Get ready to impress your friends and family at your next summer BBQ with this delicious and easy vegan bbq steaks recipe. These hearty, flavorful seitan steaks are perfect for grilling and pair wonderfully with classic sides like crispy potato wedges and creamy ajoli. Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a beginner, this recipe will help you create a mouthwatering vegan main dish that everyone will love. Let’s fire up the grill and get cooking!
Seitan Steaks Recipe
4
servings50
minutes20
minutesIngredients
5 dl (3 cups) vital wheat gluten
2.5 dl (1 cup) chickpea flour
5 dl (3 cups) veggie broth
1 tablepoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons dark mushroom soy sauce
2 tablespoon oil (plus extra for the marinade)
For the marinade:
2 tablespoons syrup
1 tablespoon sriracha (or other hot sauce)
A pinch of salt
A pinch of pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 dl red wine
1 dl oil
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F).
- In a bowl, mix the vital wheat gluten and chickpea flour. In another bowl, combine the veggie broth with onion powder, paprika, cumin, dark mushroom soy sauce, and oil.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough for a few minutes. Tear the dough into steak shapes and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the steaks in the preheated oven for 10-15min
- While the steaks are baking, prepare the marinade by mixing syrup, sriracha, salt, pepper, thyme, red wine, and oil.
- After baking, marinate the steaks for a few hours, until ready for the BBQ!
Why these Vegan BBQ Steaks are so good
It’s clear that these seitan steaks leaves a lasting impression. My first version was a bit too spongy, as seitan often will be, but adding the chickpea flour helped mitigate that. The addition of chickpea flour not only makes the seitan less spongy but also adds a unique texture that can be further refined. Feel free to experiment with different flours like wheat or soy to find the perfect texture that suits your taste.
Behind the vegan bbq steaks recipe
The inspiration for these seitan steaks came last summer while visiting my partner’s parents. They were amazed at how meaty the steaks looked and tasted. Despite their initial shock, they were hesitant to call them “steaks” and instead proposed names like “climps” or “bites.” This sparked an interesting debate: Should we stop naming vegan foods after their meat counterparts, or will we just end up with even more ridiculous names? In my view, calling them “steaks” is all about accessibility and communication. The term “steak” immediately conveys a certain type of food and texture, making it easier for people to understand what to expect. Language is about conveying meaning, and in this case, it effectively communicates the delicious, hearty experience these seitan steaks offer.
Ultimately, the name isn’t as important as the taste, and these seitan steaks taste amazing. They provide a satisfying and flavorful option for any BBQ, delighting both vegans and non-vegans alike.