Seitan (pronounced “say-tan”) is a meat substitute that is made from vital wheat gluten. It is a terrific meat replacement due to its consistency and texture. This Homemade Seitan can easily be made in your own kitchen for a fraction of the price that you would pay at a grocery store. Economical and versatile?! Yes, please!
Plant-based Eating
It can sometimes be difficult to initially adopt a meatless diet. Many traditional recipes center around ‘the meat.’ The great thing about seitan is that it mimics meat in appearance and texture and provides necessary protein for a complete meal. Therefore, it can make your transition to plant-based eating a little easier.
Seitan can easily replace beef for a “roast” or it can be cubed and added to a stir fry or casserole. For those that are just entering the world of meat-free food, seitan is a terrific option.
There are many fun varieties that can now be purchased at most grocery stores. However, most of these options are already seasoned and typically include a lot of sodium. Purchased seitan also tends to be rather expensive. But don’t worry- you can easily make this plant-based staple at home!
What is Vital Wheat Gluten?
The key ingredient in seitan is vital wheat gluten. Simply put, this is the main protein of wheat. It can also be referred to as “wheat gluten” or “wheat protein.” However, if you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease, this is not the meat substitute for you. Thankfully, there are other great meat replacement options such as tofu, tempeh, jackfruit, or even banana blossoms.
When you purchase vital wheat gluten it is actually a purified dried gluten power. That powder can quickly and easily be made into seitan with just a few steps. HERE is a brand of vital wheat gluten that we like and use often. However, it can also be found at most grocery stores, natural health food stores, or Asian markets. It is usually found in the organic food aisle of larger grocery stores or it might be in the bulk section of a local co-op.
The Basics
You can make your Homemade Seitan with some basic spices and seasonings along with a little elbow work. Yup, you will need to knead! Sorry couldn’t resist that one.
Seitan is made by kneading the vital wheat gluten powder with water and seasonings, which will produce a sticky dough of gluten protein. Once you cook it, you have Homemade Seitan. We mentioned that this is fairly easy, right?!
A Versatile Homemade Seitan Recipe
But, the best part about making your meat substitute at home is that you have the freedom to season it as you like and that you can also cut it into your own desired shape or form. The most common shape is typically cubed but it can also be made into larger chunks, strips, or even thin slices if you want to make a deli “meat.” The possibilities are truly endless!
For this seitan, we opted for a basic savory variety. It goes well with just about everything and chances are, you have most of these spices and seasonings in your kitchen already. The liquid smoke is optional, but it does provide deep smokiness to the seitan which of course further aids in replicating meat. But feel free to experiment with your own spices and seasonings depending on what type of recipe you plan to use your homemade seitan for.
A Vegan Cooking Staple- Made at Home!
If you find yourself adding store-bought seitan to your shopping cart often, consider making it yourself. You will be amazed at how quickly it comes together. Plus, you can customize it for your own household’s tastes and preferences. Homemade Seitan is so much easier than you think and you don’t “knead” to break the bank. That was the last one, sorry. Enjoy!!
Homemade Seitan
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
- Yield: 8 Servings 1x
- Category: Plant-based Protein
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
An easy homemade seitan that is a terrific meat substitute for plant-based recipes. Seasoned with common herbs and spices for a savory versatile flavor.
Ingredients
Seitan
- 1 ¾ c. Vital Wheat Gluten
- 1 ¾ c. water
- 1 t. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. rosemary
- ½ tsp. ginger
- ½ tsp. basil
- ½ tsp. red pepper
- ¼ tsp. paprika
Broth
- 6 c. water
- 2 T. soy sauce
- 1 tsp. liquid smoke (optional)
- 2 T. brown sugar
- 1 veggie bouillon cube
- 1 T. olive oil
Instructions
- Measure and combine the vital wheat gluten and the spices in a large bowl. Add the majority of the water and stir to combine. If it appears dry, add more of the water. Stir until all the dry ingredients are incorporated. Move to a dry surface and knead briefly and shape into your desired form.
- Cut the seitan into thin strips, cubes, or larger chunks depending on your recipe needs.
- In a large deep pan, bring all the broth ingredients to a low simmer over med/high heat until the brown sugar and bouillon are dissolved.
- Carefully add your seitan to the broth. Reduce heat to medium and cover with a lid, leaving lid slightly ajar for ventilation.
- Cook for 1 hour, monitoring and stirring when needed, to avoid sticking. The seitan will expand drastically, so keep a close eye.
- After an hour, remove the seitan from the pan and place into a large colander. Using a plate or large spatula, squeeze excess water from the seitan using moderate pressure.
- Use immediately or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. It can also be frozen for later use for up to 6 months. Enjoy!
Keywords: Seitan, Homemade, Vegan, Plant-based Protein
Additionally, below are some recipes that include Seitan:
Finally, if you have made this seitan recipe, we would love to hear what you think! Please comment down below and be sure to rate the recipe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks so much!
Additionally, you can also take a photo and tag us on instagram. We would love to get your feedback! Happy cooking! 🙂
