Brisket is synonymous with Jewish cuisine. It seems as though every bubbe has their own recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. A fall-apart brisket was the centerpiece of our Hanukkah meal, with umami-rich gravy pooling onto our plates loaded with crispy potato latkes. Recreating the texture and taste of beef for a plant-based dish is challenging, but king trumpet mushrooms and grated tofu help mimic the look and feel of brisket. Serve it with roasted potatoes or latkes, or try it in a challah bun and slaw for a play on a “pulled beef” sandwich.
For a less traditional, yet very tasty, flavor more similar to a pulled barbecue “beef,” in lieu of ketchup, try adding your favorite barbecue sauce. To make this kosher for Passover, be sure to use a Passover-friendly soy sauce alternative.
A note on mushrooms and protein: Many vegetarian options in restaurants or on the store shelves are mushroom based, from portobello burgers to mushroom jerky. While they are delicious and full of umami-rich flavor, mushrooms are not a replacement for protein and are best served with other protein-rich foods, such as the tofu in this recipe.
Note: Store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw and transfer to a baking dish. Bake at 350°F until heated through.
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Recipe reprinted with permission from “Nosh: Plant-Forward Recipes Celebrating Modern Jewish Cuisine” by Micah Siva, published by The Collective Book Studio, 2024.
How many servings?
Hi Dawn, the recipe states it serves 6.
Can’t find trumpet mushrooms. Any suggestions on a more easily obtainable type?
Hi Melinda, you can substitute them for 1Ā½ lb of cremini (aka baby Bella) mushrooms.
Is there a way to do this without oil – or as a last resort, with a lot less oil?
I can’t wait to try this for my vegetarian grandchildren. Please suggest how I could use this for passover as I doubt tofu is allowed.
Hi!
Tofu is dependent on your level of observance – but you can omit the tofu and double the mushrooms š
Can you use a different type of mushroom? King trumpet mushrooms are rarely sold in south GA where I live. ā¹ļø
Hi Miki, you can substitute them for 1Ā½ lb of cremini (aka baby Bella) mushrooms. Enjoy!
I’m skeptical, but I’ll try it sometime….
Can the red wine be substituted?
Hi Janet, this article has some great ideas for red wine substitutes. Please let us know how it turns out!
This sounds amazing! My husband doesn’t like alcohol in food. Do you have any thoughts on how to approach replacing the 2 cups of dry red wine? Thank you!
Hi Michelle, this article has some great ideas for red wine substitutes. Please let us know how it turns out!
The photo looks like the yummy “brisket” is served with perhaps roasted potatoes and carrots? As they are not included in the recipe, are they roasted separately?
Yep, roast them on the side or serve with anything you like.
I canāt find āking trumpet mushroomsā.can I use king oyster mushrooms?
They are one and the same! Enjoy.
This came out great and really fooled my tastebuds into thinking it was the real thing! I did cook it for considerably longer than recommended in all stages, to remove the liquid. Probably a more aggressive drain of the tofu beforehand would have helped
Does anyone have the recipe for “chopped liver” made from vegetables.
I had it at party…..hmmm…I think it made with string beans or peas.
Everyone thought it was chopped liver. It looked like chopped liver and tasted exactly like chopped liver….except this was a lot heather than than the real thing.
Hi Mark, we have a couple of recipes for mock chopped liver, including this walnut-based recipe and this green bean-based recipe. Enjoy!
It might work better with Seitan which has a mouth feel & look closer to real beef
Hi Steven,
I imagine it would work well! Note that seitan is usually pre-seasoned and higher in salt, so you may want to adjust the levels of soy sauce accordingly.