A Comprehensive Guide to Making Seitan Italian Sausages and a Spaghetti Salad

Hi, dear readers, welcome to this comprehensive guide to making Seitan Italian Sausages and a vegan spaghetti salad. While Seitan is a versatile meat substitute, perfect for creatives like you, I will cover the complete process, from the ingredients you can find on Amazon to the step-by-step instructions. Let's dive in!

Overview of Seitan Italian Sausages

Seitan, also known as wheat meat, is a versatile plant-based protein that can be used in myriad recipes. Today, we will explore a unique recipe that combines traditional Italian flavors with the elasticity and protein content of seitan. This recipe is a blend of creativity and convenience, making it accessible for those looking to add a creative twist to vegan cuisine.

Ingredients and Optional Additions

The non-perishable ingredients, such as vital wheat gluten, oat flour, and nutritional yeast, can all be purchased on Amazon. Other items, like fennel seed, pepper flakes, and soy sauce, are common and widely available in most grocery stores.

Seitan Dry Ingredients

Dry ingredients: These are the foundation of our seitan. Stir these ingredients together thoroughly for an optimal blend:

1-1/2 cups vital wheat gluten 1/2 cup oat flour (blended from oats) 2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Seitan Wet Ingredients

Wet ingredients: Blend these to ensure the seitan has the right flavor and texture:

1 whole bulb of fresh garlic (peeled) 1/2 teaspoon fennel seed 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon granulated garlic 1 teaspoon granulated onion 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon basil 1/2 teaspoon oregano 1/4 teaspoon thyme 2 Tablespoons soy sauce 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon syrup or brown sugar 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon vegetable base 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke Water (begin with about 1 cup and add as needed)

Preparation Steps

After mixing the dry and wet ingredients together, the next step is proper kneading. Here's how you do it:

Stir the blended mixture into the dry ingredients. Knead the mixture until it feels damp but not wet. This should take only a couple of minutes. Squeeze out any remaining dry ingredients from the bowl.

The seitan should spring back when you press it, indicating that it is properly kneaded. Next, form the mixture into sausages. Standard measurements are about 7 inches long and 2 inches thick.

Wrap the sausage in plastic and then in foil. Steam for about an hour, wrapping it again before refrigerating. This process gives the seitan the right texture and flavor. A refrigeration of at least 12 hours (24 hours is better) is essential for optimal results.

The Vegan Spaghetti Salad Recipe

Once you've perfected the seitan Italian sausages, it's time to assemble the final dish: a vegan spaghetti salad. Here's how you prepare it:

Ingredients

1 lb (450g) cooked spaghetti, broken into half 2 diced green peppers 6 large green onions, sliced 1 diced cucumber 1 diced tomato 1 can black olives (including the brine) 1 finely diced yellow onion 2 large celery ribs, diced 1 diced seitan Italian sausage 2 small avocados, diced 1/2 cup minced garlic spoonful of sambal 1 tablespoon Japanese 7 spice 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 1 teaspoon basil 2 tablespoons granulated garlic 1 cup Italian salad dressing (I use Wishbone Robusto) salt and pepper to taste olive oil as desired

Preparation Steps

Following these steps, you can create your vegan spaghetti salad with a delightful twist:

Cook and prepare the spaghetti: Cook the spaghetti as per the package instructions and break it into halves. Prep the vegetables and olive: Dice and slice the vegetables and olives, ensuring the right texture for the salad. Layer the vegetables and seitan: Begin with the spaghetti and layer it with all the other ingredients, including the seitan. Final dressing: Add the Italian salad dressing, adjusting the amount according to your taste. Mix well. Add extras: Drizzle with olive oil, sambal, and other seasonings. Leave out or add any ingredient you prefer.

Enjoy Your Creation!

It's time to enjoy your creation, a perfect blend of seitan Italian sausages and a savory vegan spaghetti salad. This dish is not only delicious but also environmentally friendly and heart-healthy. Feel free to adjust the recipe according to your preference, whether you prefer it with ranch dressing, extra avocado, or any other desired addition.

Conclusion

Making seitan and using it in a creative dish like this spaghetti salad can be both fun and rewarding. This guide provides the necessary ingredients and steps to create a unique and satisfying meal that aligns with your vegan lifestyle or simply as a delightful change to your regular diet.

That’s it for this guide! Remember, the key to a perfect dish is practice and experimentation. Happy cooking and bon appétit!