Dark Simmering Liquid for Seitan

Makes: About 6 cups

Time: 1 minute

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Use this if you plan to use the seitan in Asian-style dishes or with deeply flavored foods like mushrooms, caramelized onions, or root or winter vegetables. The soy sauce colors the seitan a light brown.

If you use oil to further cook or season dark-simmered seitan, use good-quality vegetable oil or sesame oil.

Combine the stock or water and the soy sauce.

Golden Simmering Liquid for Seitan Use this if you want a more neutral color and flavor or plan to use the seitan with spring or summer vegetables. It’s best with non-Asian dishes and seasonings. If you use oil to further cook or season golden-simmered seitan, use a good-quality vegetable oil or olive oil: Add 1 tablespoon salt if you are using water, and substitute 1 cup white wine, apple juice, or cider for the soy sauce.

7 Other Seasonings for Seitan Simmering Liquid

Use alone or in combination, with either the dark or golden base.

  1. 1 or 2 bay leaves
  2. About 1 tablespoon peppercorns, black or Sichuan
  3. 6 to 8 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
  4. Fresh herb sprigs like rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, parsley, cilantro, or mint
  5. Up to 1 tablespoon tea leaves
  6. A pinch asafetida
  7. Warm spices like cinnamon (1 stick), cloves (2 or 3), star anise (1 or 2 pods), or cardamom (4 to 6 pods)