Seitan is a vegetable food whose origins are not known; probably it is a traditional Middle-Eastern product. Macrobiotic cooking has spread its use in the West.
It is made of wheat gluten, has a very pleasant taste, is soft, easily digestible and is suited for all diets from children to the elderly.
It is particularly useful for who wants to pass from a diet rich in animal products to a more vegetarian diet, also because it is very similar to meat in its aspect and for its quickness of use.
From the nutritional point of view it has a protein content similar to meat and has a similar number of calories, but the quality of the protein is inferior to meat because it is a by-product of wheat (and therefore lacking in some essential amino acids, however its nutrient value can be increased by adding soy sauce to the dishes). In compensation it does not have fats and cholesterol.

CONSERVATION Seitan is stored in the refrigerator between 0° and 5° degrees.

If it is not all used it should be immersed completely in cold water in a hermetically sealed container renewing the water daily; in this way the product can be stored for several days.


USE It is recommended for all ages, from children to the elderly being very digestible, except for specific individual intolerances or allergies.

It is suitable for every type of dish and can replace meat in every traditional recipe but unlike meat doesn't need long cooking and it is ready in a few minutes, the cooking serves more to flavour it.