Vegan Cooking & Cookbooks discussion

I've been hankering for seitan, and digging through all my old recipes, but can never get around to making it. It's kind of a bummer, because I'm actually home more, with time to cook, but the act of mixing and kneading just kills my wrists (I have bad joints prone to repetitive stress injuries).

How often do you guys to more labor-intense recipes at home? Am I the only one who does them as a special occasion thing, and just does easy boil it and forget it soups and such, the majority of the time?

I definitely don't but I know we have some members who do. I hope they weigh in, Katie.

Seitan isn't so labour-intensive with vital wheat glutean! There are good recipes in Isa Does It and Vegan Eats World!

I agree with Polly - using vital wheat gluten is simple enough. You still need to knead for about five minutes so there is still some labour involved, but then you can pop it in a pot simmering with some herbs and spices for an hour (you need to keep an eye on it so it doesn't boil dry) but it's quite simple. I've worked through most of the recipes in 'La Dolce Vegan' and they've mostly come out well.

I only tried it once and I used the vital wheat gluten. I don't know what I did wrong, but it turned out horrible.

The only way I make seitan anymore is in the slow cooker. It's perfect every time. I like the recipes in Fresh from the Vegan Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson. I have also successfully used the stand mixer for needing on days my hands just aren't working. I love to spend a day cooking when I have the energy. You've inspired me to create a yummy seitan dish this week sometime :)

Made Seitan tonight - used one of Kramer's recipes from the book I mentioned earlier in the thread. Really easy to do and ended up putting it in a pie with carrots, onions, chestnut mushrooms and a beer / stock gravy. Turned out lovely (even the pastry). Bit weird for me to take a standard British carnivore classic and made a cracking vegan pie.

That's great, Barry. I'm not a seitan fan but it sounds delicious.

Hmm..this thread has inspired me! I actually have some vital wheat gluten (bought with the thought to make seitan) but have been too afraid to try. Will def have to try the slow-cook version...think I even have that Robin Williams book! Thanks!