Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (2024)

Updated: by Vera Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links · 66 Comments

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Vegan Steak! You will freak when you taste my vegan alternative to steak! Juicy, marinated Seitan steak with a perfect meaty chew! Delicious and easy vegetarian meat recipe!

Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (1)

Ok I’ll admit I used loved a good juicy grilled ribeye steak! (long day ago) But I don’t miss it especially when I have veganized it so well! Yup vegan steak guys! It’s on the menu- And it’s fabulous! Slices like butter. Hard to believe it’s plant based!

The perfect dinner with with gravy and mashed potatoes or as I like it- with vegan garlic butter, horseradish, baked or roasted potatoes and veggies! Mmm and corn on the Cobb. YUM! Great cut into strips or cubed for stir fries, stews or salads too! So many options

I wanted to create a great seitan steak recipe as there are no good options to buy them anywhere! And if you can find one they’re pricey. They rarely even have gardein beefless tips stocked in my area and definitely not at any local restaurants!

A crazy good protein rich meal for vegetarians and if you want to impress meat eaters, serve them this! It’ll blow their mind!

The magic happens when these vegan seitan steaks are marinated, fired on the bbq and grilled! OMG so good

Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (2)

What is vegan steak made of and what does it taste like?

This vegetarian steak recipe is made using vital wheat gluten and lentils, not tofu. It has a chew much like beef and the taste is similar as it takes on the flavours of the marinade which is super tasty and 100 % plant based.

Let’s keep those cows safe and happily grazing in the fields shall we❤️

What is seitan?

Seitan is a vegan meat substitute made using vital wheat gluten. It is sometimes referred to as “wheat meat”

What is vital wheat gluten?

Vital Wheat Gluten is made from wheat. It is made by washing the wheat flour with water until all the starch has been removed. And you are then left with the gluten which must be cooked before eaten.

How do you make vegan steak?

For the seitan: First add the ingredients for the seitan steaks in your food processor (except vital wheat gluten) and process until smooth.

Now add the gluten evenly on top of the wet mix. Process until JUST COMBINED! You do not want to over mix or the steaks could turn out tough.

Turn the dough out onto the counter. Do not kneed the dough! Press into a disc approximately 8-9 inches in diameter and about ½ inch thick. Portion the steaks like you would a pie, into 4-6 pieces. Wrap steaks individually in tin foil, wrap loosely to leave room for expansion during steaming.

To cook the raw seitan: Place in your steamer basket (pot) and steam for 30 minutes over medium heat, flipping them halfway through.

Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (3)

While the steaks are steaming make the marinade: Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk together until sugar is dissolved. Set aside

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When steaks are done, remove from foil packets and place in a shallow dish (I use my glass pie plate) or a large freezer bag. Pour the marinade evenly over the steaks. Marinade for a minimum of one hour or longer(I usually leave mine for 6 hours orovernight for better flavour and texture).

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To grill: cook the steaks on your grill pan or bbq over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, to get some good char marks and flavour! basting frequently with the marinade.

Move to a serving platter and add a little more marinade for added juiciness. Serve and enjoy! For full recipe ingredients and instructions see recipe card below.

Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (6)

What side dishes to serve with seitan steak?

  • Best Vegan Macaroni Salad with Smoked Tofu – So Easy!
  • Garlic and Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms
  • The Ultimate Vegan Mac and Cheese (Daiya)
  • Vegan Scalloped Potatoes
  • Vegan Mashed Potatoes (Instant Pot)
  • Vegan Caesar Salad (Best Caesar Dressing!)
  • Classic Vegan Coleslaw
  • Best Home Fries Recipe (Breakfast Potatoes)
  • Best Tofu Scramble (Vegan Scrambled Eggs)

OK GUYS LET'S FIRE UP THE BARBY AND COOK SOME VEGAN STEAKS, THEY'RE:

juicy and meaty

protein rich and satisfying!

fun to make

simple

great for a summer potluck

saucy

Enjoy guys! Happy day to you! feel free to leave a comment and a rating below. I would love to hear from you.

Follow me on PINTEREST and INSTAGRAM for more tasty Plant Based Vegan Recipes❤️

Want more vegan meat recipes with seitan? Check these out!

