Seitan is a juicy meat alternative for those without a gluten issue who likes a protein punch. Completely vegan. There are lots of different ways of making it but I like my way the best! I was taught as a child by my mother who was taking macrobiotic vegan cookery classes at the time. In the years that followed I have refined and taste tested many variants. This is my current go to method.

Mix the flour with the warm water incrementally to get a dough with a heavy feel but a smooth baby soft skin. Knead the dough to mix thoroughly. It takes me around 20 minutes.

Soak in boiling water for 1 hour.

Tip into a colander in a clear sink. Rinse the dough through with cold water then hot water then cold again. So on and so forth until the water runs clear. Use the temperature change to expand and contract the dough releasing the white starch (you can use this as a thickener if you catch it). This takes me a further 20-30 minutes.

The dough will look like spongy gum when done. At this point I like to soak it in warm water one last time to ensure the starch is completely removed.

Rinse through with cold water to contract the dough again to make it easier to cut it into strips, cubes or steaks.

Put the stock water into a large pot and put in the dough pieces.

Bring the water to boil. When the dough pieces float to the surface remove them from the pot and put to one side. You are now ready to make the stock.

Add the soy sauce, mustard, bouillon, Engevita, wakame and oil to the boiling water.

Put the dough pieces back into the stock and cook on a simmer for 30 minutes with a lid and a further 15 minutes without a lid.

Peel, grate and squeeze in the juice of the ginger into your pot and stir well.Take the pot off the heat.

The Seitan is now ready to eat. You can add to anything as a beefy substitute. It can be frozen or stored in the fridge for about 5 days. The colder it is the chewer it is. The stock can be reused as well. Mix the stock with the white starch saved from the washing process to make a vegan gravy for example.