The Ultimate Vegan Brisket Recipe

Mains
Written By Nadine Madrigal

Discover > Texas Recipes > The Ultimate Vegan Brisket Recipe

This January, get ready for a real treat! Get ready to experience the full Texas-style flavor with our flame-grilled seitan (how long does seitan last?) brisket, covered in a bold and zesty BBQ sauce that will make your Veganuary unforgettable. 

A flavor-forward twist on classic Texas comfort food - it's got an excellent crunch from the grill and a spicy kick from its sticky BBQ sauce that'll have you licking your fingers clean. 

We've taken this classic dish up a notch by adding some serious sizzle off the grill before dousing it in an irresistibly smoky sauce for that extra oomph! It may be 100% vegan but trust us, this brisket packs serious flavors without having to kill anything – so come satisfy those cravings like never before with no guilt involved!

Ingredients for Vegan Barbecue Brisket

 If you can’t find these ingredients in your local markets, you can order soy sauce, maple syrup, sriracha, vegetable stock, tomato paste, olive oil, vital wheat gluten flour, chickpea flour, chili powder, paprika, cumin, onion, garlic, and salt online!

What is Vegan Brisket Made of?

Whether for a classic barbecue feast or a special occasion, vegan brisket is a delicious and healthier alternative to the traditional version. The secret lies in the components that make up this tasty dish. The main ingredient is seitan, made from wheat gluten. It is a substitute for the beef traditionally used in cooking slow-smoked brisket. Once the seitan is seasoned and baked, it's basted in a spiced mixture before being rubbed with BBQ spices. 

Finally, it's barbequed until nicely charred to bring out that deep smoky flavor we associate with BBQ dishes. Vegan brisket captures all of the classic brisket's robust flavors without animal products!

What is Seitan?

Seitan is a delicious, meaty replacement for traditional beef or chicken, made with wheat-based ingredients. It has a unique texture that is pleasingly soft and tender, so it does not require long cooking times. Stews can be quickly prepped and prepared in just a matter of hours without needing to devote an entire day to simmering the seitan over low heat like a traditional pot roast or brisket. Of course, this means less time spent hovering over the stove and more time enjoying the spoils of your labor. Seitan can also be pan-fried in butter, baked into savory dishes, or even thrown on the grill if you're adventurous!

Vegan proteins sources are the best meal alternatives for vegans. Explore the differences and similarities between tempeh, tofu (how long does tofu last?) vs seitan. Natural stores, health food stores, and even well-stocked grocery stores carry tempeh (how long does tempeh last?). You can also check out The flying tempeh brothers in Austin who are our local Texan tempeh makers.

Can you Smoke Vegan Meat?

Smoking vegan meat is a great place to start if you're looking for an exciting way to get the most out of vegetarian and vegan food. Pellets and smoking guns are one way to do it. Adding layers of complexity with different flavors can create a more exciting experience than just adding liquid smoke. Not only that, but you can get creative with your recipes and incorporate herbs and spices to add flavor. Smoked vegan meat is a great way to try something new and add more variety to your cooking!

Vegetarian meals can mostly be made from local produce, which means that by making them, you can support your local farmers and farmers' markets.

Vegan Brisket

INGREDIENTS

Wet Mixture

  • 1 cup marsala wine

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari

  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

  • 2 tbsp sriracha

  • 3 ½ cup vegetable stock

  • 1/4 cup tomato paste

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

Dry Mixture

  • 2 1/4 cup vital wheat gluten flour

  • 3/4 cup chickpea flour

  • 2 tbsp chili powder

  • 1 tbsp paprika

  • 1/2 tbsp cumin

  • 2 tbsp onion granules

  • 2 tbsp garlic granules

  • 1 tbsp salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare a baking dish by coating lightly with oil. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. Hand mix the wet and dry batches separately. Combine the dry mixture with half of the wet mixture. Mix until combined thoroughly. Knead for 3 minutes until all is mixed thoroughly and the dough has an elastic texture.

