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 okay to eat seitan every day? ›

How Often to Eat Seitan. As Churchill pointed out, it's about finding the perfect balance when incorporating seitan into your diet. “Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.”

What to pair with seitan for complete protein? ›

Quinoa – You can cook it in a flavored broth to add a textural element to your wet mix, or serve it on the side of your seitan for a complete protein meal. Lentils – Great in beefy dishes, lentils can add a savory, and sometimes peppery note to make any seitan dish a high- and complete-protein meal.

What is seitan steak made of? ›

What is it made of? I made this vegan steak out of seitan, which is a chewy, tender, and flavorful homemade meat substitute. It comes together using vital wheat gluten, a handful of spices, and vegetable broth, which gives it a scary similar taste, look, and texture to real meat.

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 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”

Why does my stomach hurt after eating seitan? ›

Digestive Discomfort: Seitan is high in protein and can cause digestive discomfort in some people, especially if consumed in large quantities or if the digestive system is not used to high-protein foods.

Can you build muscle with seitan? ›

Seitan is a good source of protein and can be a quick and convenient way to help those on a vegan or vegetarian diet meet their protein needs. Protein is essential for everything from building muscle to repairing tissue and producing hormones, so getting enough in your diet is absolutely critical.

What protein is seitan missing? ›

Sources of protein containing all nine essential amino acids are called complete protein. Seitan is therefore slightly incomplete but fear not – it's an excellent source of protein and usually seasoned with soya sauce, which conveniently adds the missing amino acid (lysine)!

Is store bought seitan healthy? ›

Is seitan good for your health? Like any food, seitan can be a part of a balanced meal pattern. On its own, without any flavoring agents, seitan is a low-carb, low-fat, high-protein food. Store-bought seasoned seitan could have added fat, salt and sugar, which can change its nutritional profile.

Which is healthier tofu or seitan? ›

Is seitan better for you than tofu? Both foods are a good source of plant-based protein. Seitan has twice as much per serving than tofu. However, tofu has more calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants than seitan.

Why is seitan so high in sodium? ›

Seitan can be high in sodium, so read the packaging carefully. While not all seitan options will be high in sodium, those made with flavoring agents like soy sauce and salt can boast higher amounts of this mineral.

How to make seitan taste good? ›

soy sauce or tamari - Adds saltiness, umami, and depth of flavor. balsamic and apple cider vinegar - Vinegar rounds out the flavor profile and helps disguise the subtle bitterness of vital wheat gluten. fat - Including a little bit of oil or other fat improves the overall flavor and tenderizes the seitan.

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.

Can I eat seitan every day? ›

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.

Why is my seitan so rubbery? ›

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. At Heartstone Farm, our grass-fed beef is aged 14 days for optimal tenderness.

Can you lose weight eating seitan? ›

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.

Is seitan healthier than tofu? ›

Both seitan and tofu are plant-based proteins. 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.

Can you eat vegan meat everyday? ›

But they could potentially be lower in calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and vitamin B12 and higher in sodium and fat after being prepared. This means these foods are not always a healthier alternative in the long run. If habitually consumed, relying on these foods could create nutrition shortfalls for consumers.

Does seitan increase cholesterol? ›

Red meat, fried foods, and baked goods are notorious for raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the sticky kind that builds up in artery walls. Here are 4 foods you'll want to avoid if you have high cholesterol: 1. Red meat.

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