If you want to prepare something delicious, and very very high in protein, seitan or vital wheat gluten will be your best allies. For these Vegan BBQ Ribs we are going to use vital wheat gluten, which is the wheat’s protein.
If you are not intolerant or allergic to gluten, there is no reason why you should not or cannot consume gluten. Recently, it has gained a bad reputation since gluten-free diets became a trend. However, the reality is that unless you have celiac disease, wheat and/or gluten is just as suitable for consumption as any other grain.
So, rest assured that consuming gluten is not going to harm or wreak havoc unless you’re allergic or have an intolerance to it.
Now, with the above being clear, these vegan BBQ ribs are completely customizable. If there are some seasonings that you like a lot or that you like more than others, feel free to change the proportions. As long as they are not drastic changes so that the texture is not affected.
When you follow the recipe as instructed, you'll find that the flavor is both delicious and well-balanced. However, if you prefer to use a different type of sauce instead of the BBQ sauce that we'll be adding to the seitan, you can easily do so without any issues.
What can I serve these Vegan BBQ Ribs with?
To have a balanced meal, you can serve a portion of vegan bbq ribs with mashed potatoes and salad. Or a baked potato and steamed vegetables, or even with some pasta (click here to see our recipe for Vegan Baked Red Pepper Pasta).
Now, let's prepare these delicious Vegan BBQ Ribs ♥
Vegan BBQ Ribs
INGREDIENTS
Wet
- ¾ cup of hot water, add a little bit more if needed
- 1 tablespoon vegetable broth powder, or 1 cube
- 1 ½ tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke, can omit
Dry
- 180 g vital wheat gluten
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon curry powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- Pinch of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Sauce on top
- ⅓ cup bbq sauce
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 355°F.
- In a bowl, add hot water and dissolve the vegetable broth powder. Add soy sauce, oil, BBQ sauce (1 tbsp) and liquid smoke (the latter can be omitted without problem, it is just to give it a smoky flavor). Mix the ingredients and reserve.
- In another bowl, mix the dry ingredients: vital wheat gluten and seasonings.
- Add the wet mix to the gluten and combine with a wooden spoon.
- Before you finish integrating the wet with the dry, use your hands and knead for a couple of minutes, just until you get a homogeneous dough. The consistency should be a little "lumpy", not so uniform or smooth.
- Transfer the dough to a oven-proof pan with parchment paper (so that it does not stick to the pan) or a glass container, and spread it little by little pressing with your hands. It should look like a thick steak.
- Add the BBQ sauce (⅓ cup) on top of the dough and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 35 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and slice the seitan into diagonal strips. Serve hot.
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natalie says
Hiii! It's my birthday on Saturday and I really want to make this for the bbq I'm having but I also have other stuff to prep and going golfing in the morning on my bday (not relevant sorry) haha but the question I wanted to ask is can i prep the seitan with all the spices and wet mixture the day before so it's ready to cook on Saturday?
Annie says
Hi Natalie!! Awww Happy birthday in advance!! I would recommend you didn't do it that way just because of how chewy gluten can get when it's "activated" with moisture for too long. If it's the first time you make this recipe, I'd suggest you follow the recipe to the t so you get a clear idea of how the texture is supposed to be 😉