Veganised Portuguese Staple: Braised Seitan “Alentejo-Style”

Portuguese cuisine… How much do you know about it? 🙂

I have just recently came back from some glorious holidays in my favourite sunny corner of the world – Portugal – and came back inspired with the lovely, comforting and super hearty Portuguese cuisine.

Despite being such a small piece of heaven, from the north to the south, Portugal offers a wide range of culinary delights.

The Portuguese cuisine is typically wholesome, comforting, simple, relying on fresh and local produce, a lot of spices and a huge range of “marinating” techniques.

That’s it! Portuguese cuisine in a few words:

wholesome,

hearty and

comforting!

The recipe I am sharing with you today is a #healthy and #vegan adaptation of one of the most traditional meat dishes from the Alentejo region in the South of Portugal – called “Carne de Porco a Alentejana”  (Pork Fillet with Clams Alentejo style).  

Creativity and imagination in using very simple ingredients,  where paprika or red pepper’s paste are frequently used as a condiment, has made Alentejo’s cuisine a surprising mix of flavours (such as pork with clams, shrimp bread soup with eggs, etc).

This veganised version will use the same hearty condiments but, instead of meat (of course!), seitan will be marinated in a blend of spices, garlic and a local wine.

The original meat dish also calls for a lot of frying, however,  in this healthier version we will roast the potatoes instead of deep frying them in fatty oils.

We will also be adding a lot more veggies for increased nutritional value and taste.

Ready for this super hearty and comforting dish? Trust me it is filling, full of strong and contrasting flavours. Perfect for a #meatfreemonday.

Ready for the recipe?

Braised Seitan "Alentejo-Style"

2017-07-24 06:42:03

Serves 4

A hearty, wholesome, comforting dish inspired in the traditional portuguese cuisine from The Alentejo. Very high-protein dish! Full of contrasting flavours.

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Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

30 min

Prep Time

10 min

Cook Time

30 min

Ingredients

1. 300g of seitan, cubed
2. 2 small carrots, cubed
3. 100 grams of mushrooms, sliced
4. 1 cup on corn
5. 2 or 3 large sliced ​​garlic cloves, minced
6. Half onion, minced
7. 3 large potatoes cubed
8. 1 teaspoon garlic powder
9. A handful of chopped coriander
10. Chopped pickles to taste
11. Olives to taste
12. Olive oil and salt as needed

To marinate the Seitan

1. 1 tablespoon ground pepper
2. 1 tablespoon paprika powder
3. 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
4. 1 tablespoon garlic powder
5. 1 bay leaf
6. 2 glasses of white wine
7. Lemon juice

Instructions

1. Begin by cutting the seitan into cubes and let it marinade for at least an hour (the longer it marinades the better)

Prepare the remaining vegetables

1. Cut carrots and potatoes into cubes and slice ​​mushrooms (not too thin).
2. Steam the potatoes for about 5-7 minutes so they do not go completely raw in the oven. Season with a pinch of salt and garlic powder. Bake at 200ºC for about 20-30 minutes, until the potatoes are roasted and stained.

While the potatoes bake

1. In a non-stick pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil and add the garlic and the chopped onion to the pan. Let it lightly brown and add the previously marinated seitan, carrots, corn and mushrooms. (reserve the marinade juice for later). Combine all well all for about 5 minutes and finally add finaly add the marinade juice. Mix it all. Let it cook on low heat for 3-5 minutes and add the baked potatoes.
2. Add the chopped pickles, olives and stir well.
3. Sprinkle with chopped fresh coriander and more olives.

By Flor

Adapted from Portuguese cuisine

Adapted from Portuguese cuisine

Comidamor https://www.comidamor.co.uk/