Spicy Italian Sausage (Vegan and Gluten-free)

I love this vegan recipe from The Vee Word just the way it is!  Great flavour, good texture. Admittedly, it's a bit of work for FOUR sausages. Make a ton and freeze them.


Ingredients

Spice Mix

• 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 ½ tsp. fennel, crushed
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 ½ tsp. sweet paprika
• 1 ½ tsp. smoked paprika
• ½ tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp. oregano
• 1/8 tsp. allspice

 
Sausage

• 2 tsp. + 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 cup mushrooms, chopped
• ¼ cup onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 15 oz. can of beans, drained and rinsed (e.g., pinto, mixed)
• 1 Tbs. sun-dried tomato paste (3-4 sundried tomatoes, pureed with water)
• ¼ cup nutritional yeast
• ½ cup gluten-free flour mix (my fave is Cuisine Soleil)
• 1 tsp. xanthan gum
• 3 Tbs. Vegan Gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
• A few drops of Liquid Smoke (optional)

Directions 

1. Prepare the spice mix and set aside. 
2. In a large skillet on medium heat, add olive oil and sauté the onions, mushrooms and garlic until softened. Set aside and let cool.
3. In a large bowl, add the beans and mash them up with a fork or potato masher. Do not puree in a blender or food processor. Add the tomato paste, nutritional yeast, spice mix and flour. Mix well.
4. Sprinkle the xanthan gum over the mixture and mix it all together.
5. Add the cooled veggie mixture to the bowl and mix it into the dry ingredients. Add the Worcestershire sauce and Liquid Smoke. Mix it well.
6. Divide the mixture into 4 parts. Roll each part into a log.
7. Wrap the logs individually in tin foil and steam them for 15-20 minutes. Let them cool and refrigerate for a few hours to help them firm up.
8. When ready to eat, unwrap and cook the sausages on the grill, in a pan, in the oven or any way you like. Serve with your favourite toppings.

Notes:

• Try to find organic beans in BPA-free cans. 
• Some people have sensitivities to xanthan gum. Try guar gum or leave it out entirely. 
• I'm suspicious of the "natural" flavour of Liquid Smoke but I really like the taste and use in moderation. The spice mix is tasty, you can  easily leave it out. 
• The instructions tell you to wrap the logs in foil and steam them. I have not tried it with this recipe but did steam other veggie dogs WITHOUT the foil - it worked perfectly and saved a lot of effort and foil. Simply lay the sausages flat on the steamer.