The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (2024)

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (1)

Confession: before going vegan I’ve never heard of Seitan before. Nowadays, I hail Seitan every time I see it on the menu ;)!

Going vegan has made us aware of so many new foods, I feel like I have more variety in my diet than ever before. These best chicken-style seitan cutlets went from unknown to a staple for us.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (2)

So what is Seitan? Seitan is vital wheat gluten – the natural protein found in wheat. It’s basically all gluten and no starch, so it’s not as high in carbohydrates than you would think.

BUT if you have celiac disease or a gluten-sensitivity, then you will want to stay away from Seitan. For people who can handle gluten in their diets, Seitan is a great soy-free meat alternative to try.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (3)

Vital wheat gluten is 75% protein so Seitan recipes are protein-packed. Seitan has a chewy, meat-like texture and doesn’t usually taste like much unless you add seasonings.

In this recipe, a serving of 2 Seitan Cutlets has almost 30 grams of protein. Plus, it’s very low in fat and completely cholesterol free.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (4)

These best chicken-style seitan cutlets are SO good. They are battered, breaded, and fried in vegetable oil to create a very authentic ‘chicken’-cutlet flavor and texture.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (5)

These Seitan cutlets are the PERFECT vegan substitute for recipes like chick’n parmesan, chick’n cutlet sandwiches, chick’n rolls, chick’n piccata, chick’n and gravy, or just eaten alone with some ketchup and mashed potatoes.

The Best Chicken-Style Seitain Cutlets – in a pasta dish!

In this recipe, we made a simple lemon, olive oil, and vegan parmesan sauce that was DELICIOUS on top of spaghetti. I included the recipe for the lemon sauce below if you want to try it the same way we had it. We also added some steamed broccoli too… yum!

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (6)

Next time we make this recipe, I’m going to try baking the cutlets instead of frying them. Frying cutlets is a traditional Italian method and they came out AMAZING but I’m curious to see how baking goes.

If you try baking them for this recipe, please let me know in the comments the time and temperature and how they came out!

As always, please leave a comment below if you try this recipe, and remember to share on instagram @pastabased!

Vegan Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

45 mins

The BEST Vegan Seitan Cutlets. Delicious vegan chicken-style seitan cutlets that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Course:Main Course

Servings: 8 cutlets

Calories per Serving: 177 kcal

Ingredients

Seitan

  • 1cupvital wheat gluten
  • 2tablespoonsnutritional yeast
  • 2teaspoonsonion powder
  • 2teaspoonsgarlic powder
  • 1teaspoonsalt
  • 1teaspoonblack pepper
  • 1tablespoonsoy sauce
  • 3/4cupvegetable broth

Batter

  • 3/4cupflour
  • 2teaspoonsoregano
  • 2teaspoonsgarlic powder
  • 1teaspoonblack pepper
  • 3/4cupalmond milk(or other non-dairy milk)

Additional Ingredients

  • 1cupItalian seasoned breadcrumbs(plus extra if needed)
  • 1cupvegetable oil

--------

    Simple Lemon Olive Oil Sauce (optional)

    • 3/4cuplemon juice
    • 1/3cupolive oil
    • 1/3cupvegan parmesan cheese

    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.

    2. Combine Seitan ingredients in a medium-bowl. Using a large spoon, mix until combined. Once combined, knead with your hands for a minute to form an elastic dough.

    3. Separate dough into 8 roughly-equal sized pieces. Flatten each piece of dough between your hands to form a cutlet shape. Place evenly on the baking sheet and bake in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Let cool slightly.

    4. Add your batter ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix into a thick liquid. Fill a separate, shallower bowl, with Italian breadcrumbs.

    5. In a large skillet, heat 1 cup vegetable oil on medium-high heat. Make sure the oil has heated up enough before adding cutlets. Be careful because hot oil can splash.

    6. One at a time, dip a Seitan cutlet in the batter. Shake off excess batter. Then dip the cutlet into the breadcrumbs, coating each side evenly.Then, place the cutlet into the hot oil.

    7. Brown each side evenly, carefully checking and flipping, about 3-5 minutes on each side -- but this really depends on how hot your oil is. Use your judgment. While one cutlet starts cooking, you can batter and breadcrumb the next cutlet and place it into the pan. Don't overcrowd the pan, we capped the pan at 4 cutlets.

    8. When each cutlet is done, place it on a paper-towel lined plate to drain excess oil. Use in Seitan Cutlet recipe of your choosing 🙂

    Simple Lemon Olive Oil Sauce (optional)

    1. Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and whisk until combined. Serve over pasta.

