This basic seitan recipe is made with vital wheat gluten and lightly seasoned for use in a wide variety of dishes. It's easy to prepare and so much more affordable than store-bought! Slice seitan for sandwiches and wraps, crumble it for tacos and pizza, and tear into chunks for dishes like Seitan Bourguignon.
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What is seitan?
Seitan (pronounced "say-tan") is a high-protein, low-fat meat substitute made from gluten, the main protein found in wheat. This is why seitan is often referred to as "wheat meat."
Seitan is extremely versatile and can take on any seasonings, spices, and flavors you want to add. It can also be formed into a variety of shapes, like meatballs, roasts, burgers, jerky, steaks, and nuggets.
Seitan can be made with vital wheat gluten or using the original method of washing wheat flour.
For the "wash the flour" method, flour and water are combined to form a dough, which is then agitated under water until most of the starch has separated and washed away, leaving behind the stringy, meaty protein. In fact, there was recently a viral TikTok video showing the "wash the flour" method.
While people all over social media are having their minds blown by the meaty result of washing wheat flour, vegans everywhere are like, "See?! We've been trying to tell you for years how awesome this stuff is!"
Some people prefer to do the washing process themselves, but thankfully, it's easy to find vital what gluten in stores, which makes homemade seitan much easier and more accessible for folks who don't have a lot of time.
Starting with vital wheat gluten also makes it easy to build a lot of flavor into seitan, like these vegan chorizo and vegan pepperoni recipes!
Where did seitan originate?
Vegetarian Buddhists were enjoying wheat gluten as far back as the 6th century. The process is thought to have either been developed by Buddhist monks or by chefs who prepared food for Chinese emperors during their annual, week-long observation of vegetarianism.
So while the word "gluten" has taken on a negative connotation in today's world, it's really not a strange food at all. Though it should certainly be avoided by anyone with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
If you haven't ventured into making seitan yet don't be intimidated! This recipe will show you how to make a basic seitan using vital wheat gluten.
While I love the pre-made seitan products available in stores, the added convenience can get expensive very quickly, especially if you're feeding a family. With costs ranging from $6 to $8 per 4-serving package, that puts this versatile plant-based protein out of reach for a lot of people.
Is homemade seitan more affordable?
Yes! To give you an idea of how much money you can save by making your own seitan, here's a quick overview. I'll use Bob's Red Mill vital wheat gluten in this example since it's the brand you're most likely to see in stores here in the US.
At our local Ingles (a North Carolina-based grocery chain) I can buy a 22 ounce bag of vital wheat gluten for around $7.50. You'll also find it online from sites like Amazon, Thrive Market, and Vitacost for anywhere from $5.50 to $8.
That 22 ounce bag will make FIVE batches of the recipe I'm sharing today, which equates to 5 pounds of cooked seitan!
Even after factoring in the costs of the other ingredients, you can see how much more affordable it is to make your own seitan.
TIP! Be sure to keep an eye out for sales because you never know when you'll come across a big jackpot. At a local discount grocery we regularly see vital wheat gluten on sale for $2.99 a bag.
When you have an opportunity to stock up, store the extra vital wheat gluten in the freezer to extend its shelf life.
Ingredient Notes
- vital wheat gluten - currently I use this one from Anthony's
- garbanzo bean (chickpea) flour - if you're not familiar with this ingredient it's very versatile. Use it to make tortillas, socca, and vegan frittatas.
- nutritional yeast - adds umami and helps tenderize the seitan by disrupting gluten formation. I recommend a non-fortified brand like this one by Sari Foods.
- smoked paprika - optional; adds color and a subtle smoky flavor.
- soy sauce - for saltiness and depth of flavor.
- balsamic and apple cider vinegar - vinegar rounds out the flavor profile and helps cut the flavor of vital wheat gluten.
- oil - a small amount of oil helps tenderize the seitan.
See recipe card below for amounts and full instructions.
How To Make Seitan
Be sure to watch the video below to see the recipe come to life!
- First, set up a steamer basket. You can also use the steam function on an Instant Pot.
- In a large bowl whisk together the vital wheat gluten, chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the broth, soy sauce, both vinegars, garlic, and olive oil.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and stir with a large spoon until a soft dough forms. Transfer the dough to the counter top or other solid surface and knead it for a few minutes.
