Seitan

Graye · Post: # 100044Post **Graye** » Thu May 01, 2008 8:05 pm

We spend much of our time in France where vegetarianism appears to be incredibly badly catered for. I usually take bags and bags of TVP with us but after a few weeks I am usually heartily sick of TVP bolognese, TVP chilli etc, etc. IÂ´ve been looking online to see what else I can transport easily or buy the raw ingedients for and have come up with recipes for seitan or vital wheat protein. Looking at the Linda MacCartney veggie sausage ingredients I've noticed that this is the main ingredient and as I love these sausages it must be worth a try!
The method seems a bit labour intensive and time consuming (kneading strong flour with water and then washing the starch from the dough, etc, etc.) Has anyone made seitan? Was it successful? If so can you share your recipes both for producing the seitan and dishes you then made with it please?

ina · Post: # 100055Post **ina** » Thu May 01, 2008 9:26 pm

I've been a veggie for about 30 years, but I never touch TVP, and I wouldn't bother with Seitan, either! The only "processed" protein food I very occasionally buy is tofu.

What's wrong with using the beans as they are? You can make lovely lentil Bolognese - in fact, anything where you'd usually use mince, you can substitute lentils, or other small beans and pulses. All this extra processing just wastes energy, time, and I'm sure, comes up with something that is rather less nutritious and tasty.

mrsflibble · Fri May 02, 2008 8:49 am

My family were veggies for a while and I can honestly say I can't stand TVP. well, no. that's wrong. can't stand the after effects of TVP. or Sosmix for that matter.

Graye · Post: # 100136Post **Graye** » Fri May 02, 2008 10:04 am

Perhaps having been a veggie for 30 odd years has persuaded my digestive system that TVP is perfectly acceptable!
Anyway, yes we do eat things made with beans and pulses but I actually like what I can make with TVP and Sosmix in reasonable doses so IÂ´m just looking into a potential alternative.

ina · Post: # 100163Post **ina** » Fri May 02, 2008 1:05 pm

In that case - I can only say, I did see seitan in jars in a health food shop. But that was ages ago...

hedgewitch · Fri May 02, 2008 2:55 pm

I'm a HUGE fan of seitan - LOVE LOVE LOVE the stuff.
It's one thing on my "to make" list but I haven't got round to doing it yet. I have excellent instructions I could post if you'd like.

eccentric_emma · Fri May 02, 2008 4:41 pm

i would also be interested in seeing the instructions for making Seitan.

Millymollymandy · Sat May 03, 2008 7:07 am

Oh dear, I just looked it up on Wikipedia. The photos of mock duck make me feel sick.

hedgewitch · Sat May 03, 2008 11:38 pm

Quick Homemade Seitan

(Makes 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 pounds or 2 to 2-1/2 cups)

This is the basic recipe for gluten
2 cups gluten flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1-1/4 cups water or vegetable stock
3 Tablespoons lite tamari, Braggs liquid amino acids, or soy sauce
1-3 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (optional)
Add garlic powder and ginger to flour and stir. Mix liquids together and add to flour mixture all at once. Mix vigorously with a fork. When it forms a stiff dough knead it 10 to 15 times.
Let the dough rest 2 to 5 minutes, then knead it a few more times. Let it rest another 15 minutes before proceeding.
Cut gluten into 6 to 8 pieces and stretch into thin cutlets. Simmer in broth for 30 to 60 minutes.

Broth:
4 cups water
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
3-inch piece of kombu (a type of seaweed)
3-4 slices ginger (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring broth to a boil. Add cutlets one at a time. Reduce heat to barely simmer when saucepan is covered.

Seitan may be used, refrigerated, or frozen at this point.

Total Calories per 4 oz. Serving: 77
Fat: 0 grams

Graye · Post: # 100588Post **Graye** » Sun May 04, 2008 8:41 pm

Thanks for the recipe. I'll give it a try tomorrow. Sorry for the delay in acknowledging your information - we were in transit on the way to France where our internet connection is totally pathetic at the moment. Roll on next week when we should have broadband at last!

Martin · Post: # 100605Post **Martin** » Sun May 04, 2008 9:56 pm

I'm sorry, it's just got to be said........."get thee behind me Seitan"

(just a bit of old-fashioned devilment)

hedgewitch · Mon May 05, 2008 8:46 am

LOL!

I always say I'm having satan for lunch!!

hedgewitch · Fri May 16, 2008 10:11 am

I made this!!

I urge you to have a go - it is THE MOST EASIEST TASTIEST VEGGIE FOOD TO MAKE IN THE WORLD!!!!

Cooking in the pot - doesn't look very apetising - a bit like a giant dumpling.

Cooled and sliced up (and nibbled at)

Cooked in a casserole.

DELISH!

Graye · Post: # 103540Post **Graye** » Fri May 16, 2008 7:38 pm

I must admit it looked rather as if I was boiling someone's brain but it DOES taste good and just the job for France where they seem hard-pressed to come up with anything for veggies - some very nasty soya burgers and very little else.

Mon May 19, 2008 6:23 pm

Bit weird seeing this today - we had seitan barbecued "spareribs" for supper last night.
I used vital wheat gluten (bought online from one of these Atkins Diet-type websites) - much cheaper than from vegan sites.

Mixed 4 cups of VWG with 2 cups of wholewheat flour, loads of seasonings that took my fancy - paprika, sage ,thyme etc. and mixed it with 2-3 cups of water with a really heavy sloosh of tomato puree in. Then roasted it instead of boiling it! When it was cool brushed it with BBQ sauce (homemade) and bunged 'em on the barbie. Our carnivore friends were gobsmacked!

Maggie (committed omnivore as attested by the size of my bum).