Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

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Seitan is a vegan meat alternative that you can use for steaks, sausages, schnitzel, stews, gyros and many more typical meat dishes. This seitan is quick and easy to make and is not as hard or rubbery like many store-bought seitan products are. You can make the seitan in a food processor (=almost no kneading at all!).

Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (1)

I love seitan but it took me exactly 4 years to master making it at home! Seitan always turned out too hard, too chewy, too rubbery. Does anyone else thinks that store-bought seitan is rubbery as hell?! So that wasn’t an option for me either.

I’m really proud of this seitan recipe. The seitan is soft and fluffy, while still having a nice meaty texture. Thanks to two tricks, this seitan is different from any seitan you’ve ever had (more about that below).

You can make seitan by washing out flour until all the starches have washed away. But this takes a lot of time. For this seitan, we’re using vital wheat gluten instead. This makes it so much faster!

What is Seitan?

Seitan is a vegan meat alternative. You can use seitan in any dish in which you want to substitute meat. Seitan is especially great for steaks, schnitzel, sausages, gyros, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, pepperoni, curries, goulash or stews.

Is Seitan healthy?

If you can’t eat gluten, you shouldn’t eat seitan because seitan is pure gluten. Other than that, seitan is agreat source of protein, calcium, and minerals.

What is Vital Wheat Gluten?

Vital Wheat Gluten is madefrom the protein found in wheat. You can buy vital wheat gluten in powder form and it looks just like flour! It’s the key component for making seitan. It makes the seitan chewy, gives it a nice meaty texture and binds all the ingredients together. It’s pure magic. Except when you’re gluten intolerant. Then it’s not for you.

How to make Seitan

Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2)
Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (3)
Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (4)
Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (6)
Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (7)
Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (8)

Now… what do you want to make?

  • Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (9)
  • Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (10)
  • Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (11)

Do you want to know how to make vegan Schnitzelor vegan sausages with this seitan base? Or you can grill the seitan filets in a grilling pan, add herb butter on top and enjoy as seitan steaks!

How to make Seitan that isn’t spongy/rubbery/tough?

My #1 super secret ingredient for this seitan that has just the right balance of soft and firm issparkling water! It’s just a simple substitution with a huge effect. Trick #2 is to usecanned chickpeasinstead of chickpea flour. This makes the seitan soft (even the next day or the day after!).

Can you freeze Seitan?

Yes, I’ve tried it with this seitan recipe and it works great! Let the seitan cool off completely, place the seitan in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, freeze. When you’re ready to eat the frozen seitan, let it thaw at room temperature for a few hours, then grill/cook/roast/whatever you want to do with it! It’s good as new!

More Seitan Recipes you will love

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  • Seitan Roast with Bread Stuffing

I hope you’ll enjoy this homemade seitan as much as I do!

Let me know if you give this recipe a try! I’d love to hear how it turns out for you.

If you don’t want to miss out on new recipes,subscribe to my weekly newsletterand follow me onInstagramandFacebook!

Cheers, Bianca

Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (12)

Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten

Elephantastic Vegan

Seitan is a vegan meat alternative that you can use for steaks, sausages, schnitzel or wherever you’d use meat. This seitan is quick and easy to make and is not as hard or rubbery like many store-bought seitan products are. You can make the seitan in a food processor (=almost no kneading at all!).

4.54 from 28 votes

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Basics

Cuisine Vegan

Servings 4 large steaks or 8 vegan sausages

Calories 222 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon canola oil
  • 1/2 large white onion – chopped
  • 2 garlic clove – chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/2 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/3 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/2 cup sparkling water
  • 1 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten

Instructions

  • In a large pan with canola oil, sautée the chopped onion and garlic cloves until soft. Add the cumin and fennel seeds. Let it cook for another minute until the spices are toasted.

  • In a food processor, add the chickpeas, onion-garlic-spices mixture, tomato paste, salt, thyme, smoked paprika, soy sauce, and sparkling water. Pulse until it’s saucy. Then add the vital wheat gluten and pulse again until it comes together in a ball.

  • Prepare a large pot (filled with a couple of inches of water) with a steaming basket and bring it to high heat.

  • Now you can bring the seitan in the shape you want.

    For sausages:Divide the seitan into 8 equal chunks. Roll and press the seitan into a sausage shape. Roll each sausage in parchment paper and aluminum foil (roll it tightly). Twist the ends so that the seitan is completely covered in foil. Add the seitan sausages into the steaming basket and let them steam for about 40 minutes, flipping them after 20 minutes.

