Buddha’s Delight Stew with Seitan, Green Vegetables, and Mushrooms

Recipe by: Nava Atlas | from Vegan Soups and Hearty Stews for All Seasons

Cookstr

Course: Main Course

Total Time: Under 1 Hour

Skill Level: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

buddharsquos-delight-stew-with-seitan-green-vegetables-and-mushrooms

Photo by Joseph De Leo

Inspired by a favorite vegetarian Chinese restaurant dish, this stew is enhanced with protein packed seitan. Made from cooked wheat gluten, seitan is sometimes called “wheat meat,” as it resembles beef chunks. Though dense and chewy and somewhat “meaty,” seitan is low in fat, quite high in protein, and its grainy flavor will likely not put off those who don’t care for meat.

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

16 ounces seitan, broth reserved
1 large bunch broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups fresh green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 large carrots, peeled and sliced diagonally
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 ounces fine rice noodles
1 recipe Asian Mushroom Broth , with trimmed shiitake mushrooms, or one 32-ounce carton low-sodium vegetable broth
1½ cups crimini, baby bella, or small white mushrooms
One 15-ounce can baby corn, drained (reserve liquid for another use)
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, or to taste

Directions

Drain the broth from the seitan (you’ll likely get ¾ to 1 cup) into a soup pot or large, steep-sided stir-fry pan. Cut the seitan into bite-sized chunks and set aside. Add the broccoli, green beans, carrots, and garlic. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the broccoli and green beans are bright green.

Cook the noodles according to package directions until al dente, then drain and cut into shorter lengths. Set aside until needed.

Meanwhile, add the broth with shiitake mushrooms, seitan, white mushrooms, and baby corn to the stew. Bring to a rapid simmer, then lower the heat, Cook over medium-high heat, uncovered, until the vegetables are tender-crisp, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Put the cornstarch in a small bowl or mixing cup and stir in just enough of the liquid from the soup pot to smoothly dissolve it. Slowly pour into the soup pot and simmer just until the broth has thickened up. Stir in the soy sauce and noodles, and serve at once.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutritional information is provided by the author.

Per serving
Calories: 256 Total fat: 3 g Protein: 22 g Fiber: 7 g
Carbohydrate: 38 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 975 mg