Sunday Night Seitan Stew

Submitted by Erika.
Miso's savory fermented character makes this stew complex and satisfying. It's awesome for chilly nights. Serves four.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 2 large cloves of garlic minced
• 1 Tbsp Earth Balance margerine
• 1 package of Upton's Naturals Traditional seitan
• 1 pound cremini mushrooms sliced
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 cups of vegetable broth
• 2 Tbsp miso
• 2 Tbsp flour whisked into 1 cup of cold water
• 2 pinches black pepper
• Mashed potatoes or creamy polenta to serve

Directions:

1. Saute shallots and garlic in margerine at medium high heat for 3 minutes in a dutch oven.
2. Next, add mushrooms, carrots, seitan, salt and 1⁄2 the pepper and continue to saute for 3-5 more minutes. Brown bits should be sticking to the pot add the wine and use your spoon or spatula to dislodge them. Allow sauce to reduce for five minutes.
3. Add miso, vegetable broth and reduce heat. Allow stew to simmer until carrots are tender and sauce has reduced by half, about 20 minutes.
4. Add flour slurry and stir to incorporate. Cook for five more minutes, stirring constantly the thicker consistency can cause it to stick.
5. Serve over mashed potatoes or polenta.

Cremini and Seitan Stroganoff

Submitted by Erika.

This stroganoff gets its creaminess from creamy homemade cashew cream rather than sour cream which makes it extra velvety and cholesterol free.

Ingredients:

• 1 package Upton's Naturals Traditional Seitan
• 1 small onion diced
• 1 pound Cremini mushrooms
• 1 cup vegetable or mushroom broth
• 1 Tbsp tamari
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tsp hungarian paprika
• 1 tsp black pepper
• Your choice of pasta

Cashew Cream Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
• 1⁄2 cup of water
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet. Add the onion and sauté for five minutes, or until the onion is clear.
2. Add mushrooms and seitan, tamari and a pinch of pepper and continue to sauté until mushrooms soften and seitan browns.
3. Add tomato paste, incorporate and sauté for 30 seconds.
4. Add broth and paprika, second pinch of pepper and reduce heat and allow to simmer for ten minutes.
5. During this time combine cashew cream ingredients in a blender and blend until completely smooth.
6. After stroganoff has had a chance to simmer add cashew cream. Adjust seasonings to taste and add broth to thin if it's too thick for your taste.
7. Spoon liberally over pasta and enjoy.

Asian-Style Seitan and Broccoli

Submitted by Erika.

Ingredients:

• 1 package Upton's Naturals Traditional Seitan
• 2 cups of broccoli florets
• lots of yummy brown rice
• 1.5 Tbs of cornstarch
• salt and pepper
• 2 Tbs minced garlic
• vegetable oil
• sesame seeds

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp vegan brown sugar
• 1tsp mustard
• 1 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• chili oil to taste
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tsp of cornstarch

Sauce Directions:

1. Combine all but the last two ingredients and stir until homogenized.
2. Mix the last two ingredients separately before combining with the rest of the sauce.

Directions:

1. Toss seitan in cornstarch and salt and pepper. Sauté coated seitan until browned (5 minutes). Remove from the pan and keep covered in foil.
2. Using the same wok or sauté pan sauté broccoli in vegetable oil with minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of water for 2-3 minutes or until it turns bright green and begins to become tender. Stir in the seitan.
3. Reduce heat to simmer and add the sauce you lovingly prepared. Allow the sauce to thicken (2-3 minutes) and serve over brown rice. Sprinkle lightly with sesame seeds.

Chipotle-Molasses Tavern Sandwiches

A haughty version of the cafeteria staple “sloppy joes.” Submitted by Erika.

Yields two large sandwiches or four ordinary sized ones

Ingredients:

• 1⁄4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1⁄4 cup finely chopped green pepper
• 1 large clove of garlic minced
• 2 tsp canola oil
• 1 package Upton's Naturals ground beef-style seitan
• 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 tsp tomato paste
• 1 chipotle minced
• 1 tsp molasses
• black pepper
• Yummy buns

Directions:

1. Heat canola oil in a non-stick skillet. Add onion and green pepper and sauté until onion softens.
2. Then add garlic and sauté until fragrant.
3. Add Upton's ground beef style and brown.
4. Add remaining ingredients through black pepper and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Heap on buns and enjoy.