |
| 1 | cup | Stock --- Gravey For \"Turkey\" |
| 2 | teaspoons | Margarine |
| 2½ | tablespoon | Flour |
| 1 | cup | Reserved gluten stock from \"turkey\" recipe |
| 1 | tablespoon | White wine |
| Several dashes soy sauce | ||
| 1 | tablespoon | Light Yeast Flovoring see recipe, optional |
Directions
THE GREAT GLUTEN TURKEY
From "The Now and Zen Epicure" by Miyoko Nishimoto ( The Book Publishing Company $17.95). This faux turkey takes a bit of work but will surely cause comment at the table. The skin is made from a soy product called "Yuba". It can be purchased in fragile, dry sheets at Japanese food stores, or frozen at some Chinese markets under the name "bean curd sheet" or "bean curd skin".
The yuba must be soaked and reconstituted to a soft, pliable texture before using. It is best to put individual sheets between wet towels until they turn soft and white in color. They are then ready to use.
Using either wheat flour or vital wheat gluten flour, make gluten according to the recipe. Roll it out into a rectangle approximately 15 inches long and 8 to 10 inches wide. Sprinkle with ⅓ cup yeast flavoring (unless you've added it in with your vital wheat gluten).
Roll it up lengthwise. Spread out the cheesecloth and place the glutten roll in the middle. Wrap the sides of the cloth around the glutten roll first, then tie the ends together. It should be wrapped fairly loosely so that the gluten can expand a little while cooking but not so loose that it expands too much and becomes too soft and spongy in texture.
Place the roll in a large pot. Pour over it the gallon of water and the remaining ⅔ cup yeast flavoring. Cover bring to a boil, turn down the heat and simmer for 1½ hours. This process can be done up to two days before serving.
Prepare the stuffing of your choice. Remove the gluten roll from the stock, saving the stock for gravy. Untie and remove the cheesecloth.
Unroll the "turkey" and fill it with the stuffing, or mound the stuffing on a large greased baking sheet and place the gluten around it. Place the stuffed gluten on a large greased baking sheet.
Reconstitute the yuba as mentioned before, by soaking for 5 minutes in water in a flat, shallow dish or between layors of wet towels. It will turn white and be pliable but will still be fragile. Cover the "turkey" with two to three layers of yuba. Melt the margarine and brush the entire "turkey" with some of it. Pour the wine into the remaining margarine: this will be used for basting while baking. If desired, 2 tablespoons of the yeast flavoring can be added to the margarine-wine mixture to give it an even more authentic flavor.
continued, see part two