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    Home » Mains & Entrees

    Instant Pot Seitan (Stovetop instructions included)

    Published: Jan 8, 2021 · Modified: Jan 13, 2021 by Meesha · This post may contain affiliate links

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    Pinterest pin image of this recipe

    Make seitan from scratch using the Instant Pot ! Easy to make, versatile & only requires 6 ingredients. Stovetop instructions included.

    Overhead shot of seitan slices on a white rectangular plate

    If you have yet to try making your own seitan at home, you definitely need to give it a go ! It is actually really easy to make, and only a few simple ingredients required. Plus, it is way cheaper than the store-bought ones.

    Jump to:
    • What is Seitan
    • What does it taste like
    • What you will need
    • 🔪 How to make
    • How to use
    • ❔ Commonly asked questions
    • 🍽 More high protein recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    What is Seitan

    Also known as wheat gluten, it is a popular meat substitute among vegans and vegetarians. They are mainly made from vital wheat gluten, which is basically pure gluten. Herbs, spices and seasonings are oftentimes added to make them more flavorful.

    What does it taste like

    It is actually quite bland and neutral-tasting on its own, think plain, unsalted steamed chicken. ( if you ever taste them before ! )

    The popularity of seitan is mainly due to its texture. Unlike many other meat substitutes like beans and tofu, it actually taste really meaty and springy.

    What you will need

    Ingredients needed like vital wheat gluten, wholewheat flour, soy sauce, nutritional yeast, onion powder and garlic powder
    • The whole wheat flour can be substitute with other kinds of flour like chickpea flour, all purpose flour or soy flour. Alternatively, you can replace it with more vital wheat gluten.
    • All the seasonings in this recipe are optional, but they will make your seitan taste so much more flavorful !
    • If you don't do soy, use ½ teaspoon of salt in place of soy sauce.
    • Feel free to add any other dried herbs and spices that sounds good to you ! This recipe is super versatile.

    🔪 How to make

    Start by combining the whole wheat flour, vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, onion powder and garlic powder. Stir to combine.

    Dry ingredients in a large glass mixing bowl

    Add in the soy sauce together with 1 cup of water. Mix until well combine. The dough will be on the moist side, but not sticky. ( It should not stick to your fingers. ) Add more water or vital wheat gluten, if needed.

    Dough in a glass bowl

    This is the part where it gets experimental. If you prefer the seitan to be tender, I recommend kneading it for 15-30 seconds. But if you prefer it to be tougher and chewier, knead it for up to 1 minute.

    Form the seitan into a log and loosely wrap it with aluminum foil or a cheesecloth. Do not wrap it too tight as the seitan will expand while cooking !

    Cooking in the instant pot / pressure cooker

    Place 1 cup of water in the inner pot and place a steaming tray / basket in it. Transfer the wrapped seitan onto the steaming tray.

    Seitan wrapped in aluminum foil placed on a steaming tray in the inner pot of a instant pot

    Seal the lid and set the vent to the sealing position. Cook it at high pressure for 40 minutes.

    When it is done cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes. Then, quick release the remaining pressure.

    Open the lid and let the seitan cool down slightly before removing it from the instant pot.

    Steaming on stovetop

    In a large pan / pot, place in a few inch of water and insert the steaming tray / basket. Bring the water to a boil, and lower the heat to a simmer.

    Place the seitan on the steaming tray. Place the lid on and let it steam for 20 minutes.

    Then, using a pair of tongs, flip the seitan to the other side and steam for another 20-25 minutes, or until it is cooked. It should be firm when cooked. You can also slice it through the middle to check for its doneness.

    Carefully remove it from the steamer basket using a pair of tongs.

    You can now serve it immediately, or refrigerate it for up to a week for later use.

    How to use

    • You can just slice it up and enjoy it as it is.
    • Use them in stir-fries ! I really like substituting the tofu in my Asian broccoli mushroom stir fry or Indian tofu stir-fry with seitan.
    • Marinate them with your favorite sauce and pan-fried / bake them until crispy.
    • If you are feeling fancy, try making vegan Philly cheesesteak or gyros with them !
    Seitan slices arranged on a white plate

    ❔ Commonly asked questions

    Why is my seitan rubbery ?

    This is largely due to over kneaded dough. The more you knead the dough, the more the gluten develops, hence yielding rubbery and chewy seitan. Cut back on the kneading next time for a meatier texture.

    Is it keto-friendly ?

