Best way to serve store-bought seitan?
I've bought store bought seitan before, and i cooked it by broiling it with just some salt and pepper. it really did not taste that good, i probably should have marinated it. it suggested on the package to boil or stew it instead, but i thought "hey, i need something FAST!" ;D
well anyway, being a lone vegan in a family of omnis (and a light eater), i really don't feel like i can justify making an entire batch of seitan from scratch, but i think i would like to give the pre-made stuff another shot. afterall, it took me a while to master the mysterious and enigmatic world of tofu.
so do you have any suggestions on how to best cook pre-made seitan? i know there are a lot of recipes on this site for seitan, but i want to know what technique you think really yields the best texture, flavor etc. i find that seitan (when i get it in restaurants, which is rare) is either very tough or soft and chewy. when i made it, it was kind of rubbery and not good at all.
i would greatly appreciate any input! ;D
I'm with you, storebought seitan just doesn't do it for me. Firstly it's hideously expensive here, but all meat replacements are (we're talking $3.50 for 2 thin little veggie burgers!) but also--flavour? Not so much. The one I bought had mushrooms in it but it was pretty awful.
I'm still on the learning curve when it comes to making it myself; I've never done the whole flour-rinsing thing because I'm "too green" to use that much tap water in this droughtridden nation ::)--I would get a severe case of the guilts.
The gluten we get here is one brand only...and I'm wondering if it's different to what you have there. I've learned to add all the flavouring to the dough itself, and to add the water kind of gradually; I think so far I've added too much too quickly. I did make boiled once, and it didn't take on *any* flavour at all from the boiling stock...it tasted literally like nothing.
I do have a recipe on this site called "Mexicali Seitan" which is baked instead of boiled; you might try that and let me know how it worked for you. Cut the quantities in half or even by 2/3 if it's just for one.
Very easy thing to do is use a fajita seasoning--get mine bulk at local co-op--and marinade it or--if you're short on time or just lazy like me--sprinkle it liberally on the seitan cut in to strips in a pan, then cook up some peppers and onions in another pan and make fajitas or rice bowls or something like that. You can also make a quick hash with seitan, potatoes, peppers, onions, and any other veggies you have on hand, then season it like you like--I use seasoned salt and pepper to keep it simple.
I have tried a few different store-bought seitan varieties, and I like the White Wave Vegetarian Stir Fry kind. Does have honey in it, be forewarned if that bothers you. It's already bee marinating in seasoning in the package, so it has more flavor on its own too.
Out of curiosity, what happens if you freeze seitan? Does it change in texture at all or can it be done successfully? (If it does change texture, is it in a bad way or a good way?)
Yes you can freeze seitan, and no it will not change texture. Just freeze it with some of the broth.
I've frozen the baked kind by just putting it in a ziploc bag, no liquid of course, and it does fine too for at least a month.
Chop it into small pieces & add to this lovely casserole.
http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=7429.0
One of the most amazing recipes I've had is this chicken and dumplings recipe http://www.vegcooking.com/recipeshow.asp?RequestID=1118
I use white wave's seitan for the chicken and it is amazing!
Also, if you want to be lazy about the dumplins, you can use a tube of biscuits (make sure you got the vegan ones) and just cut off little pieces into the broth with kitchen shears! (scissors that i keep in the kitchen)
yummy yummy yummy! It's so warm and filling, perfect for winter... although it sounds pretty good now even though it's 90 degrees outside...
;D
I like slicing it in thin pieces and simmering it in a homemade BBQ sauce and serving it on buns with a side of slaw. HMMMMM
I basically replicate the Vegan Turkey Salad they serve in the Wild Oats' deli section which is made with seitan, lathered in Veganaise, green onion, green onion, dill and jalapeno pepper.
It's essentially a potato salad but with seitan. It's also easy to make and tastes great alone or on toasted wheat bread slices as a "Turkey" salad sandwich.
I like to tear it into long thin about 2" long pieces (tearing will make it's texture better for crispiness) and stir fry until it's browned in some oil, and toss with romaine, vegan caesar dressing, vegan parm, and croutons in a thick wrap. Seitan caesar salad wraps are the bomb!
pepper steak with broccoli or a cheesesteak sandwich.
...bringing this thread back from the dead! :)
The easiest and possibly the most unhealthy way I've found to prepare store bought seitan is mock fried chicken. I've only tried it with the white wave brands.
You can skip this step, but while you're heating the oil and preparing the flour mixture below, put the seitan in some fake buttermilk (1/2 cup plain unsweetened soy milk and 1/2 tsp vinegar, stirred really well) and and little bit of soy sauce. Next, in a large bag or container with a lid mix 3 T nutritional yeast, 2 T unbleached flour, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 tsp black pepper. You can add other spices if you'd like. Throw the seitan in the bag or container, close it, and shake to coat all the pieces. Then add to the hot oil (med high to high heat) and stir/turn frequently to prevent burning.
It takes about 10 min or less to go from package to plate! I never make this because I don't eat much fried food anymore, and I now make my own seitan, but it is definitely quick and delicious if that's what you're looking for. It's great in a sandwich or with mashed potatoes & gravy.