- If making nuggets, tear off pieces of dough. For larger steaks, use your hands to stretch the dough into an approximately ¾-inch-thick rectangle. Cut into 4 equal-size pieces.
- Place in the steamer basket. Cover the pot, and set a timer for 15 minutes. At the 15 minute mark, flip the seitan (be careful of the steam), and set the timer for an additional 15 minutes.
- Use tongs to remove a piece, and place it on a cutting board. The center should feel very firm when pressed with the tongs. You can also slice it through the center to check for doneness. If needed, steam for another 5 to 10 minutes.
*Steaks usually require about 5-10 minutes longer than smaller nuggets. - Transfer the seitan to a plate to cool. Use in your favorite saute or stir fry, or refrigerate for later use.
After chilling overnight, the seitan will be even meatier and firmer.
Simmering vs Steaming Seitan
Most basic seitan recipes call for simmering, and honestly, that's how I cooked it for many years. But I've become a big fan of steaming seitan for a few reasons.
- It's quicker.
No matter which cooking method you choose, the amount of time will always be dependent on the size of your pieces of dough. But in general, steaming takes about 30 minutes, whereas simmering takes closer to an hour. - It uses less water.
To steam the seitan steaks you'll only need a couple of inches of water in the bottom of a pot versus needing to fill a large pot at least half way for simmering. Plus, simmering uses additional soy sauce or salt because the water needs to be seasoned. - Steamed seitan stays more dense and doesn't absorb as much water.
When simmered, the dough absorbs quite a bit of the cooking liquid, giving it a higher water content. This makes it harder to get a good sear on the outside of the seitan if you're using it immediately afterward in something like a stir fry.
In the photo below you can see a previous batch that was simmered. Another issue with simmering that often trips people up is keeping the simmer low enough.
If the seitan boils, it will get puffy and lose some of the desirable, dense, and meaty texture.
Variation
Chicken-style seitan (pictured below) - omit the smoked paprika and onion powder, and add 1 teaspoon of poultry seasoning blend. If desired, instead of forming the dough into steaks simply tear it into nuggets.
RELATED: If you're a fan of seitan chicken, don't miss this NEW recipe, Easy Seitan Nuggets! They're fantastic plain, or follow the recipe for crispy breaded nuggets.
How to Season Seitan
The seasonings in this recipe are meant to be neutral and versatile. I wanted to create a basic seitan that's flavorful enough to stand on its own but not SO strongly seasoned that it can't transition into something else, like an Asian stir fry or our favorite fancy dinner Seitan Bourguignon.
I didn't necessarily try to replicate the flavor of Westsoy's seitan, but making a product similar to that is what I had in mind with this recipe.
The inspiration came after a friend was disappointed with her first batch of homemade seitan. She had followed the recipe on the side of the Bob's Red Mill bag and wasn't impressed!
So I started thinking about the likelihood that many people's first experience with homemade seitan is probably with that same recipe, and how different that is from pre-cooked, store-bought seitan.
That's when I decided to create a basic seitan recipe that's not quite SO basic, if you know what I mean. None of the seasonings in this recipe prevent you from being able to take it in different directions, like Asian, Italian, or Mexican dishes.
And if you want to add spiciness or something like a poultry seasoning blend, go for it! The one major thing to consider is the amount of salt. Keep the final dish in mind.
If you plan to eat the seitan as is, you'll want to include a bit more salt (as described in the recipe). But if you plan to use it in a dish that includes a salty sauce, reduce the amount of salt in the dough. Make sense?
Ways to Use Seitan
Slice the seitan for sandwiches, wraps, and salads.
Use a food processor to pulse the cooked seitan into a ground texture. Add it to taco bowls and burritos and sprinkle it on pizza.
And check out this Vegan Thai Larb recipe using crumbled seitan. It's an excellent appetizer and dinner party recipe!
And here's an idea for a quick weeknight veggie saute:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of oil and some diced onion, mushrooms, and peppers. Saute for about 5 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
- Add crumbled or cubed seitan and a few dashes of chili powder and cumin. Cook until the seitan is hot and the veggies are as done as you like.
- Stir in some salsa, and serve with rice, avocado and cilantro.
Simple, easy and delicious!