    It is naturally really high in protein and low in carb, hence making it keto-friendly. I would recommend using more vital wheat gluten in place of flour to further reduce its carbohydrate content.

    Can I freeze seitan ?

    Yes, it can definitely be freeze. To do so, portion out the seitan into chunks and place them into zip lock bags or storage containers. Alternatively, you can straight away freeze the whole log.

    To reheat frozen seitan, first let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, slice and cook them up, or simple reheat it in the microwave oven and eat it just like that !

    Seitan slices in a rectangular plate

    🍽 More high protein recipes

    • Chinese Style Vegan Tofu Minced Pork
    • Indonesian Sambal Tempeh
    • Vegan Cream of Spinach Soup with White Beans
    • Curried tofu scramble

    If you did make this recipe, do leave a rating and comment down below, we love hearing from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

    📖 Recipe

    Close up shot of seitan slices

    Instant Pot Seitan ( Stovetop Instructions Included )

    Meesha
    Make seitan from scratch using the instant pot ! Easy to make, versatile & only requires 6 ingredients. Stovetop instructions included.
    4.79 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 55 mins
    Total Time 1 hr
    Course Main Course, Side Dish
    Cuisine Chinese
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 153 kcal

    Equipment

    • 6 quarts Instant pot
    • Steaming tray
    • Mixing bowl

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup vital wheat gluten
    • ¼ cup whole wheat flour *
    • 2 tablespoons soy sauce or ½ teaspoon salt for soy free version
    • 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 cup water
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    Instructions
     

    • In a large mixing bowl, add in the vital wheat gluten, whole wheat flour, nutritional yeast, onion powder and garlic powder. Stir until well mixed.
    • Add in the soy sauce together with 1 cup of water. Mix until well combined. The dough should be moist but not sticky. Add more flour or water, if needed.
    • From here, you can choose to knead the dough for 15-30 seconds for a more tender seitan, and up to 1 minute if you prefer it to be tougher.
    • Form the dough into a log and wrap it with aluminum foil or a cheesecloth loosely.

    Cooking in the instant pot

    • Place 1 cup of water into the inner pot. Insert a steamer basket / tray and place the dough in.
    • Place the lid on and make sure that the vent is set to the sealing position. Cook at high pressure for 40 minutes.
    • When the timer goes off, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, before quick releasing the remaining pressure.
    • Let the seitan cool down slightly before removing it from the pot.

    Steaming on stovetop

    • Fill a large pot / pan with a few inches of water. Insert a steaming basket / tray in and bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.
    • Place the seitan into the steaming basket.
    • Let it steam for 20 minutes. Then, carefully flip it and steam for another 20-25 minutes, or until it is firm. You can cut it down the middle to check for doneness.

    Notes

    *Whole wheat flour can be substituted for chickpea flour, soy flour or all purpose flour. 
    To make it keto-friendly, use more vital wheat gluten in place of the whole wheat flour. 
    Seitan can be kept in the fridge for 1 week, and in the freezer for up to 3 months. To freeze, simply portion it out into chunks and store them in zip lock bags. You can also freeze the whole log. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 153kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 26gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 512mgPotassium: 123mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg

    Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.

    Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris

      February 20, 2022 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      I make this just like you but can here to see the IP instructions.

      Couple things I do differently:

      Instead of Gluten and Nutritional Yeast I use beef and lamb.

      Kidding.

      What I really do is bake or dry this after. Gives it the crispy edges like real gyros.

      5 stars for your recipe.

      Reply
      • Meesha

        February 21, 2022 at 8:11 am

        Haha, thanks for the suggestions!🤣

        Reply
    2. Endomorph

      August 02, 2021 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      This was the first seitan recipe I ever attempted, and it made things so easy! I consistently use this as my base recipe when expermienting, or just looking for something with consistent taste/texture.

      I highly recommend using chickpea flour for the fiber, in addition to a bit of ACV to cut down on the VWG taste, which I personally don't mind.

      Get creative!

      Reply
      • Meesha

        August 02, 2021 at 10:32 am

        I am glad that you like it! Thanks for the suggestions.😊

        Reply
    3. Tara Srofe

      January 20, 2021 at 9:17 pm

      Are you putting the log WITH the foil around it in the instant pot or do you remove the foil then cook inside instant pot?

      Reply
      • meesha

        January 20, 2021 at 9:38 pm

        I am putting the foil around it in the instant pot ! This will help the seitan maintain its shape.

        Reply

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