A Guide to Seitan
Seitan, aka wheat gluten, is a food that originated in China and Japan more than 1,000 years ago. Traditionally prepared by Zen Buddhists, seitan was used as a substitute for meat or fish. Seitan comes from the Japanese words “sei”, meaning “to be, become, made of”, and “tan”, as in tanpaku, which means “proteins.” Freely translated, seitan means: “made of proteins.”
Since the mid-20th century, seitan (pronounced SAY-TAN) has become a staple among vegans because of its chewy, toothy texture and its ability to mimic the flavors of animal-based meats.
The Basics
Frequently Asked Questions
Tip:
- Get the thinnest slices possible by using a serrated knife on partially frozen seitan.
Shopping Guide
Vegan Seitan Brands
Prepared seitan is sold in block, strip, and shaped forms which can be found in the cold section of some supermarkets, health food stores, cooperatives, or Asian food markets- most likely near the tofu.
Vital Wheat Gluten (Powder)
If you want to make your own, look for powdered gluten- sometimes called vital wheat gluten or gluten flour– it’s important to get the right product. You want to look for a vital wheat gluten that contains 75% or more protein.
Recipes
Vegan Yum Yum | Tamarind Kabobs
Vegan Seitan Recipes
- Chicken Stylee Seitan | Post Punk Kitchen
- Seitan Cacciatore | Oh My Veggies
- Seitan Buffalo Wings | The Edgy Veg
- Spicy Beet Seitan | Mary’s Test Kitchen
- Seitan with Red Wine Sauce | Vegan Yak Attack
- Orange Sesame Seitan | Vedged Out
- Truffled Seitan | Artisan Vegan Life
- Carribbean BBQ Wings | Vegan Peace
- Beer Simmered Carnitas | Happy Herbivore
- Jamaican Jerk Seitan | The Veracious Vegan
- Seitan and Mushroom Stroganoff | Vegan Do It
- Basic Homemade Seitan | No Cow No Whey
Tutorials
DAIRY • PROTEIN • RECIPES • MORE
Vegan Food & Drink Guides
PLANT-POWERED
Protein
It’s incredibly easy to get quality protein from plants. In fact, you don’t need as much as you probably think. A comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about protein.
FEATURED GUIDE
Honey
Honey is one of the most hotly debated vegan issues. This guide explores how honey is made and why we shouldn’t steal from bees. Plus, a guide to alternatives to honey.
VEGAN LIFESTYLE
Guides
Truth in Advertising
Your Daily Vegan is committed to providing accurate information to the vegan community. The information and data presented in this article has been meticulously researched, and is based on the information available to me at the time of publication. Each guide is periodically reviewed for accuracy and updated as necessary. You can find the update date listed at the end of every guide. Please contact me if you find out-of-date or incorrect information.
1. Dr. George-Louis Friedli. “Gluten Proteins & Deamidated Soluble Wheat Protein (SWP).” Retrieved July 31, 2015
2. Bertyn. “Info.” Retrieved July 31. 2015
3. Wikipedia. “Wheat Gluten (food).” Retrieved July 31, 2015
[…] Your Daily Vegan: A Guide to Seitan […]
Just wanted to point out that wheat gluten was found in the stomach of Ötzi, the European glacier mummy from the Copper Age found in the Italian Alps in 1991. He also carried a pouch of it as well. This not only dates use of seitan back over 5000 years ago, but also draws its origins to the European continent. To think that some people mistakingly consider wheat gluten a modern creation is bizarre, seeing as it has fed mankind’s dietary needs since the dawn of civilization.