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Overhead View of a Sliced Piece of Seitan on a Cutting Board
Homemade Seitan
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Resting time
5 mins
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
 

Crafting your very own homemade seitan is super easy, and you don't even need a recipe. This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make seitan with vital wheat gluten and a few pantry staples! Plus: a recipe for homemade seitan with three flavor variations.

Course: Entree
Cuisine: American, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 4
Calories: 173 kcal
Author: Alissa Saenz
Ingredients
For the Dough
For the Broth - Pork Flavor
  • 6 cups low sodium vegetable broth or water
  • cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons liquid smoke
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Broth - Chicken Flavor
For the Broth - Beef Flavor
  • 5 ½ cups low sodium vegetable broth
  • ½ cup dry red wine
  • cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
  1. Stir the vital wheat gluten and chickpea flour together in a medium bowl.

  2. Add the water and stir to form a soft dough.

  3. Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead it for 5 minutes. 

  4. Allow the dough to rest for 5 minutes.

  5. While the dough rests, stir all of the broth ingredients for your choice of broth together in a large pot. 

  6. Place the pot over high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Lower the heat to a low simmer.

  7. Cut the dough into at least 4 large pieces, or if you prefer, smaller strips or chunks.

  8. Add the dough to the broth.

  9. Allow the broth to simmer for 1 hour, uncovered, watching closely to ensure it stays at a low simmer (don't allow it to rapidly boil).

  10. Remove the pot from heat and allow it to cool a bit.

  11. When the seitan is cool enough to handle, you can cut it into smaller pieces if you like. Use it in a recipe immediately, or store it in the broth. Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze.

Recipe Notes

The nutrition information is very approximate for this recipe, since there are three flavor variations and it's difficult to estimate just how much broth is absorbed during cooking. 

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Seitan
Amount Per Serving
Calories 173 Calories from Fat 12
% Daily Value*
Fat 1.3g2%
Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
Sodium 562mg23%
Potassium 127mg4%
Carbohydrates 15.2g5%
Fiber 2.2g9%
Sugar 1.7g2%
Protein 25.9g52%
Calcium 10mg1%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.