making your own...

[dextra]

does anyone have any experience with making their own tempeh, seitan, or gluten? i've been very disappointed with the quality of the tempeh available here (it's only frozen, and falls apart too easily, as opposed to the fresh stuff i was able to purchase in europe), and we can't get seitan or gluten in this end of the world. any fave recipes or

Comments

Seitan

[mahjong_kid]

I use a recipe that I found online. (Though it might originally be from a cookbook, because after I found it the first time, it was removed and I had a hard time finding another copy. I'd give credit if I could, but I don't know its origins.) It's technically for a pastrami-style loaf, and we do use it for cold sandwiches quite a bit, but it's just as good cut into larger, thicker pieces and cooked in hot dishes.

2 c. vital wheat gluten
1/2 c. nutritional yeast
1/2 c. chickpea (besan) flour
2 Tbsp. onion powder
2 Tbsp. garlic powder
1 Tbsp. smoked paprika
1 Tbsp. fennel seeds, crushed
2 tsp. salt
2 c. cool water
3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. ground black pepper (optional)

In a large bowl, mix together flours and spices. Mix liquid ingredients in a large measuring cup. Gently stir liquid into dry ingredients. Stir just until mixed. Shape dough into a loaf (I do a long roll, to accommodate the design of my steamer), coat with ground pepper (if desired), and wrap in a cotton dish towel. Steam in a steamer basket 50-60 minutes (depending on thickness of the loaf), until roast is firm (in my opinion, longer is better, since I prefer mine quite firm). Remove from steamer, unwrap, and let cool at room temperature before refrigerating.

This makes quite a bit, and while I've never tried freezing it, I've kept it in the fridge for two weeks or more.