What is seitan and where can you buy it?

|Say-tan |

Adam Bush

Published: April 17, 2020 at 9:04 PM

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Discover what seitan is, where to shop for it, and how to use it in our ingredient glossary

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What is seitan?

Originating from ancient China, seitan, also known as vital wheat gluten, is a meat alternative made from wheat. It has a firm texture with a 'meaty' bounce and mild flavour. It’s easy to make from scratch at home and can also be bought in vac-packed blocks or in jars. It can be cooked in lots of different ways – fried, grilled or added to stews or curries, for instance.

Where to buy seitan

Buy Whole Foods Online Seitan Flour, £1.89/500g, Amazon

Biona Organic Seitan Pieces, £14.37/350g, Amazon

Seitan recipes

Homemade seitan

Learn how to make your own seitan for a fantastic vegan meat alternative, made using vital wheat gluten. Quick to make, it can be used in a variety of dishes, such as stir-fries and curries.

Shiitake seitan burger with kimchi mayo

Don’t be daunted by the long ingredient list or the prep time for this vegan burger: it’s actually a super simple process and the results are delicious – this recipe uses added chunky shiitake mushrooms to replicate the texture of mince and to give an umami boost.