Homemade Seitan Steaks & Wild Mushroom Gravy

Eat Your Vegetables!'s Note:

This fresh seitan recipe from the Candle Cafe is the best I've ever had, but unfortunately it does take about 6 hours to make. A lot of that time is simmering or marinating time, but you need to start making this early and be aware that it can take a good half hour to knead the starch out of the dough. If will look like a lot when you first form the dough, but by the time you're done washing out the starch, it will have shrunk a lot! It will puff back up a bit during the simmering, though. These end up with a really good flavor and are kind of reminiscent of a beef roast/steaks. These go well with the wild mushroom gravy that the cafe serves them with, so I included that recipe with the seitan one here. The ingredients following the hot sauce are for the gravy. You can also use leftover marinade for portobello burgers to grill in the summertime.

• Total Time: 6 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 5 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 4 cups whole wheat bread flour
• 4 cups unbleached white flour
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup tamari soy sauce
• 1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 16 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups onions, finely chopped
• 2 cups mushrooms, chopped (shiitake, oyster, chanterelle, portobello, etc)
• 1 cup brown rice flour
• 1/2 cup tamari soy sauce
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried sage
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried tarragon

Directions:

1. To make the seitan, combine the whole wheat and white flours in a large mixing bowl. Mix with enough water to form a stiff dough. Gather into a ball and knead vigorously on a floured surface for at least 13 minutes.
2. Place in a bowl and cover the dough with cold water.Let stand for 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
3. Pour off the water and cover with fresh water. Knead the dough under the water to wash out the starch and some of the bran. Pour off the milky white water and cover with fresh water. Keep washing and rinsing while kneading the dough until the water becomes almost clear.
4. Divide the dough in half, place the halves in a large stockpot, and cover with the 6 cups of broth. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
5. Slice the dough into "steaks" and place in a large baking dish.
6. To make the marinade, place the 2 cups of olive oil, 1 cup tamari soy sauce, dijon mustard, garlic, pepper, and hot sauce in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour over the seitan and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
7. Prepare the steaks by grilling them on a charcoal, gas or stovetop grill over medium-high heat until golden brown (about 4 minutes per side). They may also be broiled instead of grilled.
8. To make the gravy, saute the mushrooms and onions in 3 T of olive oil. In a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 3 T of olive oil and add the brown rice flour to make a roux. Stir in 2 cups of water, 1/2 c tamari soy sauce, and the herbs and mix well. Bring to a boil and simmer until gravy is thickened (about 10 minutes). Stir in the mushroom-onion mixture and cook over low temperature until heated through. If the gravy is too thick, add water 1 T at a time until desired consistency is reached. Serve over steaks.

Reviews

[Mama's Kitchen (Hope)]

Update- Sorry I forgot to come back and review this before now. I got rave reviews when I served this to some vegan friends. I tried them as well and thought they were flavorful. A lot of work goes into this with the washing and kneading of the dough. The gravy was very nice and I enjoyed the mushrooms very much. I would make this again if it were not so labor intensive but as a non vegan I cannot see going to the effort. I would make this however for vegan guests. Thanks for sharing! *Original review 11/20/2008* - No stars yet. The photo I have posted is that of the seitan that I made after chef 2010 was so wonderful and patient and answered my questions. I was a little panicky at the start of the washing after all that kneading to see how much was being washed away! I thought for sure I had done something wrong. Just when I thought all was lost I kept kneading the dough under the water and it changed in my hands from a gloppy mess to more of a stringy sponge like consistency. The more I washed the more sponge like it became. I have now simmered it and took a photo to show everyone what it looks like before slicing. I have since sliced it and am now marinating it. I will be back to share how this comes out at the end!

[Three Kids Make Me Crazy]

This was very nice, and the gravy was really good. I don't think the seitan is worth the time or ingredients versus the kind I usually make with vital wheat gluten though. I am super grateful to the reviewers to said to hang in there when the seitan falls apart during kneading; I thought I had ruined it! So I will keep your gravy and method on hand, but going to stick with my own seitan. Thanks for a new way to prepare it though!

[Chef #361272]

OUTSTANDING!!!! This is the best vegetarian dish I've ever made. My husband and I decided this dish is so good,we are having it for Thanksgiving. Thank you soooo much for posting it. I served this with mashed potatoes and it is a perfect side dish. The recipe for the homemade Seitan is the best recipe I've ever used for seitan. I had almost given up on making homemade seitan until I found this recipe and now I'll never use store bought again.