Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Step 2

To make seitan, whisk together your dry ingredients In a medium-size bowl: 1½ cups vital wheat gluten, ¼ cup nutritional yeast, ½ cup chickpea flour, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1½ tsp garlic and 1½ tsp onion powder, and set aside.

Step 3

Next you want to mix your wet ingredients separately. In a large bowl or stand mixer, dissolve 1 bouillon cube in ¾ cup of hot water. Add ½ tsp liquid smoke, 1 tbsp soy sauce, ¼ cup ketchup, ¼ cup tahini. 2 grated garlic, and a pinch of black pepper to your stand mixer. Mix until well combined. Set aside.

Step 4

To make your seitan, add the vital wheat gluten mixture (dry ingredients) from earlier with the wet ingredient mixture you just made.

Step 5

Mix and knead. I use a stand mixer on slow speed and knead for 1-2 minutes (so it's more tender). Alternatively, you can knead this with your hands. The mixture should be dough-like and slightly wet but not overly sticky.

Step 6

Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and use a rolling pin to roll them into ½ inch to 1 inch thick steaks (they will double in size so you can choose your thickness), and let them rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 7

For your stock / cooking liquid, dissolve 1½ bouillon cubes in 1½ cups hot water In a large casserole dish.

Step 8

Once the bouillon dissolves in water, add and whisk together in your large casserole dish: ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp thyme, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp molasses, ¼ cup bbq sauce, 3 tbsp Dijon mustard, and 1 bay leaf. Set aside.

Step 9

Using your hands or pastry brush, cover each seitan steak with olive oil. Then, place seitan steaks into the casserole dish with cooking liquid, and spoon some liquid over top.

Step 10

Place into the oven and bake for 10-15 mins.

Step 11

Carefully flip over the steaks, and brush the top with the remaining cooking liquid. You can also add a bit of water to the remining cooking liquid. And bake for another 10-15 mins.

Step 12

Remove from the oven and serve right away, or save until desired.

Step 13

To reheat: cook in a pan, grill pan or BBQ until heated through, a couple minutes on each side.