Need a wicked high protein, low fat, low carb option? Well, hail seitan. The macros are damn near on par with chicken breast! <—and no soy is required. We love seitan!
I’ve been making neutral seitan sausages every week since our last meal prep video. It’s essentially like the perfect meal. And by making vegan sausage neutral in flavor I can add any kind of sauce on top. 99% of the time I use teriyaki and 1% of the time I’ll use vegan buffalo wing sauce.
Why do I mention this? It’s because making neutral seitan sausages arethe easiest basicrecipe. 330 grams (2.75 cups) gluten flour + 60 grams chickpea flour, vegan chicken broth. Start with 2 cups of liquid then keep adding more until your dough forms into a FIRM MASS. If it’s sticky add more gluten flour, if it’s dry add more water. EASY! Then I divide into 8, wrap in foil and steam for 45 minutes. DONE.
If you just add different spice flavors then you could totally make specialty vegan sausage! In my mind this is a no brainer simple recipe but…….
When looking into seitan sausage & pepperoni recipes they all suggested things like tomato paste and sh*t. I didn’t have any paste so I just used tomato sauce. I also tried barbecue sauce. And I added oil. And sugar. Before I knew it my dough was wayyyyyy mushier than anticipated. It made me nervous because I felt like a f*ck up. But adding additional gluten flour fixed my problem.
What am I saying? If you’re not a seitan sausage pro then anticipate using additional gluten flour after mixing everything together. Maybe 1 TB more or less. No big deal.
EACH RECIPE BELOW MAKES ONE LARGE SAUSAGE
Italian Vegan Sausage – Seitan
2 ts of poultry or Italian herb blend, 1/4 ts salt, 1/4 ts sugar, 1/4 ts ground thyme, 1/4 ts ground fennel, 1/8 ts garlic powder, 1/4 ts onion powder, 1/4 cup gluten flour (30 grams), 1 TB chickpea flour (7 grams?), 1 ts oil, 1 TB tomato sauce, 1/4 cup water
- Mix dry ingredients
- Taste your dry powdered mix. Salty and spiced enough? Add more if needed.
- Add sauce and/or oil then liquid
- Mix everything til it’s a firm ball of dough. Add more gluten flour at this point if your dough is moist, sticky or not forming a solid ball.
- Place dough on foil, form sausage shape, roll foil around it then twist the ends closed.
- Steam in steamer basket for 45 minutes. ENJOY
Mesquite Brown Sugar Vegan Sausage – Seitan
1.5 ts mesquite barbecue powder blend (bought from whole foods) + 2 ts brown sugar, 2 TB BBQ sauce, 1/4 cup gluten flour (30 grams), 1 TB chickpea flour (7 grams?), 1 ts oil, 1/4 cup water
*I think those first two ingredients were over powered by my impulsive use of BBQ sauce. You might be able to skip the sugar & powder blend. Maybe BBQ is all that’s needed for a sweet mesquite sausage flavor.
- Mix dry ingredients
- Taste your dry powdered mix. Salty and spiced enough? Add more if needed.
- Add sauce and/or oil then liquid
- Mix everything til it’s a firm ball of dough. Add more gluten flour at this point if your dough is moist, sticky or not forming a solid ball.
- Place dough on foil, form sausage shape, roll foil around it then twist the ends closed.
- Steam in steamer basket for 45 minutes. ENJOY
Maple Breakfast Vegan Sausage – Seitan
1 ts sage powder, 1/2 ts salt, 1/2 ts onion powder, 1/8 ts garlic powder, 2 TB maple syrup, 1/4 cup gluten flour (30 grams), 1 TB chickpea flour (7 grams?), 1 ts oil, 1 TB tomato sauce, 1/4 cup water
- Mix dry ingredients
- Taste your dry powdered mix. Salty and spiced enough? Add more if needed.
- Add sauce and/or oil then liquid
- Mix everything til it’s a firm ball of dough. Add more gluten flour at this point if your dough is moist, sticky or not forming a solid ball.
- Place dough on foil, form sausage shape, roll foil around it then twist the ends closed.
- Steam in steamer basket for 45 minutes. ENJOY
Chipotle Cajun Vegan Sausage – Seitan
2 ts Cajun blend 1/2 ts garlic powder, 1 ts onion powder, couple drops of adobo sauce from canned chipotle peppers, 2 ts soy sauce, 1/4 cup gluten flour (30 grams), 1 TB chickpea flour (7 grams?), 1 ts oil, 1/4 cup water
- Mix dry ingredients
- Taste your dry powdered mix. Salty and spiced enough? Add more if needed.
