| Seitan, wheat meat or wheat gluten is an | | | | been simmered in a traditional broth of soy sauce |
| alternative to soybean-based meat substitutes | | | | or tamari, ginger, garlic, and kombu (seaweed). |
| such as tofu and even meat like chicken or beef. | | | | But you will also find that most people call all |
| Wheat meat has very little in common with flour | | | | gluten or wheat meat seitan. Seitan's versatility |
| or bread, and is often used instead of meat in | | | | lies in the myriad forms it assumes during the |
| Asian, vegetarian, Buddhist, and macrobiotic | | | | cooking process. In addition to simmering it can |
| cuisines. Simulated duck or roast beef are a | | | | also be oven-braised, baked, cooked in a pressure |
| commonly made with wheat gluten because it is | | | | cooker, or deep fried. |
| so similar to the look and texture of meat when | | | | Each version yields a different texture. |
| cooked, making it a popular meat substitute. | | | | - Oven braising produces a texture similar to the |
| Wheat meat can be prepared by hand using | | | | chewy texture derived from simmering. |
| either whole wheat flour or vital wheat gluten and | | | | - Baking produces a light texture that works well |
| is made by rinsing away the starch in the wheat, | | | | when grinding or grating seitan. |
| leaving a high-protein gluten behind. Wheat meat is | | | | - Pressure cooking tends to produce a |
| not as common as tofu, but it is quickly gaining | | | | softer-textured seitan. |
| popularity, particularly in vegetarian restaurants, | | | | - Fried gluten turns soft and slippery when cooked |
| due to its ability to take on the texture and flavor | | | | with a sauce and absorbs flavor well. |
| of meat. While you can make wheat meat, you | | | | Making wheat meat or seitan will open up a new |
| can also find it already prepared in the | | | | sphere for you in the world of cooking; especially |
| refrigerated section of most health food stores, | | | | vegetarian cooking. It is terrific in many dishes, |
| labeled as "seitan". Just know that it is more | | | | from Asian stir-fries to traditional American fare |
| expensive to buy it prepared than it is to make it | | | | like stew or roast beef. Try substituting this meat |
| from scratch. And while the process for making | | | | for animal products in former favorite recipes. |
| wheat meat can be tedious, you know that you | | | | Allow your creative juices to flow and experiment |
| have the control to add to it the ingredients you | | | | when making seitan by experimenting with it |
| choose. | | | | many versatile ways. The possibilities are endless |
| This adaptable meat can be flavored in a variety | | | | with this truly unique meat substitute. |
| of ways. It is called seitan when the gluten has | | | | |