Seitan, or wheat meat, is a popular meat alternative made out of wheat that can be seasoned to mimic the consistency of meat in recipes. Packed full of protein and easy to cook with, seitan makes for an excellent choice for households that are cutting back on meat.
What is Seitan, Exactly?
Seitan is wheat gluten that has been pressed and cooked into a meat shape. Although seitan might be new to your kitchen, it has been widely used in Asia for several centuries.
What Does Seitan Taste Like?
Seitan has very little flavor on its own and needs to be cooked in spices to taste like anything. Most recipes calling for seitan use soy sauce and a variety of seasonings to give this bland meat replacement some flavor.
Is Seitan Healthy?
Seitan is packed with protein (16 grams per serving) and free from most additives, making it a healthy meat replacement. Since seitan does not contain any vitamins or minerals, it should be paired with vegetables in recipes to create a balanced meal.
Where Can You Find Seitan?
Seitan is available in most large chain grocery stores and specialty Asian stores. The meat alternative is usually stored next to the tofu in a refrigerated case. Seitan can also be sold frozen.
How to Cook With Seitan?
Seitan is always sold plain and needs to be spiced during the cooking process. It can be boiled in a broth to add flavor or sauteed with spices and oils.
Wheat meat cooks best using moist cooking methods, as it dries out quickly. Those using it for a dry recipe, such as a sear, should marinate the seitan in advance and only leave it on the heat for a few minutes; otherwise, it will become tough and chewy.
What Recipes Work With Seitan?
Seitan naturally takes on the flavor of any recipe it is added to. Therefore, the meat alternative can be an excellent addition to almost any recipe.
- Stir fry or wok recipes using soy sauce to keep the seitan moist
- Placed on a skewer and marinated before a quick sear on the grill.
- Used as a meat replacement in thick sauce (such as spaghetti)
- Used to replace beef chunks in a stew or chili
- Marinated and used for taco filling
- Broken into pieces and used to make a vegan sloppy joe
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