Steaming Seitan: Pressure Cooker Perfection In Minutes

Seitan is a popular meat substitute made from rehydrating vital wheat gluten. It has a chewy texture that resembles chicken meat. It can be used in sandwiches, stir-fries, and traditionally meat-based dishes.

To make seitan in a pressure cooker, you will need vital wheat gluten, tofu, nutritional yeast, vegetable broth or water, and seasonings of your choice. The ingredients are combined and kneaded into a dough, which is then shaped into a log and wrapped in foil. The wrapped dough is placed in the pressure cooker with water and cooked under pressure for 30-45 minutes. After cooking, the seitan should be allowed to cool before slicing or serving.

Some tips for making seitan in a pressure cooker include experimenting with the kneading time to achieve the desired texture, allowing the seitan to cool before slicing, and customising the flavours with different herbs and spices.

How to shape seitan for a pressure cooker

Shaping seitan for a pressure cooker is a simple process. The first step is to make the seitan dough by mixing the dry and wet ingredients separately, and then combining them. Once the dough is formed, it can be shaped into a log, which is then wrapped in foil or cheesecloth. The log shape helps the seitan cook evenly and ensures that it holds its form during the cooking process.

When shaping the seitan log, it is important to not over-knead the dough as this can result in a tougher and chewier texture. The dough should be elastic but soft enough to shape. After shaping, the seitan log is placed on a steamer rack or basket inside the pressure cooker, ensuring it does not sit directly in the water.

For those who prefer smaller pieces of seitan, an alternative method is to tear off small chunks of dough and form them into nuggets. These nuggets are then placed in the pressure cooker in a single layer and cooked for a shorter period.

Regardless of the shape, the seitan should be allowed to cool completely before slicing or serving. This helps the seitan firm up and ensures it maintains its shape.

The best ingredients to wrap seitan in

One of the most popular ways to wrap seitan is in cheesecloth. This allows the seitan to be easily removed from the broth and helps it to retain its shape. If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use muslin or even old fabric scraps, though it's best to use white fabric to avoid any colour transfer.

Another option is to wrap the seitan in aluminium foil. This can be a good choice if you're planning to steam the seitan, as it will help to trap in moisture. However, if you're simmering the seitan, make sure that the foil is loose enough to allow the broth to circulate and flavour the seitan.

You can also bake seitan, though this requires a slightly different approach. The seitan dough needs to be moister than for simmering or steaming, and it should be wrapped in foil to prevent it from drying out.

How to make seitan in an Instant Pot

Ingredients:

• Vital wheat gluten
• Chickpea flour (optional)
• Nutritional yeast
• Seasonings of your choice (e.g. smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning)
• Vegetable broth or water
• Soy sauce or tamari (optional)
• Tofu (optional)

Method:

• Combine all the dry ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk together.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (except the broth/water).
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until well combined. The dough will start to form.
• Knead the dough for about 10-15 seconds and form it into a log shape, approximately 2 inches in diameter and 8 inches long.
• Wrap the log in foil and place it on the steaming rack/basket inside the Instant Pot.
• Add 1 cup of water or broth to the base of the Instant Pot.
• Close the lid and set the pressure valve to "sealing."
• Cook on high pressure for 45 minutes.
• Once the timer goes off, turn off the Instant Pot and allow the pressure to release naturally for about 10 minutes, then carefully quick-release the remaining pressure.
• Remove the seitan from the Instant Pot and let it cool slightly before slicing or tearing it into pieces.

Tips:

• Experiment with different seasonings to suit your taste preferences.
• You can also add tofu to the dough to make the seitan more tender.
• Avoid over-kneading the dough, as this can make the seitan tough and chewy.
• Allow the seitan to cool completely before slicing, as it will firm up upon cooling.
• Seitan can be stored in the fridge for up to a week or frozen for up to 3 months.

How to store seitan

Storing seitan is straightforward, and there are a few different methods you can use depending on how you have cooked it and how you plan to use it.

