21 vegan seitan recipe ideas even meat-eaters will love

What is seitan?

Seitan is a vegan meat replacement which is also known as vital wheat protein, textured wheat protein, wheat gluten, and vital wheat gluten. Wheat gluten has been a popular protein source in China for thousands of years thanks to its realistic meaty texture. 

The Chinese also like wheat gluten as it has a flavour similar to MSG.  The Japanese name for wheat gluten is seitan pronounced ‘say-tan’ and was introduced in the 60s as part of the macrobiotic diet.

You can buy seitan in tins or jars, cooked and marinated and ready to eat, or you can easily make your own. 

Is seitan good for you?

Gluten is high in protein and eaten in moderation for most people causes no adverse effect. However, as enjoying seitan is made from concentrated gluten extract, it is not suitable for those with a gluten allergy or intolerance. 

How to make seitan

Seitan is traditionally made by creating a dough with wholewheat flour and water. You then rinse the dough to remove the wheat starch, bran and other water-soluble proteins, leaving you with a piece of pliable insoluble gluten that forms the base of your mock meat. 

It’s easy to make seitan at home using the ingredients from your storecupboard. You can find our basic seitan recipe here.

If you want to make the process even simpler, you can use vital wheat gluten flour and mix it with water. 

• Learn how to make your own seitan at home
• 14 vegan fish recipes that taste like the real thing
• 11 smoky vegan bacon recipes that taste better than meat

Now you know how to make seitan, you can make these delicious vegan seitan recipes!

The best vegan seitan recipes

Shiitake Stuffed Seitan Plait

This impressive vegan seitan plait is sure to wow your guests at your next Sunday roast! Bursting with an irresistible umami flavour, this pastry plait is a great recipe for vegans and meat-eaters alike.

Chorizo Style Seitan Hot Dogs with Caramelised Cider Onions

Seitan smokey sausages taste delicious in these vegan hotdogs! Great for vegans and carnivores alike, they’re great for BBQs, casseroles or even by themselves.

Sticky BBQ ‘Ribs’

Smothered in a sticky, cola-infused BBQ sauce, these ‘ribs’ are a real treat! The more you knead the seitan, the better the meaty texture will be.

Vegan Curried Seitan Salad

There’s no cooking involved in this simple, refreshing recipe, which combines the crunch of veg with the protein of seitan and the sweetness of fresh grapes.

Smoky Seitan Kebabs with Peanut Sauce

These seitan kebabs taste best with fresh lime and mixed herbs, topped with peanut sauce. They’re great year-round food for the whole family to enjoy.

Hungry for more irresistible vegan recipes? Why not become a member of Vegan Food & Living magazine and try 3 issues for £3? You’ll have access to thousands of vegan recipes and endless plant-based inspiration. Find out more here!

Vegan Mega Burger with Seitan

For a hearty seitan-based meal, try out this burger – they’re certainly not lying when they say it’s mega! It’s a great way to experiment with seitan steaks, too.

Spicy Seitan Sofrito Bowls

Inspired by Spanish cuisine, this dish mixes sofrito sauce, Spanish rice, kale, avocado and seitan strips. It’s perfect for those who love a bit of spice.

Vegan Bean Burritos with Seitan Chorizo and Tater Tots

The hearty tastes and textures of burritos are hard to resist. Luckily, you don’t have to with this combination of beans, sautéed seitan and tater tots.

Sour Cream Seitan Enchiladas

This one’s for all the Mexican food lovers out there! It’s deliciously creamy, a little spicy and the fillings can be altered to suit your specific tastes.

Vegan Seitan Tikka Masala

Everyone loves a good curry! This one, which has incredibly unique flavour profiles, tastes particularly great with a side of cauliflower rice.

Vegan Mongolian Seitan

This vegan version of Mongolian Beef is made by pan-frying seitan and coating it in a sweet, spicy Asian-inspired sauce. Best paired with rice and vegetables.

Chunky Vegetable Stew with Minted Seitan and Herby Dumplings

If you’re craving a meal with a traditional touch, this is the one for you. With a variety of wonderful textures and tastes, we pretty sure you’ll want seconds!

Ultimate Vegan Chilli

The seitan in this recipe is ground until it’s tender and flavoursome. It’s a great one to serve non-vegan friends, to see if they can tell it’s meat-free!

Vegan Seitan Carne Asada Tacos

Try this twist on Taco Tuesday! Make the seitan a little while before, then combine with your favourite taco fillings in the classic crunchy shells.

Vegan Seitan Steak

For an incredible vegan steak, blend together a variety of ingredients for a whole new taste experience. It looks and tastes like meat but is entirely meat-free!

Roast Stuffed Seitan Roulade

Getting the family and friends together? Ace the roast dinner with a healthy seitan roulade (and save some for later as it’s great eaten cold for supper, too)!

Seitan and Vegetable Stir Fry

Seitan seems to taste like whatever you cook it with, so why not cook it with mixed vegetables and a great vegan stir fry sauce? Sounds incredible to us!

Coconut Crusted Seitan, Charred Corn Lime Rice and Mango Salsa

Zesty Caribbean notes fill this entire dish. The combinations of sweet and sour flavours are fantastic for warm summer afternoons.

Vegan Cuban Sandwiches

Seitan isn’t just for dinner! These vegan Cuban sandwiches make tasty and filling midday snacks. They’re easy to make, too, so are great for taking to work.

Seitan Baked in Sweet and Sour Orange Sauce

Make a takeaway-style meal with seitan as the centre piece. It tastes divine, and (just like with a takeaway) leftovers are just as good!

Sorta Classic Pot Pie

We love a bit of comfort food! You can make the pastry crust yourself for the real homemade feel, but it’s just as great a recipe with store-bought pastry.

If you enjoyed these vegan seitan recipes, why not try making another popular mock meat – banana blossom!