How to Make Your Own Vital Wheat Gluten (aka Seitan!)

Vegans and vegetarians rejoice! You can enjoy “meaty” dishes that are animal-free with this how to make your own vital wheat gluten recipe!

This Homemade Vital Wheat Gluten is…

• Simple
• Vegan
• Nut-Free
• Egg-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Completely delicious!

Vital Wheat What??

Vital wheat gluten is the extracted protein from wheat flour (i.e. the gluten!). It is an ancient ingredient that has been used in China since the 6th century! But today it’s rising in popularity due to the growing number of vegetarian and vegan diets. Vital wheat gluten can be made fresh or dehydrated and ground to be stored for future use. It creates thick, meat-like slices that are an excellent animal-free alternative. The best part? It only takes 2 ingredients to make!

Homemade vital wheat gluten is easy to make and is an extremely versatile food. The product leftover from washing away the flour starch is called “seitan” and it readily soaks up marinades, sauces, and spices, creating a robust flavor profile. Use it to make noodles, meat alternatives, and even breads! Vital wheat gluten is extremely high in protein, (23 grams per 1/4 cup!), and iron with no cholesterol. Enjoy hearty stir-fries, burgers, and chicken-like strips with less guilt!

Our homemade vital wheat gluten recipe uses whole wheat flour and water – that’s it! It should be used immediately or dried and ground into a flour for later. With those two ingredients, and a bit of time, you’ll be enjoying freshly made dishes that are high in protein and absolutely delicious!

Ingredients for How to Make Your Own Vital Wheat Gluten (aka Seitan!)

Whole wheat flour – Whole wheat flour is high in protein and gluten so makes a fantastic seitan! Our homemade vital wheat gluten recipe will make about 10 oz (a bit over 1 cup), which is equal to 2-3 portions of meat. 

Water – Use cold water for making the dough and extracting the starch. There’s no exact measurement for how much water is needed because you’ll just keep refilling the bowl until the water runs mostly clear. 

Diet compatibility and allergens

Diet	Recipe compatible as written?	Recommended substitutions
Keto	No.	N/A
Paleo	No.	N/A
Whole30	No.	N/A
Gluten-free	No.	N/A
Vegetarian	Yes.	N/A
Vegan	Yes.	N/A
Low sodium	Yes.	N/A
Dairy-free	Yes.	N/A
Mediterranean	Yes.	N/A
Low FODMAP	Yes.	N/A
Atkins	No.	N/A

Allergen	Present in recipe?	Recommended substitutions
Milk	No.	N/A
Eggs	No.	N/A
Fish	No.	N/A
Shellfish	No.	N/A
Tree nuts	No.	N/A
Peanuts	No.	N/A
Wheat (Gluten)	Yes.	N/A
Soy	No.	N/A
Sesame	No.	N/A

How to Make Your Own Vital Wheat Gluten

Step One: Mix flour and water together in a bowl or stand mixer, kneading until smooth.

Step Two: Fill the bowl with additional water until the dough ball is covered. Leave the dough to soak for 4-6 hours. 

Step Three: Once the dough has been soaked, drain the water, then refill with cold water and knead the dough while submerged. Continue this process until the water runs mostly clear. The dough will shrink as the starch is washed, becoming sponge-like.

Step Four: When the water is mostly clear, set the dough in cheesecloth or a sieve over a bowl and let it drain for at least 20 minutes.

Step Five: Cut the dough into smaller portions, then season and cook as desired. Enjoy!

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