  • Vegan Turkey Recipe
  • Vegan Burger (Best Grillable Vegan Burger Ever!)
  • Vegetarian Salsbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy (Vegan) (Meatball version)

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Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (7)

Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan)

★★★★★5 from 21 reviews
  • Author: Verna
  • Total Time: 56 minutes
  • Yield: 4-6 Steaks 1x
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Vegan Steak! You will freak when you taste my vegan alternative to steak! Juicy, marinated Seitan steak with a perfect meaty chew! Delicious and easy vegetarian meat recipe!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Vegan Steaks:

  • ¾ cup water
  • ¾ cup canned lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons tamari(could sub soy sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon better than beef vegetarian bouilllon*
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated onion
  • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
  • ½ teaspoon dried dill
  • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 and ⅓ cups vital wheat gluten

For the marinade:

  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons tamari
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons oil, I use grapeseed oil
  • 1 to 1 and ½ tablespoons vegan worcestershire sauce, I like Wizard's or Annies
  • ½ teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 1 and ½ tablespoons brown sugar, packed
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic
  • pinch of salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. For the seitan steak: First add the ingredients for the seitan steaks in your food processor (except vital wheat gluten) and process until smooth.
  2. Now add the gluten evenly on top of the wet mix. Process until JUST COMBINED! You do not want to over mix or the steaks could turn out tough. See step by step photos in above post if necessary
  3. Turn the seitan dough onto the counter. Do not kneed the dough! Press into a disc approximately 8-9 inches in diameter and about ½ inch thick. Portion the steaks like you would a pie, into 4-6 pieces. Wrap steaks individually in tin foil, wrap loosely to leave room for expansion during steaming.
  4. To cook the raw seitan: Place in your steamer basket (pot)with lid and steam for 30 minutes over medium heat, flipping them halfway through.
  5. While the steaks are steaming make the marinade: Add all the ingredients to amedium bowl and whisk together until sugar is dissolved. Set aside
  6. When steaks are done, remove from foil packets and place in a shallow dish (I use my glass pie plate) or a large freezer bag. Pour the marinade evenly over the steaks. Marinade for a minimum of one hour or longer. I usually leave mine for 3-6 hours for better flavour and texture or overnight if I have time.
  7. To grill: cook the steaks on your grill pan or bbq over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, to get some good char marks and flavour! basting frequently with the marinade.
  8. Move to a serving platter and add a little more marinade for added juiciness. Serve and enjoy! I like my steak with a little vegan garlic butter, horseradish sauce for dipping, along side baked or roasted potatoes, corn on the Cobb and green salad or caesar salad maybe some grilled veggies too! SO GOOD! Would make an excellent vegan steak sandwich also! or sliced for stir fries, stews or soups! Lots of tasty options!

Notes

  • You can substitute veggie stock for water and bouillon paste
  • I have used steak sauce (HP or A1) in place of Worcestershire and it works in a pinch😊👍
  • steaks will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days and freeze well with or without the marinade (steamed first)
  • If you can’t find vital wheat gluten here is a link for you.
  • Nutritional chart below does not include marinade ingredients
  • prep time doesn't include marinating time
  • this recipe cannot be made gluten free
  • recipe inspired by Bosh with the Happy Pear
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 36 minutes
  • Category: Mains
  • Method: food processor / stovetop
  • Cuisine: American, Canadian

Keywords: vegan steak, seitan steak, vegan seitan steak,

Best Vegan Steak Recipe (Seitan) (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to eat seitan everyday? ›

The answer is, yes! —as long it's part of a well-rounded diet. A 100g serving of seitan has about 141 calories and 25 grams of protein, making it comparable to the amount of protein in chicken or beef. Because the starches are removed from the wheat when seitan is made, it has very little fat and carbs.

What are the proportions for seitan? ›

1 cup of vital wheat gluten to ¼ cup chickpea flour or soy flour is a good place to start. This will give you about 2 cups of seitan. Stir them together in a large bowl.

What does seitan steak taste like? ›

What Does Seitan Taste Like? Seitan has a fairly neutral flavor that acts as a nice blank canvas for cooking. On its own, it's most comparable to plain chicken or a portobello mushroom, but absorbs any flavors and spices incredibly well.

