Vegan Not Roast for the Slow Cooker

VegSocialWorker's Note:

This is from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Roberston. Note, I am posting this as written but there are four things you should know: Instead of buying a box of instant Seitan Quick Mix (which is more expensive than making it from scratch), you can use 1/2 of the dough from Homemade Gluten or Seitan (don't make the entire recipe- just follow the instructions for mixing the vital wheat gluten and the liquid- use the spices in this recipe. z-mail me with questions or post in the vegetarian forum and I'll explain if needed). Also, this recipe is meant for a 5 or 6 quart crockpot. Next, I do not cook the vegetables first- I just throw them in and they turn out great. Finally, you will want to use enough vegetable stock to submerge all of the veggies and seitan dough. The amount posted below was not enough for my crock.

• Total Time: 8 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 8 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

For the not roast

• 1 (6 ounce) box seitan , quick mix
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8; teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• ½ cup water (or more)
• 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or 3 tablespoons soy sauce

For the veggies and liquid

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 small sweet yellow onions , halved (or quartered)
• 1 lb tiny new potatoes , halved
• 1 lb baby carrot
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
• ¼ cup dry red wine
• 2 garlic cloves , crushed
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine the seitan mix , onion powder, thyme, salt and pepper. Add the water and 2 Tbsp of tamari. Mix well, adding more water if the mixture is too dry, then knead until smooth, about 3 minutes. Place he seitan ball in the slow cooker.
2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat . Add the onions, carrots, and potatoes and brown quickly. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to the slow cooker. Add the stock, wine, the remaining 1 Tbsp tamari, garlic, and thyme.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
4. Remove the vegetables and seitan from the slow cooker.
5. Slice the seitan and arrange on a serving platter. Surround with vegetables and spoon the cooking liquid or gravy (see below) over all.
6. If you would like to make gravy out of the remaining cooking liquid (which is quite tasty)- remove the solid ingredients from the crock , turn the cooker to high, and whisk in one tablespoon of cornstarch blended with two tablespoons of water and stir until it thickens.