Showing posts with label Seitan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seitan. Show all posts

Monday, April 23, 2012

I made my own SEITAN!

Do you remember this post when I told you about seitan? Well, it's something that I'd never tried to make before because it sounded 1. weird 2. intimidating 3. why make it when I can just go to the Garden Grille and get some that blows my mind?

However, I found a recipe and the woman claimed it was easy, so I went for it!
 
I picked up a box of this vital wheat gluten at my local grocery store. Followed the directions to mix it up with broth...




Lined up 18 little blobs of it on a glass dish and kept them moist with more broth...

Put in the oven and then...

Presto!

Now, Seitan is one of those things that is an acquired taste. However, my kids both gave it the ever-so-impressive "double thumbs up!" so you might want to give it a try! Tastes and has the same feel as chicken. Seriously. And it's LOADED with protein, for what it's worth :)

Seitan Nuggets
[Makes about 18 nuggets]
  • 1 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 1-3 Tbsp. nutritional yeast
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp. onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cumin
  • 2 cups vegetable broth, separated
  • 1 1/2 tbsp. low-sodium tamari or soy sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, and seasonings.
  3. In a separate glass or bowl, combine 1 cup broth and soy sauce.
  4. Pour vegetable broth mixture into dry ingredients. Mix well until an elastic dough forms.
  5. Form 18 nuggets from the dough and place into a glass baking dish (or two).
  6. Pour remaining broth into dish(es) and bake for 15 minutes.
  7. Remove pan from the oven, flip over seitan nuggets, and return dish to the oven.
  8. Bake another 15 minutes.
  9. Store seitan in the fridge, covered with more broth to maintain soft chewiness.

Friday, January 20, 2012

What in the world is....SEITAN?


Seitan is actually one of my favorite meat substitutes!

It is often used in Asian restaurants that prepare meat-like dishes without meat. It is made by rinsing whole wheat bread flour to extract the gluten, producing a food that is naturally high in protein and low in carbs and fat. It's dubbed "wheat meat" and considered the ultimate meat substitute.


I have to admit, to people new to vegetarianism, it probably sounds really weird and looks even weirder, but when you go to a great vegetarian restaurant (like the amazing Garden Grille in Pawtucket, RI!) I encourage you to try a seitan appetizer. Right now, the Garden Grille's winter menu offers a Chipotle Seitan with Wasabi Mustard that is absolutely fantastic!

I haven't yet tried to make my own seitan, since it's readily available at Whole Foods and other natural markets, but you'll be the first to know when I do! Won't that be an adventure in cooking!

Enjoy your weekend and remember, don't let these foods scare you. One might be something that turns into your favorite new thing!