    For steaks or to use them for Schnitzel: Cut the seitan into 4 pieces for large steaks or 8 for smaller ones. Roll them out flat. Steam in the steamer for at least 10 minutes on each side. You can grill the seitan steaks afterward for nice grill marks.

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 36gFat: 2gSodium: 844mgPotassium: 226mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 390IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 3.5mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!

This post was first published on November 8, 2014.Updated on August 10, 2018.

Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (15)

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Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

Is seitan made from vital wheat gluten? ›

Seitan is a “wheat meat” made from vital wheat gluten. It's high in protein, low in fat, and cheap to make. It's a great substitute for meat, fish, or chicken.

Who should not eat seitan? ›

People who are gluten sensitive or have celiac disease should avoid eating seitan. Allergic Reactions: Some people may be allergic to wheat or gluten and experience allergic reactions after eating seitan.

How to make seitan a complete protein from wheat gluten? ›

Chickpea Flour – Very often you'll see this ingredient in addition to VWG in recipes. It works to not only help break up some of the gluten strands in your mix for a slightly softer texture, but also brings with it lots of Lysine, making your seitan a complete protein.

What is the best flour for seitan? ›

For a better flavor and a cheaper price, try washing the flour and make your seitan from bread flour! The brand of bread flour doesn't matter. Choose a high protein flour for a larger yield. You can make this with all-purpose flour, however you will have a smaller yield.

Is it okay to eat seitan every day? ›

How Often to Eat Seitan. As Churchill pointed out, it's about finding the perfect balance when incorporating seitan into your diet. “Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.”

Is vital wheat gluten good or bad? ›

Vital wheat gluten contains a lot of nutritional value, which helps to keep you healthy and active throughout the day. It is processed food and considered safe and healthy to eat. Please note, if you suffer from Celiac disease or have gluten allergies, then you must avoid consuming gluten in any form.

What happens if you use too much vital wheat gluten? ›

When you add too much vital wheat gluten, the gluten network can become overdeveloped. This results in a bread that's too chewy and dense, lacking the desired softness. It can also lead to a crust that's too thick and hard.

Is it cheaper to make your own seitan? ›

Homemade seitan is a lot easier to make that you might think! It's also a lot cheaper than store-bought, and tastes so much better. You'll need less than 10 ingredients to make this delicious meat substitute. It's super versatile and can be used in many different vegetarian and vegan dishes as the main protein source.

Does seitan make you gassy? ›

If you have a wheat allergy, celiac disease or gluten intolerance, seitan is definitely out of the question as it is literally made from wheat gluten. If you have a sensitivity to gluten, eating foods like seitan can result in many adverse side effects such as bloating, diarrhea, fatigue and abdominal pain.

Why is my seitan so rubbery? ›

Cooking Method: Overcooking can cause the steak to lose its moisture, making it dry and chewy. Conversely, undercooking can make certain cuts feel tough. Aging Process: Steaks that are not properly aged can be less tender. At Heartstone Farm, our grass-fed beef is aged 14 days for optimal tenderness.

Why is my seitan falling apart? ›

Place it in a bowl and cover it with cool water* for at least 1 hour, but not longer than 8-10. Too short doesn't give enough time for the gluten strands to come together. Too long and they start to fall apart and become mushy. It is fine even in the warmer months to leave it to rest out on your kitchen counter.

What food is similar to seitan? ›

Tempeh and seitan are among the two most popular plant-based meat alternatives. Use them to make seitan "duck" noodles, or barbecue tempeh sandwiches. The possibilities are truly endless. While both seitan and tempeh taste delicious, navigating the differences between each can be a bit tricky.

Can you eat seitan if you are gluten intolerant? ›

Because seitan contains gluten, it should not be enjoyed by individuals with a gluten allergy. If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, then seitan is not the meat alternative for you. Instead, we recommend munching on other plant-based meat alternatives like tofu, tempeh and legumes.

Is seitan 100% gluten? ›

Seitan, another name for wheat gluten, is not gluten-free. Seitan (pronounced say-tann) is made by washing wheat flour dough until all the starch is removed and only the gluten protein remains. The protein is then cooked and served, often as a meat substitute in vegetarian and vegan dishes.

What is vital wheat gluten? ›

Gluten (Vital Wheat Gluten Flour) is the natural protein found in wheat. A small amount added to yeast bread recipes improves the texture and elasticity of the dough. Vital Wheat Gluten Flour can also be used to make a vegetarian meat substitute known as seitan.

Is vital wheat gluten an additive? ›

Vital Wheat Gluten is an additive made from the protein (aka gluten) found in wheat. Vital Wheat Gluten basically looks like flour but it is 100% gluten with little to no starch.

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