If you haven't worked with vital wheat gluten (also known as gluten flour) you should try it. It is a great meat alternative that can be made to taste similar to chicken, or beef, depending on the seasonings you choose to use. You can find this type of flour in most grocery stores, or if you are in Canada I get mine from the "Bulk Barn". This is a great meal that can be placed on top of rice or noodles. If you aren't digging the wheat gluten, you can substitute it with your favorite veggies.You could also use your favorite meat alternative, and top with the sauce recipe below.
Ingredients (makes enough for 4):
"Chicken":
1 cup of vital wheat gluten (gluten flour)
1-1 1/4 cups of vegetable stock
Boiling Liquid:
4 cups water
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp Italian herbs
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 tblsp olive oil
Orange Sauce:
1 tblsp orange zest
1 orange, squeezed (about 1 cup of orange juice)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (you can add an additional 1/4 cup of sugar, if you find it is not sweet enough to your liking)
1 tblsp minced, fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-1 1/2 tblsp arrowroot powder
1 green pepper, chopped
1) Combine wheat gluten and vegetable stock in a medium bowl. Stir to combine, kneeding until a large, sticky ball is formed. Set aside.
2) Combine all boiling liquid ingredients (except for oil) in a large pot, over medium heat. Pull 1/2 inch chunks of wheat gluten, placing them into the liquid. Boil for 50 minutes. Drain. Since the gluten will expand, chop to desired size.
3) Heat olive oil over medium heat, on a large pan. Place the gluten chunks into the pan and fry until slightly browned on all sides. Add additional oil, if needed. Set aside.
4) In a large bowl, whisk together orange sauce ingredients (except for arrowroot powder). Place in pan, along with the green pepper, and boil over low-medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and whisk in arrowroot powder (arrowroot powder immediately dissolves, but if using flour, blend in 2 tbsp of water before adding). Add in gluten pieces to the pan of sauce and saute for an additional 5 minutes (or until the sauce completely thickens). Serve over rice or noodles. Enjoy!
"Chicken":
1 cup of vital wheat gluten (gluten flour)
1-1 1/4 cups of vegetable stock
Boiling Liquid:
4 cups water
1 tsp dried sage
1 tsp Italian herbs
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 tblsp olive oil
Orange Sauce:
1 tblsp orange zest
1 orange, squeezed (about 1 cup of orange juice)
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup rice vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (you can add an additional 1/4 cup of sugar, if you find it is not sweet enough to your liking)
1 tblsp minced, fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1-1 1/2 tblsp arrowroot powder
1 green pepper, chopped
1) Combine wheat gluten and vegetable stock in a medium bowl. Stir to combine, kneeding until a large, sticky ball is formed. Set aside.
2) Combine all boiling liquid ingredients (except for oil) in a large pot, over medium heat. Pull 1/2 inch chunks of wheat gluten, placing them into the liquid. Boil for 50 minutes. Drain. Since the gluten will expand, chop to desired size.
3) Heat olive oil over medium heat, on a large pan. Place the gluten chunks into the pan and fry until slightly browned on all sides. Add additional oil, if needed. Set aside.
4) In a large bowl, whisk together orange sauce ingredients (except for arrowroot powder). Place in pan, along with the green pepper, and boil over low-medium heat until the sauce reduces slightly (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat and whisk in arrowroot powder (arrowroot powder immediately dissolves, but if using flour, blend in 2 tbsp of water before adding). Add in gluten pieces to the pan of sauce and saute for an additional 5 minutes (or until the sauce completely thickens). Serve over rice or noodles. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for posting this recipe. It's AMAZING!! My children went crazy for it. I've never used vital wheat gluten before so discovering that in itself is a huge treat. To add to it, the orange sauce is fabulous! Again Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGREAT! It's fun to try out new things, and wheat gluten is definitely different! I like to make a bunch of this 'chicken'(or maybe it is more of a 'pork') on hand in the freezer (pre-cooked) to bulk up any of the stir-fry's I make. I am glad your kids liked it, because kids in general can be a 'tough crowd' ;)
ReplyDeleteI tried your recipe and I love how easy it was. After boiling the little pieces for about 50 minutes they looked great. However when I tried pan-frying them it was Taking a bit to get the color and a crispiness I wanted due to the moisture. I resulted to putting them in the oven on a high temperature. This gave them the color and the texture that I was looking for and then I added the sauce last.
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