Storing Seitan in Broth

If you plan to use your seitan in stews or other wet dishes, you can store it in its cooking broth. Simply pour the seitan and broth into an airtight container and place it in the fridge. This method will keep your seitan fresh for up to 10 days, and it will continue to absorb the flavours of the broth.

If you don't want to store the seitan and broth together, you can separate them. The broth can be kept and used in stews, soups, or to rehydrate and cook the seitan if it dries out.

Storing Dry Seitan

If you plan to use your seitan in stir-fries or other dry dishes, it is better to store it dry. Wrap the seitan in cling film or aluminium foil and place it in the refrigerator. Make sure you wrap it tightly to minimise exposure to air, and consider using two layers of wrapping to prevent the seitan from absorbing any odours from other foods in the fridge. Seitan stored this way will be good for 4-5 days.

Freezing Seitan

If you want to store your seitan for longer than a week, freezing is a good option. Seitan freezes well, and you shouldn't notice any significant change in taste or texture. You can freeze seitan in broth or dry.

To freeze seitan in broth, place the seitan and broth in an airtight container, seal it well, and label it. Try to use a small container to minimise empty space above the seitan.

To freeze dry seitan, wrap it in cling film, then double-wrap it in aluminium foil or another layer of cling film. You can also put the wrapped seitan in a freezer bag, creating a double layer of protection. Label the container or bag, so you know how long the seitan has been frozen.

Seitan can be frozen for up to 6 months. After this, the quality will start to deteriorate. To make the most of your frozen seitan, consider portioning it before freezing. That way, you don't have to defrost everything at once. Flash freezing is a good way to prevent individual pieces from sticking together and to ensure you have the exact portion you need.

Storing Raw Seitan Dough

You can also store raw seitan dough in the freezer. Wrap it tightly in cling film, then double-wrap it in aluminium foil. You can slice the dough to create manageable portions for cooking.

Defrosting and Reheating Seitan

It is best to defrost seitan in the fridge. Dry seitan will defrost in about 2-3 hours, while seitan stored in broth will take slightly longer. If you need to defrost your seitan quickly, you can use running cold water.

When reheating seitan, you can use a microwave or a pan. However, be careful to prevent the seitan from drying out. If using a pan, add a bit of water to prevent dryness. Similarly, if reheating in the microwave, put some water in the container to rehydrate the seitan during the process.

How to serve seitan

Seitan is a versatile meat substitute that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some ideas on how to serve seitan:

Sandwiches

Seitan can be used as a filling for sandwiches, such as vegan Philly cheesesteak sandwiches or barbecue beef sandwiches. You can also pile it high on some whole-grain bread that's been slathered with cashew mayo.

Stir-fries, Curries, Soups, and Stews

Seitan can be added to stir-fries, curries, soups, or stews. It only needs a few minutes of simmer time, just enough to heat it up completely. You can also brown seitan chunks, slices, or strips in a lightly oiled frying pan over medium heat for 5-10 minutes and then add them to these dishes.

Salads

Raw seitan can be added to salads, such as a vegan chicken salad.

Fried Seitan

You can dredge seitan in a breading, such as flour or cornstarch, and then fry it and douse it in a flavorful sauce, such as in a vegan Mongolian beef recipe.

Grilled Seitan

You can marinate seitan before cooking it and then grill it, as in this seitan kebab recipe.

Seitan Holiday Roast

Seitan can be used to make a holiday roast that's sure to impress everyone.

BBQ Vegan Seitan Ribs

Seitan ribs are another delicious option for serving seitan.

Carolina-Style Pulled Pork Seitan Sandwiches

These sandwiches are a tasty way to enjoy seitan with a Southern twist.

Seitan with Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy

Seitan can be sliced and served on top of mashed potatoes and covered in mushroom gravy for a comforting meal.

Vegan Steak or Chicken Tenders

For recipes that call for larger cuts of meat, it's best to use homemade seitan or find a seitan-based recipe specifically for steak or chicken tenders.

Frequently asked questions