What is Seitan: How to Cook & Recipes (2024)

You may have heard of the meat substitute seitan (pronounced ‘say-tan’)–but not the one your mammawarned you about. It can sometimes be found on restaurant menus and in health food grocery stores. But, my guess is that you’ve wondered What is seitan anyway?

What is seitan?

Seitan is becoming more and more popular in vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based communities as a meat substitute. It has a look and texture amazingly similar to cooked meat.

The history of seitan dates back to at least the 6th century AD. Its use was first recorded in Chinese literature for making noodles, and it has been acommon meat substitute in Asian cultures for thousands of years.

Seitan is not made from soy–unlike tofu and tempeh. It is made from wheat and is also known as wheat meat, which means it is obviously not gluten-free.

Whether you make it yourself or buy it precooked, seitan is quite healthy and good for you. It is low in calories with only 100/calories per 3-ounce serving. It is also very low in fat and has a whopping 21 grams of protein!

How to cook seitan

Seitan is simple to make and the process is much like making bread with kneading and allowing the dough to rise.

However, it does differ from bread because with seitan, the starch is removed from the dough, leaving behind just the protein. This is accomplished either by kneading the dough underwater to release and wash away the starch, or it can be done by using a special flour known as vital gluten wheat.

I personally use vital wheat gluten, but for those interested in making their own gluten flour check out this article, Making Raw Gluten from Flour.

When cooking seitan yourself, it has to be kneaded and allowed to set and rise, just like baking bread. The longer it is kneaded, the chewier the seitan will be after baked. It is surprising how close the texture is to meat.

Once it is completely kneaded, press it into a pan for baking. This is where the fun is because the ‘dough’ is so spongy, and can’t really be pressed completely into a pan. It just keeps springing back into place. Such a neat texture to work with!

As you can see, I like to use parchment paper for baking. Silicone baking panslike the one shown at the bottom of this article are also a great option.

This is a short video on the process of making your own seitan.

Ingredients for seitan

• vital wheat gluten
• water
• spices

The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.

Where to buy precooked seitan

If cooking is not your thing, there are a number of options for purchasing seitan already cooked and ready to eat or use in recipes. Though it is available on amazon in shelf-stable boxes that don’t require refrigeration, I much prefer buying it in the cooler section of health food stores.

Unfortunately, only a very few traditional grocery stores carry it at this time. However, our local Ingles grocery just began carrying a brand called No-Evil Foods that I really like. Whole Foods and Earth Fare carry other brands that are also good.

I like to buy a bunch when it’s on sale and freeze it. When we are ready for a quick barbecue sandwich, I can defrost and add our favorite Bone Suck’n Barbecue Sauce. On a whole grain bun, loaded with fresh spinach and onions, this stuff is amazing!

Seitan Recipes

Click each photo to see the full seitan recipe with ingredients and instructions.

Having a neutral flavor allows seitan to absorb other flavors well, which is great when adding spices and sauces to recipes. It can easily be added to stir-fries, sandwiches, and wraps.

Because it’s high in protein but low in calories, seitan can help support satiety to keep you feeling full, which could help promote weight loss.

Does seitan taste good?

Seitan has a mild, bland flavor on its own but can take on many more flavors from different recipes. The thing that makes seitan most popular is its texture, more than taste. When compared to tofu or tempeh, seitan has a much more meaty texture.

It can be savory and succulent for Asian dishes like Soba Noodles with Seitan and Sweet and SourStir Fry or tangy and saucy in a barbecue recipe like Shredded Barbecue Sandwiches.

In the United States, many people are beginning to use seitan as a healthier main dish option for traditional holiday meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The meaty texture lends itself well to recipes like Mushroom Seitan Roast by Susan Voisin, with FatFreeVegan.

Seitan is a delicious option for healthy vegan meals that is packed with protein and flavor. It’s so versatile and can be made into just about anything. Time to give it a try!

Also, be sure to check out our Seitan Recipes page for more great ideas!

Great seitan recipes

• Barbecue Sandwiches
• Soba Noodles with Seitan
• Sweet and Sour Stir Fry
• Vegan Gyroswith Tzatziki Sauce
• Ultimate Holiday Roast

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