Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

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Homemade Seitan coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden and crispy. This is the perfect vegan alternative to traditional Schnitzel. Serve the Seitan Schnitzel with baked potatoes and lingonberry jam and you’ll be in foodie heaven!

Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (1)

This vegan Schnitzel recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my blog but a few people have reported that they can’t find TVP slices (which I use for the base), that’s why I wanted to offer an alternative that is just as delicious: Seitan Schnitzel.

For this Seitan Schnitzel recipe, we’re making our own seitan steaks. But don’t worry. It’s much easier than it sounds.

The Ingredients for the Seitan

You will need:

  • vital wheat gluten (a shortcut to making seitan because washing flour until the starches are washed away isn’t fun (and takes a long time!)
  • onion & garlic
  • herbs & spices: thyme, fennel, cumin, chicken seasoning(it’s usually just a mix of salt, paprika, garlic powder,and pepper – you can make your own if you don’t have it at home)
  • cooked chickpeas (to balance out the flavor and texture)
  • soy sauce (adds saltiness)
  • tomato paste (adds color)
  • sparkling water (gives the seitan a texture that is not as tough (like you would find it in store-bought seitan) and almost fluffy)

That’s it! Sounds easy, right? Well… it’s not hard.

Here’s another pro-tip: We don’t even knead the seitan by hand. We just let the food processor knead the seitan. That’s what I call a kitchen helper.

How to make Seitan Schnitzel

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Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (3)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (4)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (5)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (6)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (7)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (9)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (10)
Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (11)

How to make Seitan that isn’t spongy/rubbery/tough?

My super secret ingredient for Seitan that doesn’t have the texture of a rubber mallet is Sparkling Water! It’s just a simple substitution with a huge effect. The seitan has an almost fluffy consistency! Keep in mind that the texture of seitan changes with time. Seitan will be a bit tougher and chewier if you eat it the next day. Breaded seitan will stay softer than ‘naked’ seitan.

Serve Seitan Schnitzel with …

Traditional Schnitzel is usually served with either potato (cooked potatoes coated in butter and sprinkled with salt and parsley OR french fries) or rice, and lingonberry jam (people hate it or love it – I love it!). The traditional side dishes are great for the Seitan Schnitzel as well. I also love to serve the Schnitzel with parboiled rice with lots of peas.

You could also cut the Seitan Schnitzel in strips and serve it over a salad or in a wrap.

Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (12)

More Seitan Recipes you will love

  • 15+ Seitan Recipes – The perfect meat substitute
  • Basic Seitan made with Vital Wheat Gluten
  • Seitan Sausages
  • Vegan Hot Dogs
  • Seitan Steak
  • Seitan Roast with Bread Stuffing

I hope you’ll enjoy this homemade seitan schnitzel as much as I do!

Let me know if you give this recipe a try! I’d love to hear how it turns out for you.

If you don’t want to miss out on new recipes,subscribe to my weekly newsletterand follow me onInstagramandFacebook!

Cheers, Bianca

Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (13)

Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (14)

Seitan Schnitzel

Bianca Haun | Elephantastic Vegan

Homemade Seitan coated in breadcrumbs and pan-fried until golden and crispy. This is the perfect vegan alternative to traditional Schnitzel. Serve the Seitan Schnitzel with baked potatoes and lingonberry jam and you’ll be in foodie heaven!

4.80 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Austrian, Vegan

Servings 2 servings

Calories 702 kcal

Ingredients

Seitan Base *

  • 1/2 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1/2 white onion – chopped
  • 1 garlic clove – chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1/4 cup cooked chickpeas
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/2 tablespoon chicken seasoning (salt, paprika, pepper, garlic)
  • 1/2 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup sparkling water
  • 3/4 cup vital wheat gluten

Egg Replacement

  • 1/2 cup chickpea flour
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/8 teaspoon sriracha sauce

Breading Ingredients

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 teaspoon chicken seasoning (salt, paprika, pepper, garlic)

Additional Ingredients

  • 2-3 tablespoons canola oil for pan-frying

Instructions

  • In a large pan with canola oil, sautée the chopped onion and garlic cloves until soft. Add the cumin and fennel seeds. Let it cook for another minute until the spices are toasted.

  • In a food processor, add the chickpeas, onion-garlic-spices mixture, tomato paste, chicken seasoning, thyme, soy sauce, and sparkling water. Pulse until it’s saucy. Then add the vital wheat gluten and pulse again until it comes together in a ball.

  • Prepare a large pot (filled with a couple of inches of water) with a steaming basket and bring the water to a boil.

  • Divide the seitan into 2 equal pieces and roll them with a rolling pin until 0.5-1 inch thick (2-3cm). Add the seitan filets into the steaming basket and let them steam for about 20 minutes, flipping them after 10 minutes.

  • In one bowl, combine the ingredients for the egg replacement, whisk until smooth. You might have to add a bit more water to get the consistency right.

  • In a second bowl, combine the ingredients for the breadcrumbs and chicken seasoning.

  • Once the seitan is soft, let it cool off a bit, then dip it first in the egg replacement, then coat it in the breading. Repeat for the second seitan filet.

  • Cover the bottom of a pan with canola oil. Pan-fry the Seitan Schnitzel for about 4 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Enjoy with baked potatoes and lingonberry jam.

Notes

*Don’t want to make your own seitan? Use store-bought seitan or check out my Vegan Schnitzel recipe using TVP slices.

Nutrition

Calories: 702kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 50gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 1074mgPotassium: 574mgFiber: 8gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 150IUVitamin C: 4.3mgCalcium: 219mgIron: 8.1mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!

