Sometimes being vegan can be challenging. I miss certain animal-based proteins. Not often, but sometimes. In fact, occasionally I’ll miss eating a good steak. That’s where vital wheat gluten comes in. Vital wheat gluten is the main ingredient in seitan, which is the perfect vegan source to create my favorite “meat” dishes. Not only is seitan one of the best meat alternative sources, it’s also a healthy alternative.
Vital Wheat Gluten is low in fat, and low in carbs, but high on protein – which helps you maintain healthy weight. Because of the very low-fat nutrient Vital Wheat Gluten has, it can contribute to maintaining reasonable cholesterol levels.
It’s true that Vital wheat gluten is not so great for persons with gluten intolerance. So, be mindful if you are on a gluten-free diet. Otherwise, Vital Wheat Gluten is a healthful alternative to animal-based proteins and has zero soy. Most tend to think of wheat as a carb, forgetting that wheat is a good source of protein. In fact, it’s about 15% protein – which is mostly in the form of gluten. Vital Wheat Gluten is the protein source.
Vital Wheat Gluten is sold in powder form, like flour. It’s the key ingredient for making seitan, which to me, is one of the healthiest meat alternatives you can use. The gluten is what makes the seitan’s texture chewy, and provides a nice meaty texture, binding all the ingredients together. It’s amazing how like steak the texture of prepared seitan is. Besides seitan, Vital Wheat Gluten can be found as an ingredient in soy-based sausages, burgers, and other meat alternatives. One of the best brands of Vital Wheat Gluten I have found on the market, is packaged, and sold by Anthony’s Goods. Anthony’s offers a variety of organic, and natural, flours, meals, and food. “I absolutely love their products!” If you’d like to try wheat gluten, I highly recommend choosing Anthony’s Goods brand. Use my affiliate link and save some money while you are at it!
ALL ABOUT SEITAN
As I mentioned earlier in this post, the main ingredient in Seitan is Vital Wheat. Seitan is most frequently used as a meat alternative in vegetarian and vegan diets. It’s a great substitute for meat, as it’s stringy, and chewy in texture. Seitan can be marinated, baked, fried, and cut into slices and chunks. Although you can find a variety of premade brands of seitan on the market, preparing your own is truly the best. It’s not only healthier, but the experience in preparing seitan is quite unique. Seitan is easy to make. It’s made by mixing the vital wheat gluten powder (or flour) with water or vegetable stock, and mixing it well, dissolving and removing most of the starch and fiber, then forming it into a sticky, elastic doughy mass of protein. Usually, you further cook the gluten dough balls in hot boiling water till they rise somewhat, and then drain and cook however you choose. Obviously, you will want to flavor your seitan prior to complete cooking, depending upon what you are creating with the seitan. Check out my seitan recipe here.
I hope you give Vital Wheat Gluten a try and make your own seitan. It’s a great source of lean plant-based protein, and a healthy alternative to eating meat. Be sure to purchase your own bag of Anthony’s Goods Vital Wheat Protein, by using my link.
Peace! 😊
Debbie
The Vega-Riffic Food Site 