- Add sauce and/or oil then liquid
- Mix everything til it’s a firm ball of dough. Add more gluten flour at this point if your dough is moist, sticky or not forming a solid ball.
- Place dough on foil, form sausage shape, roll foil around it then twist the ends closed.
- Steam in steamer basket for 45 minutes. ENJOY
FAQs
Seitan sausage FAQs
Seitan is a vegan the term given to a food made predominantly from wheat gluten. Wheat gluten is the main protein of wheat and is made by washing regular flour to remove any starch. When cooked seitan has a surprisingly “meaty” texture and is very easy to mould into different shapes and sizes.
How is seitan made? ›
Creating seitan requires you to knead vital wheat gluten and water until it forms into a firm ball or loaf. Wheat flour or additional ingredients can be added to improve the texture; however, they're not always needed. After the dough has been formed into a ball, it is rinsed and boiled to wash away the starches.
What are vegan sausages made of? ›
What is vegan sausage? Vegan sausage can consist of a number of different ingredients, but, instead of animal-based meat, most plant-based brands on the market use soy or pea protein to get a similar texture. For the taste, just like regular sausage, seasoning, spices, and oils are often added to the mix.
How to make seitan taste better? ›
soy sauce or tamari - Adds saltiness, umami, and depth of flavor. balsamic and apple cider vinegar - Vinegar rounds out the flavor profile and helps disguise the subtle bitterness of vital wheat gluten. fat - Including a little bit of oil or other fat improves the overall flavor and tenderizes the seitan.
Who should avoid seitan? ›
While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it. Premade seitan can also be high in sodium, so it's important to read the nutrition label if you monitor your sodium intake.
What are the disadvantages of seitan? ›
What are the cons?
- Not suitable for those with gluten-sensitivities or coeliac disease.
- Doesn't absorb much flavour.
- High amounts of sodium (salt) in the packaged product.
- Seitan is hard to source unlike other vegetarian protein alternatives meaning you may have to venture to a specialty vegetarian “butcher”
If you have a wheat allergy, celiac disease or gluten intolerance, seitan is definitely out of the question as it is literally made from wheat gluten. If you have a sensitivity to gluten, eating foods like seitan can result in many adverse side effects such as bloating, diarrhea, fatigue and abdominal pain.
Which is healthier tofu or seitan? ›
Both seitan and tofu are plant-based proteins. However, while seitan is an excellent plant-based protein alternative, tofu is a complete protein (seitan lacks the amino acid lysine). Unseasoned tofu is typically lower in sodium than store-bought seitan, which can be processed with salt, sugar or other flavors added.
Why is seitan so tough? ›
Basic Seitan. Make sure you're using vital wheat gluten and not regular flour for making seitan - otherwise, you'll end up with a very tough bread. You can use water for the cheapest, most basic seitan, but I like to use broth throughout the process.
Is seitan healthy for you? ›
Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.
Vegans don't eat any foods made from animals, including:
- Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat.
- Chicken, duck, and other poultry.
- Fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.
- Eggs.
- Cheese.
- Butter.
- Milk, cream, ice cream, and other dairy products.
- Mayonnaise (because it includes egg yolks)
Why are plant-based animal product alternatives more expensive than animal products even though they require fewer resources to produce? It's simple economics. Supply and demand. As the consumption of plant based alternatives increases, so the price comes down.
Why does my stomach hurt after eating seitan? ›
Gluten Sensitivity or Celiac Disease: Seitan is derived from wheat gluten, which contains gluten, a protein that can cause adverse reactions in people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Symptoms can include bloating, gas, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and fatigue.
Which flour is best for seitan? ›
For a better flavor and a cheaper price, try washing the flour and make your seitan from bread flour! The brand of bread flour doesn't matter. Choose a high protein flour for a larger yield. You can make this with all-purpose flour, however you will have a smaller yield.
Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›
Because of its meaty texture, seitan can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and stir-fries to stews and soups. The best part is that making seitan at home is easy, and it's much cheaper than buying pre-made or store-bought seitan.
Is seitan meat good for you? ›
Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.
Is seitan a highly processed food? ›
The Drawbacks Seitan
“To make it complete, you'll have to pair this food with other plant proteins such as legumes, grains, and nuts,” she says. Additionally, she points out that, since seitan is a processed food, it contains preservatives such as sulfites, which you may not want in abundance in your diet.
What does seitan actually taste like? ›
Seitan has a savory taste, probably closest to bland chicken or a portobello mushroom. Seitan has a mild flavor on its own but can take on many more flavors from different recipes. It can be hot and spicy as in seitan "chicken wings " or savory in a succulent Indian or Thai massaman curry.