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Seitan Schnitzel Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan schnitzel made of? ›

This homemade vegan schnitzel recipe will take you straight back to childhood! They're created with a Seitan base, made with vital wheat gluten, chickpeas and tofu, and breaded with a delicious crumb coat that give them the perfect crunch!

What can you substitute for eggs in a schnitzel? ›

To keep the Schnitzel crispy, coat it in a batter made with soy milk and flour, cover it in bread crumbs, and deep-fry it in vegetable oil at the right temperature of 350°F or 180°C. What can you use instead of egg to bread a schnitzel? You can replace eggs with a batter made of soy milk and flour.

How do you make store bought seitan softer? ›

Boiling seitan makes it have a brainy spongey texture, frying seitan (without first steaming it) makes it rubbery and spongey, baking it makes it dry and rubbery. Steaming seitan, on the other hand, will yield the perfect meaty, juicy, chewy, yet tender seitan every single time.

What are the ingredients in plant based chicken schnitzel? ›

Water, Vegetable Protein (20%) (Soy, Wheat), Vegetable Oil, Breadcrumbs (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Salt, Yeast, Canola Oil, Colours (Curcumin, Paprika), Herbs, Spices, Salt, Garlic, Onion, Rice Flour), Oats (Gluten), Flavours, Batter (Wheat, Soy), Starches (Tapioca, Potato), Fibre (Wheat, Citrus), Sugar, Salt, Citric Acid, ...

Why do Jews eat schnitzel? ›

The schnitzel tradition was brought from Europe to Israel by Ashkenazi Jews. During the early years of the state of Israel, veal was not obtainable, and chicken or turkey proved to be inexpensive and tasty substitutes. Packaged schnitzels are widely available in the frozen food section of most supermarkets.

What is vegan seitan made from? ›

Seitan is a plant-based meat substitute made from wheat gluten that mimics the flavor and texture of chicken. You can buy it in many health food supermarkets, or you can make it yourself. It's typically made out of vital wheat gluten, an ingredient that has a similar texture to flour but is mostly, well, gluten.

Can I use milk instead of egg for schnitzel? ›

I've been told that a great option to avoid eggs is melted butter before rolling it in the spices or coating, but I found that you can use milk or yogurt. The trick is to ensure that your fish or chicken fillet piece is dry so the coating sticks.

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs for schnitzel? ›

The Best 10 Breadcrumb Substitutes
  • Rolled oats. Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. ...
  • Potato chips. ...
  • Cornflakes. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Croutons. ...
  • Crackers. ...
  • Seeds.
Oct 18, 2022

What is a vegan alternative to egg for breadcrumbs? ›

What are the best egg substitutions?
  • Aquafaba. That's right, you can make an impressive egg white substitute using the water from a drained can of chickpeas. ...
  • Ground flax seeds. ...
  • Apple purée. ...
  • Yogurt (regular or dairy-free) ...
  • Mashed banana. ...
  • Silken tofu. ...
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Coconut oil.

What are the disadvantages of seitan? ›

What are the cons?
  • Not suitable for those with gluten-sensitivities or coeliac disease.
  • Doesn't absorb much flavour.
  • High amounts of sodium (salt) in the packaged product.
  • Seitan is hard to source unlike other vegetarian protein alternatives meaning you may have to venture to a specialty vegetarian “butcher”

Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›

It's cheaper to make seitan than to buy it pre-fabricated. It's also cheaper to make it than to buy good-quality, local meat, so it's a good budget protein item. It's stupid easy to make, especially if you've made homemade bread. It's super customizable, both in flavor and texture.

Is it cheaper to make your own seitan? ›

Because of its meaty texture, seitan can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and stir-fries to stews and soups. The best part is that making seitan at home is easy, and it's much cheaper than buying pre-made or store-bought seitan.

What is the vegan version of chicken? ›

Vegan chicken is more sustainable, and healthier, and it's made primarily from plant-based products. These include vital wheat gluten, soy protein, pea protein, tofu, and jackfruit, which are rich in protein, calcium, fiber, and sodium—making the substitutes a perfect supplement for real meat.

Does KFC make plant-based chicken? ›

What is Beyond Fried Chicken®? It packs all the delicious flavor you expect from KFC into a plant-based option. Developed exclusively for KFC by our friends at Beyond Meat®.

What is a natural schnitzel? ›

A Natur Schnitzel (naturally) is a cutlet that is cooked without being breadcrumbed. It is kept plain - natural - so we call it Natur Schnitzel. Cutlets are tenderized with a meat hammer, seasoned with salt and pepper and fried on both sides in little vegetable oil.

What is schnitzel usually made of? ›

The dish's name actually comes from the German word schnitt, which translates to "cut." The most popular type of meat for schnitzel is veal (wiener-schnitzel) or pork (schweine-schnitzel), but you also see varieties made with chicken (hänchen-schnitzel), or turkey (puten-schnitzel).

What is schnitzel traditionally made of? ›

What Exactly is Schnitzel? Schnitzel is a dish that uses a very thin boneless cutlet from meat such as veal, pork, beef or chicken. The meat can be breaded and then deep fried or it can also be pan fried and then be used as breading or just be consumed without the bread.

What is vegan schnitzel nutrition? ›

Halsans Kok Vegan Schnitzel (1 serving) contains 10g total carbs, 5.8g net carbs, 8.3g fat, 11g protein, and 169 calories.

What part of the animal is schnitzel? ›

Pork schnitzel (Schweineschnitzel), for example, is made from boneless pork chops, while chicken schnitzel (Hänchenschnitzel or Huhnerschnitzel) is made from boneless chicken breast. Other common meats include turkey (Putenschnitzel) and beef (Rinderschnitzel or Rindsschnitzel), the latter usually from the shoulder.

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