This spicy vegan andouille sausage is made in the oven and adds a delicious kick of heat and protein to any dish! Oil-free option.Inspired by and adapted from Isa Chandra's recipe for Simple Italian Sausage.
3Tbspolive oil - For oil-free diets, sub 2 Tbsp tomato paste.
¼cupsoy sauce
1Tbspgarlic puree, freshly grated from about 4 large cloves
1Tbspapple cider vinegar
2tspmolasses
1cupcooked pinto beans - If using canned beans, rinse, drain, and pat dry to remove excess moisture.
Instructions
Cut 8 pieces of foil just large enough to securely wrap the sausage links, about 7 x 12 inches. If you like a layer of parchment between food and foil, cut 8 smaller pieces of parchment, about 5 x 7 inches.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the dry ingredients: vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, cayenne, smoked paprika, regular paprika, thyme, mustard powder, pepper and salt.
In a small/medium bowl, whisk together the broth, oil, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and molasses.
Pour the wet ingrediens into the bowl with the dry ingredients, and add the cup of pinto beans. Push up your sleeves and get in there with your hands! Squish and squeeze everything together for about one minute or until well combined. Mash the beans with your fingers, and press them into the dough.
Transfer the dough to a flat surface and knead for several minutes or until it becomes stretchy and firm. Feel free to tear and squish/squeeze the dough with your hands combined with more traditional kneading.
Shape the dough into a rectangle. Cut the dough into four equal-sized pieces, then cut each of those in half so that you have 8 links/logs. The dough will look bumpy and rough but will snap into shape inside the foil while cooking.
If using parchment, wrap a sausage link in parchment. Then place that on a piece of foil and wrap tightly. Twist the ends like a tootsie roll wrapper so that the sausage is completely sealed within the foil (to keep moisture in). If not using parchment, simply place each sausage link on the foil and wrap as described above.
Place the foil-wrapped sausages on a baking sheet, and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, flipping at the halfway point. When the sausages are done they will feel firm when pressed with tongs. You can also check by carefully unwrapping one foil package. There should be some browning on the outside and the sausage should be firm when pressed.
Unwrap each sausage and allow to cool.
Notes
StorageOnce the sausages have cooled to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.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.