Storage
Store cooked seitan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Seitan can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
More Beginner-Friendly Seitan Recipes
Recipe Video
I hope you enjoy this easy seitan recipe as much as we do! If you try it be sure to leave a comment and star rating below to let us know. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Easy Seitan Recipe (Seasoned, Versatile)
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry ingredients:
- 1 ¼ cups vital wheat gluten (150 g) - Weigh if possible. Otherwise, whisk the flour, then spoon into a measuring cup and level off the top.
- 3 tablespoons chickpea flour (22 g)
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, optional - For "chicken" nuggets (as mentioned in post) replace with 1 tsp poultry seasoning.
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon fine sea salt, depending on final use/dish - *Use less salt if you plan to pair with a salty sauce.
Wet ingredients:
- ⅔ cup vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, grated on a microplane zester
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- For steaming the seitan (preferred cooking method): add a few inches of water to a large pot and set up a steamer basket. Make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the basket. Bring the water to a simmer.*See Notes for the simmering cooking method.
- In a large bowl whisk together the vital wheat gluten, chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and salt.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the broth, soy sauce, both vinegars, zested/pureed garlic, and olive oil.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir to combine. Transfer to a solid surface and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. The dough should start to feel tough and more resistant. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then knead a few more times. If making nugget-style chunks, tear off pieces of seitan from the dough ball. For larger steaks, use your hands to stretch the dough into an approximately ¾-inch-thick rectangle (refer to photos above).
- Cut into 4 equal-sized pieces and place in the steamer basket. Cover the pot, and set a timer for 15 minutes.
- At the 15 minute mark, flip the seitan (be careful of the steam), and set the timer for 15 more minutes. Use tongs to remove one piece, and place it on a cutting board. The center should feel very firm when pressed with the tongs. You can also slice it through the center to check for doneness. If needed, steam for another 5 to 10 minutes. *Steaks usually require about 5-10 minutes longer than smaller chunks.
- Transfer to a plate to cool. Use in your favorite saute or stir fry, or refrigerate for later use. After chilling overnight, the seitan will be even meatier and firmer.
Notes
Storage Store cooked seitan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Seitan can also be frozen for up to one month.
Estimated Nutrition (per serving)
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific products and ingredients used. We calculate this information using the online calculator cronometer.com.
Mary young
Thank you, thank you and thank you again!! I tried making Seitan two other times using another recipe but it was too rubbery. Your recipe was perfect!! Nice and firm the way I wanted it. They say the third time is a charm and in my case it definitely was.
Jim Allen
Bingo!!!! No..Double Bingo!!!!! Best nuggets I've ever made..Triple yummers!! Thx much!!
Dianne
This is the third time I have made this recipe and it comes out great each time! First, i double the recipe. Then I use some for a recipe right away, then freeze the rest in individually wrapped shrink wrapped packages. This is so much cheaper and better tasting than the store bought varieties!!
Sophie
Hiya,
How long would you recommend steaming the smaller popcorn size pieces?
Thank you
Lori
Hi Sophie,
The large nuggets shown in the photos take about 30 minutes total (as mentioned in step 5). Or if you wanted to do pieces even smaller than that, depending on their size, cook time would probably be more like 22 to 25 minutes.
Hope you enjoy them!
Christine Levesque
Hello, can this be made without nutritional yeast?
Lori
Hi Christine, yes absolutely. You can simply omit it.
Maaike
Hello, I'm fairly new to the world of seitan and I was wondering, can I substitute the garbanzo flour for regular chickpeas or other kinds of cooked beans?
Lori
Hi Maaike, yes definitely! Chickpeas, pinto beans, or white beans would all work well in this recipe. You won't need much, maybe 1/3 cup. This will alter the wet-to-dry ratio since beans contain moisture and the chickpea flour is dry. So I would also reduce the broth by a few tablespoons.
You might like to check out a few of my other seitan recipes that use beans and/or nuts instead of chickpea flour. Here's one: https://myquietkitchen.com/vegan-breakfast-sausage/
Yasmin
Hi can I use gluten free flour instead of chickpea ?
Lori
That's a good question. Do you mean a gluten-free flour blend? I can't say with certainty since I haven't tried it, but it's such a small amount that it would probably be okay. You can also omit the chickpea flour and increase the nutritional yeast to 1/4 cup. This helps to break up the gluten strands a bit to make the seitan slightly less firm. But since nutritional yeast isn't as "thirsty" as chickpea flour you'll also want to use just a touch less broth. Hope that helps!