    Recipe Notes

    Nutrition facts for cutlets without sauce:

    Nutrition Facts

    Vegan Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets

    Amount Per Serving (1 cutlet)

    Calories 177Calories from Fat 9

    % Daily Value*

    Fat 1g2%

    Sodium 741mg32%

    Potassium 133mg4%

    Carbohydrates 24g8%

    Fiber 2g8%

    Sugar 1g1%

    Protein 16g32%

    Vitamin A 85IU2%

    Vitamin C 0.5mg1%

    Calcium 88mg9%

    Iron 2.5mg14%

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    How do you make seitan less rubbery? ›

    Boiling seitan makes it have a brainy spongey texture, frying seitan (without first steaming it) makes it rubbery and spongey, baking it makes it dry and rubbery. Steaming seitan, on the other hand, will yield the perfect meaty, juicy, chewy, yet tender seitan every single time.

    Can you eat seitan everyday? ›

    Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.”

    Is seitan good or bad for you? ›

    Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.

    Is seitan a good substitute for chicken? ›

    This vegan chicken alternative is simple to whip up and perfect to add to any meal. Crispy crunchy on the outside, and tender chewy in the middle. The perfect meaty texture to amp up any vegan meal! If you are new to making seitan this is the perfect recipe for beginners to try.

    Who should avoid seitan? ›

    While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it. Premade seitan can also be high in sodium, so it's important to read the nutrition label if you monitor your sodium intake.

    What are the disadvantages of seitan? ›

    What are the cons?
    • Not suitable for those with gluten-sensitivities or coeliac disease.
    • Doesn't absorb much flavour.
    • High amounts of sodium (salt) in the packaged product.
    • Seitan is hard to source unlike other vegetarian protein alternatives meaning you may have to venture to a specialty vegetarian “butcher”

    What is healthier seitan or tofu? ›

    Both seitan and tofu are plant-based proteins. However, while seitan is an excellent plant-based protein alternative, tofu is a complete protein (seitan lacks the amino acid lysine). Unseasoned tofu is typically lower in sodium than store-bought seitan, which can be processed with salt, sugar or other flavors added.

    What to pair with seitan for complete protein? ›

    If you have seitan for lunch, some nuts and seeds as a snack and beans for dinner, you're getting all the protein you need and more!

    Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›

    It's cheaper to make seitan than to buy it pre-fabricated. It's also cheaper to make it than to buy good-quality, local meat, so it's a good budget protein item. It's stupid easy to make, especially if you've made homemade bread. It's super customizable, both in flavor and texture.

    Which is healthier tempeh or seitan? ›

    Seitan is highest in calories and protein, as its main ingredient is vital wheat gluten, which has a similar nutritional profile to protein powder. Tempeh is high in protein, vitamins and minerals, but also low in sodium and carbs.

    Does seitan make you gassy? ›

    There's some evidence in medical research that wheat gluten may increase the permeability of your intestines, leading to what some health authorities call "leaky gut syndrome." If you find you experience bloating, gassiness, or other digestive symptoms after eating seitan, you may want to avoid it next time.

    What tastes better tempeh or seitan? ›

    Tempeh's flavor is often compared to that of mushrooms. Its slightly nutty and savory flavor, making it ideal when adding to recipes like teriyaki bowls, salads and curry. Seitan's taste is a bit more savory, with a taste closer to a portobello mushroom or bland chicken.

    Why isn t seitan popular? ›

    Seitan probably isn't popular because it is essentially concentrated gluten. There are a lot of people out there that stay away from gluten due to celiac disease and sensitivities to it. I'll have to give it a try. I'm not a vegetarian, but always up to try something new.

    Does Trader Joe's sell seitan? ›

    In the world of plant-based protein, seitan (pronounced SAY-tan) is a name you need to know. It's as high in protein as steak, plus it's readily available at grocery mainstays like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Target.

    How long does seitan last in the fridge? ›

    Cover each container tightly with a lid and store the seitan in the fridge for up to ten days, or in the freezer for up to six months.

    Why is my seitan too chewy? ›

    A too wet, too soft dough is going to make a gummy, soft seitan. This could be because you used a tofu that was not super firm, or not pressed well enough so it was holding extra liquid. Or if there was water suggested in the recipe, you did not wait to add it until the end.

    Why is my seitan so tough? ›

    Make sure you're using vital wheat gluten and not regular flour for making seitan - otherwise, you'll end up with a very tough bread. You can use water for the cheapest, most basic seitan, but I like to use broth throughout the process.

    What happens if you overcook seitan? ›

    It's possible to overcook the seitan (it can get tough). Rest: After the seitan chicken has steamed, remove the pot from heat, take off the lid, and let them cool for 5 minutes in the foil.

    What does the vinegar do in seitan? ›

    soy sauce or tamari - Adds saltiness, umami, and depth of flavor. balsamic and apple cider vinegar - Vinegar rounds out the flavor profile and helps disguise the subtle bitterness of vital wheat gluten. fat - Including a little bit of oil or other fat improves the overall flavor and tenderizes the seitan.

    References

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