23 Comments
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Shreema Mehta's avatar

This was fun and I learned a bunch! It does seem like the criticisms of seitan that you mentioned come from a whitewashed disregard of the use of it in East Asian cultures.

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Thank you so much Shreema! Yeah, I have def heard vegans be like "I don't mind seitan when it's made in the authentic Asian way, where it's not shaped like meat." And I'm like "No! You're wrong! East Asian people have long made fake meat and it's cool and genius!!" Forever the hill I'll die on. Anyway, thank you so much for reading!

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Melanie J Alexandrou's avatar

This so great! Lots of things about seitan I didn't know, which make me like it more! Baffles me when people think it's 'weird processed vegan meat' when they're literally eating flesh and skin at best. All the USP hype did us dirty.

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Haha, I agree, actual flesh is always creepier! Thank you for reading!

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Peter's avatar

🤟Hail seitan!🤟

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Forever. 🤘

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Peter's avatar

Dammit, I used the wrong emoji. More like FAIL seitan

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Haha, I didn't even notice! Seitan wouldn't mind.

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Holly Shapiro's avatar

I had my first taste of seitan in a sandwich I purchased it at a little hut near an airport in Hawaii. It was 1988. Delicious! I honestly love the stuff.

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Julia Tausch's avatar

What a lovely first seitan memory to have!

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Jack Whalen's avatar

screed very much appreciated, by this seitan lover

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Julia Tausch's avatar

I'm so glad!! It's nice to know the seitan lovers are out there.

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Jack Whalen's avatar

confess that I have never tried to make it myself (too intimidated lol), usually just getting seitan dishes at local vegan and vegetarian restaurants, in the odd occasion buying some commercial brands like Blackbird or Upton’s at the grocery — But, now I will try making some with your recipe ☺️

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Julia Tausch's avatar

I hope you like it!! I do think it's relatively easy, and even if it goes spongy or what have you, it still tastes pretty good!

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Jack Whalen's avatar

forgot to add that Joshua Tree Vegan (‘artisan vegan seitan meats’), which has a kiosk at the farmer’s market there every Saturday, makes a truly fabulous pastrami (and some very good other things with seitan) - there is a vegan meats shop in Berkeley, The Butcher’s Son, that has a great pastrami but their stuff is all soy based

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Ooh, I'll have to check that out if I'm ever in California! I'm certainly not opposed to soy-based cold cuts either!

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GT's avatar

Okay, so maybe I was wrong

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Haha, there are so many worse ways one could be wrong as a dad, so I think I will let this one slide! ❤️

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Melisa's avatar

also can't wait to try your recipe, looks great!

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Melisa's avatar

"I wanted it to be recognizable as food.” wooow. no idea why people find seitan so threatening (save serious allergies). it's delicious. it's incredibly cheap and can be basically free if you mislabel in the bulk section. and with all the protein mania, it's right there. people need to get a grip!

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Haha, THANK YOU! I totally agree, and great tip about the bulk section lol.

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John Frost's avatar

Orlando lost its best vegan deli meat when The Kind Cleaver was forced out of its food hall location. I hope it finds its way back to the market soon. It was by far the best seitan I've had and perfect for a quick sandwich or an inspired beef chip what-have-you entrée. I still haven't worked up the courage to attempt to make my own. Maybe one day soon.

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Julia Tausch's avatar

Sad, I hope they can come back, it's really nice to have a good seitan purveyor in one's town! But yes, try making your own if you like, I do think it's fun and this one's not too hard imo.

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