If you've been on Tiktok at any point in the last few weeks, you've seen people making the newest trend seitan. With having more time at home, means more time for new cooking projects.
Seitan (pronounced “say-tan”) is a vegan meat substitute made entirely out of hydrated gluten, the main protein found in wheat. Although it is made from wheat, seitan has little in common with flour or bread. It becomes surprisingly similar to the look and texture of meat when it's cooked, making it a popular meat substitute for vegetarians and vegans.
A 3-ounce serving usually contains between 15 and 21 grams of protein, which is roughly equivalent to animal proteins like chicken or beef.
Seitan is produced by kneading wheat flour with water to develop sticky strands of gluten protein. The dough is then rinsed to wash away all of the starch. What remains is a sticky mass of pure gluten protein that can be seasoned, cooked and used in vegan or vegetarian dishes as a substitute for meat.
Plain seitan is made from simply wheat gluten and water, so it has a relatively neutral taste and can take on the flavors of sauces and other seasonings very well. This makes it a versatile cooking ingredient that can blend into almost any meal.
Seitan is a great option for vegans who cannot eat soy, since other popular vegan foods, such as tofu and tempeh are soy-based. However, anyone who cannot tolerate wheat or gluten, including those with sensitivities, allergies or celiac disease, must strictly avoid seitan to avoid serious side effects.
Here are the lists of recipes we found that you can make out of seitan:
- Vegan Popeyes Bonafide Chicken
- Texas BBQ-style Vegan Brisket
- Shredded Vegan Chicken
- Seitan Ground Beef
- Vegan Steak
- Beefy Vegan Stew With Potatoes & Carrots
- Homemade Vegan Sausages
- Vegan Italian Meatballs
- Vegan Burger
- Vegan Buffalo Wings Recipe
- Vegan Sticky Asian Ribs
Learning how to make seitan opens up a lot of healthy and delicious possibilities! Give this project a try.