Why Seitan Changed My Kitchen (and Could Change Yours Too)

When I first heard the word seitan I laughed because it sounded funny and strange and I thought it could not be food so I ignored it at first but later it became one of my favorite things to cook and eat and it changed how I think about plant-based protein.

At that time I wanted to eat less meat and I wanted to feel lighter and healthier.

So I started looking for new foods that could give me protein and energy without using chicken or beef or fish and I liked beans and tofu but sometimes I wanted something more chewy and filling so I kept searching.

One day a friend took me to a vegan café and I ordered a stir-fry and the dish came with vegetables and golden brown strips that looked like tofu but when I tasted them they were chewy and full of flavor so I asked my friend what it was and she smiled and said this is seitan and that was the first time I discovered it and I could not stop thinking about it afterwards.

After that I bought seitan from the store so I could cook it at home and I made stir-fries and sandwiches and tacos with it and I liked how easy it was and how it soaked up all the flavors of sauces and spices but it was also expensive and the packages were small so I decided to try making it myself.

I learned that seitan comes from wheat gluten which is the protein part of flour and all you need is vital wheat gluten and water and some seasoning and when you mix it together it turns into a stretchy dough so I tried it and my first batch was not perfect because it was chewy and not very tasty but I was proud that I made it with my own hands.

Then I kept practicing and I made mistakes along the way because sometimes I boiled it too long and it became rubbery and sometimes I did not season it enough and it tasted bland but every mistake helped me learn and I discovered that seitan needs bold flavors and strong spices and I also learned that steaming it made the texture firm and nice, so little by little I got better.

Soon I started making bigger batches so I could slice it for stir-fries and shred it for BBQ sandwiches and freeze some for later and that made cooking much easier during the week and it gave me a routine that made me feel prepared and happy.

I also shared it with my family and friends so one time I made seitan tacos with salsa and avocado and they loved it and another time I made shredded seitan with barbecue sauce and coleslaw and they called it Kari’s pulled not pork and everyone laughed and ate it with joy and those moments showed me that seitan was not only about food but also about sharing and connecting with people.

The more I cooked with it the more I realized that seitan is like a blank canvas because it does not have a strong taste by itself but it can taste like anything you want depending on the spices you use so it can be smoky or spicy or sweet or savory and that makes it fun to cook with because you never get bored.

At first I thought of seitan only as a meat replacement but later I started to see it as its own food because it is hearty and filling and satisfying and it does not have to copy meat to be special so for me it became part of my lifestyle and it gave me confidence to keep eating more plant-based meals without feeling like I was missing anything.

I remember feeling proud when I noticed I had more energy during the day because seitan gave me plenty of protein so I felt strong and ready for my activities and I realized it was more than just food because it gave me comfort and joy and it showed me that trying new things can be rewarding

Now when people ask me about plant-based eating I always share my seitan story and I tell them how I first laughed at the name and how I discovered it at a café and how I made mistakes at home and how I finally made meals I loved so I tell them not to be afraid to try because it is fun and it can surprise you

Of course seitan is not for everyone because it is made from gluten and some people cannot eat it but if you can then I think it is worth trying because it is affordable and easy to cook and it gives you so much protein and variety

So why seitan for me it is because it made eating plant-based simple and joyful and it gave me tasty meals that I could share with others and it taught me that cooking is about experimenting and enjoying the process and that is why seitan is now one of my favorite foods and maybe it can become one of yours too.