Vegan Beef

This Vegan Beef recipe is incredibly meaty and flavorful. It's made from ingredients such as vital wheat gluten, soy sauce, vegetable broth, and spices. It's best served thinly sliced on sandwiches, and is omnivore-approved!

This is the BEST Vegan Beef for deli sandwiches, Reubens, gyros, and Philly cheese steaks! It can be used as a meat substitute for pastrami or thinly sliced and simmered in gravy for a tasty vegan substitute for roast beef.

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What is Seitan?

Seitan has been around for centuries. It is made up of gluten but is nothing like bread! If you have purchased items in the grocery store that tasted meaty but were plant-based, for example, deli slices- that is seitan! Seitan is a very popular mock meat because it's incredibly meaty in texture and takes the flavor of whatever you add.

Vital Wheat Gluten is made by washing away all the starch of the wheat and leaving behind the gluten.

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Where can I find Vital Wheat Gluten?

Vital wheat gluten flour is widely available in most grocery stores or your local health food store. It is typically in the baking aisle where they have all the flour. I use Bob’s Red Mill– I typically order it online or buy it at my local grocery store.

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Main Ingredients

This delicious vegan sandwich meat is a great substitute for store-bought deli slices! You won't miss deli meat after digging into a sandwich made with this easy beef seitan.

• Vital Wheat Gluten
• Nutritional Yeast
• Vegetable Broth
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Tomato Paste

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Ingredient Notes

• Vital Wheat Gluten: Vital wheat gluten is made by washing away all the starch of the wheat and leaving behind the gluten. This is the main ingredient that is going to give our vegan beef a chewy, meaty texture. It cannot be substituted.
• Nutritional Yeast: I use Bob's Red Mill- you can find nutritional yeast online or at most grocery stores.
• Vegetable Broth: The saltiness of this recipe depends on the vegetable broth you use- if you use low sodium, you'll need to add more salt along with the soy sauce. I recommend Better than Bouillon’s Vegetable Base but you could also use vegan beef broth for more of a beef flavor.
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce: I used low sodium, but if your vegetable broth is low sodium as well, I recommend adding salt or regular soy sauce.
• Tomato Paste: Just a bit for acidity and umami- it doesn't really add much color but it does add flavor.
• Seasonings: I used and recommend adding Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, Dried Thyme, Dried Oregano, and Black Pepper. You can add more spices or seasonings depending on what you're making with the vegan beef.

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How to Make This Recipe

Chewy, tender, and meaty, this Vegan Beef is the ultimate sandwich filling. Packed with protein and tons of flavor. It’s quite easy to make as well- no food processor or fancy equipment needed!

Please note that this vegan seitan beef is best when made a day ahead so it becomes even more delicious and the texture becomes meatier.

Preheat the oven to 350F.

Stir together the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, oregano, and black pepper in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl- whisk together the vegetable broth, soy sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and tomato paste until well combined.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and knead the dough for about 2 minutes or until the gluten has developed and the dough is stretchy- don't over-knead or it'll be too chewy. The dough should be slippery and not dry. 

Roll the seitan dough into a long log. Roughly 3×10. Wrap tightly in parchment paper or foil and twist the sides and tuck them under the bottom of the loaf.

Place the wrapped seitan loaf on a baking tray and bake for 90 minutes. The loaf should feel firm. Let completely cool before placing it in the fridge overnight for best results. 

Carefully cut the seitan into very thin slices, thick slices, strips, or cubes- whatever you want!

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Tips & Tricks

Avoid over-measuring the vital wheat gluten. Scoop the flour into the measuring cup with a spoon instead of packing the flour into the measuring cup- this could result in over- measuring and you'll end up with a dry dough.

Don't over-knead. You only need to knead the seitan dough until it comes together, about 2 minutes. If you over-knead you can risk an extra chewy and gummy seitan- which we don't want!

I don’t know the science behind it but this vegan beef recipe is best refrigerated overnight. So while it’s difficult, I highly recommend making this the night before and storing it in the fridge overnight. Then, you can have delicious and flavorful vegan beef all week!

Customize your seasonings!! You can add as many seasonings as you'd like! Adding seasonings is a must but if you're feeling adventurous- add whatever herbs or spices you enjoy.

If you don't want the foil to touch your food, wrap it in parchment paper and then in foil.

Seitan expands when cooked so you really want to make sure it's wrapped so it doesn't explode through the wrapping.

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Serving Ideas

This seitan recipe is designed to be thinly sliced and served in sandwiches- that is where it really shines. But you can cut it into strips or small pieces and get creative by adding it to curry, stews, and other vegan meals.

• Use in sandwiches: This vegan beef is designed to be thinly sliced and served in sandwiches like a classic Deli Meat Sandwich, Reuben, Gyro, Vegan Roast Beef Sandwich, or a Vegan Philly Cheesesteak. Use it like vegan pastrami or vegan roast beef!
• Use in stir fry: Slice into strips and sauté with veggies and a sauce. Serve over rice noodles or with rice. Try it with my Stir Fry Sauce or Spicy Teriyaki Sauce or make vegan Mongolian beef.
• Simmer in Gravy and serve with Vegan Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Vegetables.
• Cut into chunks or slices and add to vegan beef stew, chilis, curry, burritos, tacos, and more!!

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Storage & Reheating

Storage: Wrap in foil or store in an airtight container for up to 5 to 6 days.

Reheating: Thinly slice, cube, or cut into strips and then cook on a frying pan with a splash of oil until golden and warmed through.

Freezing: Seitan freezes well- just allow it to cool before wrapping in foil. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before using.

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Frequently Asked Questions

More Vegan Meat Substitutes You’ll Love:

• Best Tofu Ground Beef (Vegan Beef Crumbles)
• Vegan Seitan Steak
• Shredded Vegan Chicken Seitan
• Easy Vegan Bacon Bits

If You Make This Recipe:

I would greatly appreciate it if you share your review in the comments below and leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating. I really appreciate it- it helps me out so much! Don’t forget to add if you made any fun substitutions. Thank you!

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