How do you make seitan more tender? ›

Add slightly more water in the dough , the more tender the dough, the more tender the finished product. Add the water in small stages, if you make it too soft, add more seasoned gluten powder. What is the secret to making a tender, less chewy seitan? Steam it, instead of putting it in a broth.

What is healthier seitan or tofu? ›

However, while seitan is an excellent plant-based protein alternative, tofu is a complete protein (seitan lacks the amino acid lysine). Unseasoned tofu is typically lower in sodium than store-bought seitan, which can be processed with salt, sugar or other flavors added.

Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›

Because of its meaty texture, seitan can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and stir-fries to stews and soups. The best part is that making seitan at home is easy, and it's much cheaper than buying pre-made or store-bought seitan.

What are the disadvantages of seitan? ›

What are the cons?
  • Not suitable for those with gluten-sensitivities or coeliac disease.
  • Doesn't absorb much flavour.
  • High amounts of sodium (salt) in the packaged product.
  • Seitan is hard to source unlike other vegetarian protein alternatives meaning you may have to venture to a specialty vegetarian “butcher”

Who should avoid seitan? ›

While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it. Premade seitan can also be high in sodium, so it's important to read the nutrition label if you monitor your sodium intake.

What can I combine with seitan for complete protein? ›

So, seitan is not only a great protein source but also has a good amino acid profile. If you're wondering what else you can add to seitan to make up for its lack of lysine, it's easy – lentils, beans, tofu, tempeh, nuts and seeds.

Why is my seitan so rubbery? ›

Typically, leaner cuts like the flank or skirt can be chewy if not prepared correctly. Cooking Method: Overcooking can cause the steak to lose its moisture, making it dry and chewy. Conversely, undercooking can make certain cuts feel tough. Aging Process: Steaks that are not properly aged can be less tender.

Which is better tempeh or seitan? ›

The closest comparison, meat substitute-wise, is tempeh vs. seitan. Tempeh has slightly less protein, fewer carbs, and less fat. Compared to tofu, seitan has significantly more protein.

What tastes better tempeh or seitan? ›

Tempeh's flavor is often compared to that of mushrooms. Its slightly nutty and savory flavor, making it ideal when adding to recipes like teriyaki bowls, salads and curry. Seitan's taste is a bit more savory, with a taste closer to a portobello mushroom or bland chicken.

How to make seitan chewy? ›

Boiling seitan makes it have a brainy spongey texture, frying seitan (without first steaming it) makes it rubbery and spongey, baking it makes it dry and rubbery. Steaming seitan, on the other hand, will yield the perfect meaty, juicy, chewy, yet tender seitan every single time.

What is the best flour for seitan? ›

Bread flour: 12–16% protein – Fine-grain, unbleached, white varieties are optimal for making seitan. Bread flour is designed to have higher amounts of gluten which is why just about any brand should be a safe bet, though some still may have more than others.

Why does seitan hurt my stomach? ›

There's some evidence in medical research that wheat gluten may increase the permeability of your intestines, leading to what some health authorities call "leaky gut syndrome." If you find you experience bloating, gassiness, or other digestive symptoms after eating seitan, you may want to avoid it next time.

Can I eat too much seitan? ›

Some people may have gluten sensitivities or allergies, and seitan is not suitable for them. Additionally, consuming seitan in excessive amounts may lead to an imbalance in nutrient intake, as it is primarily a protein source and lacks other essential nutrients found in a well-rounded diet.

Can you build muscle with seitan? ›

Its devilish name may seem apt to paleo types: seitan is gluten. But with as much protein per calorie as chicken breast, it's also a top source of muscle fuel.

Can you lose weight eating seitan? ›

So seitan is the perfect ingredient for meals in a protein diet. If you're on a protein diet, you often lose a lot of weight in a short time. It's also important to be aware that, at the start, you'll lose quite a lot of fluids. So if you have problems with fluid retention, a protein diet would be great for you.

Is it OK to eat vital wheat gluten everyday? ›

The bottom line is that unless you are gluten intolerant, you can safely consume vital wheat gluten.

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