Vegan Carne Asada (Seitan)
Recipe: https://recipestripper.com/recipes/622c1982-7623-4af6-86a1-915dc1724d69
Original source: https://theeburgerdude.com/vegan-carne-asada-seitan/
Recipe image: https://theeburgerdude.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/9093e9_cbbf6a7ef672466f89c97fbac8423517_mv2.webp

Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Diced Chipotles in Adobo
- 6 Tbsp orange juice
- 6 Tbsp lime juice
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 2 Tbsp neutral oil
- 1/2 cup Mexican beer (optional, recommended)
- 4-6 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp guajillo powder (optional)
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- Big handful of cilantro
- 1 1/2 cups Vital Wheat Gluten
- 1 cup cooked lentils
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Chili Seasoning
- black pepper to taste
- 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1 tsp Beefless Bouillon paste (or veggie bouillon)
- 6 Tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp Liquid Smoke

Instructions
1. MARINADE:Combine all ingredients in a food processor and save for later. You can bypass the food processor, just mince the garlic and finely chop the cilantro.
2. [CARNE ASADA:] Add the vital wheat gluten, lentils, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and black pepper to a food processor and blend until combined.
3. [CARNE ASADA:] Whisk together the tomato paste, soy sauce, beefless bouillon, water and liquid smoke in a separate bowl.
4. [CARNE ASADA:] Add the wet ingredients to the food processor and pulse until just combined, making sure not to over process.
5. [CARNE ASADA:] Dump the seitan onto a work surface, it should be crumbly. Knead by hand until it comes together, again careful not to overknead to avoid a chewy seitan.
6. [CARNE ASADA:] Roll the seitan out as large as you can so that it will fit in your largest pot / dutch oven. You can also cut it into 2 and roll it out into 2 separate steaks. I rolled mine to about 1/2" thick. Let the steak rest for 10-15 minutes, then tightly wrap in foil. You can also wrap it in parchment paper first if you don't want the foil to touch your steak.
7. [CARNE ASADA:] Bring some water in a large pot up to a boil, then add a steamer basket and then add in the wrapped seitan steak. Cover and steam for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
8. [CARNE ASADA:] Let the seitan rest until it's room temperature. Then add it to a freezer bag or tupperware with the marinade and let it marinade for at least 1 hour, but overnight is best.
9. [CARNE ASADA:] Heat up a grill and then grill the carne asada seitan steak on both sides to your desired doneness. Baste it with the marinade everytime you flip it. I cooked mine on both sides twice for about 3 minutes each time, so 12 minutes in total.
10. [CARNE ASADA:] Once cooked, chop up into bite size pieces, and add it back to the bag / tupperware with the excess marinade to soak in more flavor and juice! Then serve as tacos, burritos, tortas, whatever you like!