Jill Shafer
The steaming is a great technique to get a more dense texture. Very easy and I liked simply adding all spices to the dough. Will be steaming from now on. I used my rice cooker steamer and it worked well. Doubled the recipe so steamed in two batches.
Leora M
This is my go-to seitan recipe. I usually up the number of spices to add to the flavor. I also add a little cinnamon and chili powder to add to the complexity of the flavors. As others have said, I recommend doubling the recipe and freezing the extra for your next meal. Seitan is delicious and easy, but it does just take some non-active cooking time to cook.
kat
I want to double this recipe. Can I stack the pieces in the steamer? Or can I safely leave the second half out while the first half steams? What do you suggest? Thanks!
Lori
It’s best not to stack them so the steam can reach the surface of each piece. But honestly, you probably could if you don’t mind the appearance being a bit different. If you have a way to create two tiers inside a steamer that would be ideal, and that’s often what I do. Hope that helps!
Lori
You can also safely leave the second batch out while the first half cooks.
Tamz
First time making seitan. I admittedly used my instant pot for this. I put 1/2 cup water in the pot, with 1 drop of liquid smoke. I put the seitan dough (2 large pieces) on the little rack and pressure cooked on high for 16 minutes and then released the steam. I just tried some to try and it was really good! Thanks so much for a delicious recipe, I will make it again for sure.
Lori
Glad you liked it, Tamz! And I love that you used the instant pot. I've experimented with cooking a seitan roast in the IP a few times but not yet with this particular recipe. Adding IP instructions to this is post is now on my to-do list. Thanks! 😀
Harry
I just used the Instant Pot too, but didn't see your comment, Tamz. I did 15 minutes on high and then let it natural release about 10 minutes (was busy with other things). I don't have a steamer basked so I just put it on the short rack inside a metal dish I had. It came out nice and dense and well cooked while still juicy. Last time I made this I boiled and wasn't super happy with it, it seemed so water-logged. This sauteed perfectly with a great bite and flavor. I think the steaming option is pretty forgiving on exact times. Looking forward to trying more flavor infusions. Thanks!!
Bridget Knutson
Can you switch out chickpea flour for another flour?
Lori
Hi Bridget,
Yes, you can replace it with a few tablespoons of all-purpose flour or tapioca starch, and a bit more nutritional yeast wouldn't hurt either. The chickpea flour is mainly for softening the texture and breaking up the gluten, which those other ingredients also do. Hope that helps!
Caroline Turley
I'm pretty sure the recipe should call for 21/4 cups of Vital Wheat Gluten, instead of 11/4 cups. I followed the recipe to the letter, and ended up with something completely unusable.
Lori
Hi Caroline, so sorry to hear it didn't work for you. I've made this recipe many times and the 1 1/4 cups vital wheat gluten amount is correct. Getting the wet/dry ratio with any dough like this can be tricky due to a variety of factors. I would love to help you figure out what went wrong! Did you also include the chickpea flour or alter any of the other wet or dry ingredients at all? Did you knead the dough and give the vwg time to hydrate and absorb the liquid? The dough seems very wet initially.
Carolyn Blakeney
I've been making seitan since the early-mid nineties and this ratio of wet to dry is what I would expect. Wondering if the reader misread the broth component as 2 - 3 cups, or perhaps 2 and 1/3 cups? At any rate, saving this recipe to try soon- a vinegar component is showing up in seitan recipes more and more these past couple years as a way to offset the gluten taste, plus I have not tried using a balsamic vinegar before.
Lori
Thanks for the note, Carolyn. I hope you enjoy it! The flavor of the vinegars is very mild, but I think the balsamic adds a subtle depth, as opposed to using only apple cider vinegar. Let me know how it turns out for you!
Anna
If I wanted to make this into a Wellington, can I cook the seitan in advance, leave overnight in the fridge then just wrap in pastry the next day and bake in the oven? Will it be long enough for the seitan to warm through properly do you think, or will the pastry burn first?
Lori
Hi Anna,
I think that would work well. I would let the seitan rest outside of the refrigerator for a while to let it warm up first. There are quite a few seitan Wellington recipes online, if referencing those might help you.
*Also, just wanted to make sure you meant to leave this comment on this recipe and not the seitan roast?
Let us know how it turns out!