What is Seitan Or Wheat Meat?

Seitan, wheat meat or wheat gluten is an alternative to soybean-based meat substitutes such as tofu and even meat like chicken or beef. Wheat meat has very little in common with flour or bread, and is often used instead of meat in Asian, vegetarian, Buddhist, and macrobiotic cuisines. Simulated duck or roast beef are a commonly made with wheat gluten because it is so similar to the look and texture of meat when cooked, making it a popular meat substitute.

Wheat meat can be prepared by hand using either whole wheat flour or vital wheat gluten and is made by rinsing away the starch in the wheat, leaving a high-protein gluten behind. Wheat meat is not as common as tofu, but it is quickly gaining popularity, particularly in vegetarian restaurants, due to its ability to take on the texture and flavor of meat.  While you can make wheat meat, you can also find it already prepared in the refrigerated section of most health food stores, labeled as "seitan".  Just know that it is more expensive to buy it prepared than it is to make it from scratch. And while the process for making wheat meat can be tedious, you know that you have the control to add to it the ingredients you choose.

Wheat Bread

This adaptable meat can be flavored in a variety of ways. It is called seitan when the gluten has been simmered in a traditional broth of soy sauce or tamari, ginger, garlic, and kombu (seaweed). But you will also find that most people call all gluten or wheat meat seitan. Seitan's versatility lies in the myriad forms it assumes during the cooking process. In addition to simmering it can also be oven-braised, baked, cooked in a pressure cooker, or deep fried.

Each version yields a different texture.

Oven braising produces a texture similar to the chewy texture derived from simmering.  Baking produces a light texture that works well when grinding or grating seitan. Pressure cooking tends to produce a softer-textured seitan. Fried gluten turns soft and slippery when cooked with a sauce and absorbs flavor well.

Making wheat meat or seitan will open up a new sphere for you in the world of cooking; especially vegetarian cooking. It is terrific in many dishes, from Asian stir-fries to traditional American fare like stew or roast beef. Try substituting this meat for animal products in former favorite recipes.  Allow your creative juices to flow and experiment when making seitan by experimenting with it many versatile ways. The possibilities are endless with this truly unique meat substitute.

What is Seitan Or Wheat Meat?

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