Easy Seitan

Name: Easy Seitan
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 3/4 cup vital wheat gluten; 2 tablespoons chickpea flour (or all purpose flour); 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup vegan no chicken broth (or vegetable broth); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 5 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tablespoons grated ginger; 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup agave; 2 teaspoons seasoned rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Learn how to make your own seitan with this 20-minute easy seitan! Meaty homemade nuggets are pan-fried and tossed in a sticky ginger garlic sauce. If you thought making your own seitan at home was difficult, then try this recipe!

Try more of my meaty vegan seitan recipes, like Vegan Steak, Vegan Chicken, Vegan Wings, Carne Asada, and Fried Chicken.

close up on bite-sized seitan nuggets covered in a "honey" ginger sauce and cooking in a large black skillet.

Have you tried making your own seitan? Once I learned how, I couldn’t stop! From seitan-based Vegan Pepperoni to Vegan Turkey Roast to Vegan Holiday Ham Roast, it’s one of my favorite plant-based meat substitutes to play with in the kitchen.

Whether you’re new to seitan or have made it a few times, you’ll love this Easy Seitan recipe. It’s easy to follow, uses less than 10 ingredients, and only takes 20 minutes, so any level of home cook can master it!

What is seitan?

Seitan (say-tan) is a vegan meat substitute made from vital wheat gluten, spices, and vegetable broth. These simple ingredients are kneaded into a dough before it’s cut into smaller pieces and cooked. The texture, taste, and look are almost scary similar to real meat!

Why this is the best seitan recipe

It’s foolproof – Even if you’re new to seitan, you’ll have an easy time making this recipe and adding the meaty bites to your favorite meals.
The best vegan meat substitute – I adore tofu and tempeh, but the meaty texture and flavor of seitan make it a superstar meat substitute!
Served with a great sauce – The bites are pan-fried and tossed in a sweet, savory, and tangy “honey” ginger sauce. Every bite will make your taste buds tingle!

How to make seitan

Find the complete recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.

Stir the vital wheat gluten, flour, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, thyme, and salt together in a large bowl.

dry ingredients for seitan in a large white bowl.

Pour the broth and olive oil into the bowl with the dry ingredients and stir until the dough pulls away from the bowl.

Dump the dough onto a clean surface lightly dusted with vital wheat gluten, then knead it with your hands for a few minutes. Tear the dough into bite-sized pieces.

The dough should be somewhat moist to the touch. If it’s dripping or too messy to work with, it’s likely because too much broth was added.

a ball of seitan dough in a large white bowl.

Place a steamer basket into a large pot filled with a couple of inches of water. Place the seitan pieces in a single layer in the steamer and steam for 15 minutes.

raw seitan nuggets on a steamer basket in a large grey pot.

If you’re using the honey ginger sauce, whisk the garlic, ginger, soy sauce, agave, seasoned rice vinegar, and cornstarch together in a small bowl.

Craving a different sauce? Toss the bites in kung pao sauce, teriyaki sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or any of the sauces listed in the Serving Suggestions below.

Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once warm, add the steamed seitan pieces and fry until golden brown and crispy on both sides.

frying seitan nuggets in a large black skillet.

Lower the heat and pour the sauce over the seitan. Stir constantly until the sauce has thickened and the bites are glossy and coated.

Serve the bites with rice or the cooked grains of your choice and steamed veggies, like broccoli or cauliflower. Enjoy!

Serving suggestions

Like tofu and tempeh, I like these seitan bites best tossed in a sauce and served over rice with veggies. Here are a few more delicious ways you can enjoy these meaty bites:

Toss them in BBQ sauce, teriyaki sauce, sesame sauce, gochujang sauce, bang bang sauce, or any other sauce you love!
Skip the sauce entirely and enjoy the nuggets with french fries and dipping sauce, like vegan ranch or ketchup, on the side for a fun meal.
They’re the best protein-packed topping for grain bowls, burrito bowls, green salads, spaghetti, or stir fry.
Chop them up and fold them into a casserole, a pot of chili, or your favorite soup for more protein.

Frequently asked questions

Can seitan be made gluten-free?

Unfortunately, no, seitan cannot be made gluten-free because vital wheat gluten is an essential ingredient.

I don’t have a steamer basket. What can I use instead?

Make a DIY steamer basket instead by placing a few balls of aluminum foil on the bottom of the pot. Set a heat-safe plate on top for the seitan bites, then steam as normal.

Do I have to cut the seitan into bite-sized pieces?

Nope! You can cut the ball of dough into thin strips or 4 to 6 larger pieces, similar to my Vegan Chicken. They will need to steam for longer though.

How do you store the leftovers? Can you freeze seitan?

After steaming and pan-frying the bites, place them in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. Seitan also freezes well; however, I prefer the taste and texture when it’s fresh.

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