Ever heard of seitan?

The past couple of weeks there has been a lot of talk about climate change and the global warming trend. Amidst the many interviews and conversations, came a discussion about the impact of the beef industry on the environment. I tend towards a plant dominant eating style anyway, but it seems clear that from an environmental impact, there may be some good reasons to try out alternative food sources that still provide us with that essential macronutrient - protein. Finding a recipe for "seitan" posted on an instagram account I follow made me curious about this plant based protein source (gluten) and decided I was going to test it out! So, what is it about seitan that makes it worth considering as a decent food source?

1) Seitan offers close to 20 grams of protein for around 100 calories in a 3oz serving. That's a pretty good exchange for those of us who also like to watch our calorie intake.

2) Seitan contains calcium and iron.

3) Seitan can have the texture of meat, and picks up flavors easily, so it can make a good substitution for meat based dishes.

4) Seitan provides a plant based protein without any worry about potential hormonal effects that are sometimes a consideration with soy products such as tofu.

5) It is both low in carbohydrates as well as fats for those who are trying to eat low carb or low fat.

Want to give it a try? Here's the recipe I used thanks to @passion.and.pepper and @vegetariantimesmag

Mix all dry ingredients: 2 cups vital wheat gluten, 1/2 cup nutritional yeast, 1/2 tbsp smoked paprika, 1 tbsp garlic powder. Add in 2 tbsp soy sauce and 1-2 cups water (add slowly until dough forms.) Knead the dough for ~2 minutes then split into two loaves. Add to a pot full of 5 cups soup stock, 1/2 onion diced. Bring to boil then simmer for 45 minutes. Once finished, cut into smaller pieces, pan fry, and enjoy!