  3. Form into a rough oval shape and place in baking dish. Lightly coat the raw seitan with oil.

  4. Add the braising liquid to the casserole dish, pouring over the raw seitan.

  5. Place in oven and bake for about 25 minutes.

  6. At the 25-minute mark, flip the loaf over. Place back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, fire up the grill, and prepare this BBQ sauce (video link) while your seitan is cooking.

  7. Remove the seitan a few minutes before it’s done, and baste it with some remaining liquid in the dish. Place back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes. The liquid should be almost evaporated and thickened. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes.

  8. Once the seitan is cooled, it’s time to finish it on the grill. Be sure the grill is blazing and on high heat. In a casserole dish or the same that the seitan was baked in, cover it with BBQ sauce, ensuring it coats all sides well.

  9. Place on the grill and allow for about 8 minutes on each side to create the killer char that will make this finished dish.

  10. While this is grilling, gather all the components to complete your BBQ board or BBQ sandwich. Fresh sliced pickles, sliced raw white onion, Texas toast, extra BBQ sauce, and of course, a roll of paper towels.

  11. After flipping the brisket and getting some great char on both sides, remove it from the grill. It’s time to assemble.

  12. Slice the brisket as thin as possible and serve with all the components!

The best places to get these items are from your local markets, but if you can’t find any nearby, you can easily order baking dishes online!

Looking for the best brisket restaurants across Texas this 2023? Click here!

Yield: 8
Author: Nadine Madrigal
Vegan Brisket

Vegan Brisket

Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 1 HourTotal time: 1 H & 30 M
Experience the full Texas-style flavor with our flame-grilled seitan brisket, covered in a bold and zesty BBQ sauce that will make your Veganuary unforgettable.

Ingredients

Wet Mixture
  • 1 cup marsala wine
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce or tamari
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp sriracha
  • 3 ½ cup vegetable stock
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
Dry Mixture
  • 2 1/4 cup vital wheat gluten flour
  • 3/4 cup chickpea flour
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1/2 tbsp cumin
  • 2 tbsp onion granules
  • 2 tbsp garlic granules
  • 1 tbsp salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare a baking dish by coating lightly with oil. Set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Hand mix the wet and dry batches separately. Combine the dry mixture with half of the wet mixture. Mix until combined thoroughly. Knead for 3 minutes until all is mixed thoroughly and the dough has an elastic texture.
  3. Form into a rough oval shape and place in baking dish. Lightly coat the raw seitan with oil.
  4. Add the braising liquid to the casserole dish, pouring over the raw seitan.
  5. Place in oven and bake for about 25 minutes.
  6. At the 25-minute mark, flip the loaf over. Place back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Meanwhile, fire up the grill, and prepare this BBQ sauce (video link) while your seitan is cooking.
  7. Remove the seitan a few minutes before it’s done, and baste it with some remaining liquid in the dish. Place back in the oven for another 5-10 minutes. The liquid should be almost evaporated and thickened. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes.
  8. Once the seitan is cooled, it’s time to finish it on the grill. Be sure the grill is blazing and on high heat. In a casserole dish or the same that the seitan was baked in, cover it with BBQ sauce, ensuring it coats all sides well.
  9. Place on the grill and allow for about 8 minutes on each side to create the killer char that will make this finished dish.
  10. While this is grilling, gather all the components to complete your BBQ board or BBQ sandwich. Fresh sliced pickles, sliced raw white onion, Texas toast, extra BBQ sauce, and of course, a roll of paper towels.
  11. After flipping the brisket and getting some great char on both sides, remove it from the grill. It’s time to assemble.
  12. Slice the brisket as thin as possible and serve with all the components!

Nutrition Facts

Calories

328.5

Fat

7.18

Sat. Fat

0.98

Carbs

29.81

Fiber

3.31

Net carbs

26.52

Sugar

12.01

Protein

30.05

Sodium

1896.03

Cholesterol

0

Percentages are based on a diet of 2000 calories a day.

 
Nadine Madrigal
Previous

Texas Beef and Red Wine Stew Recipe
Next

How to Make Blood Orange Mojito