h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi there

A while back I mentioned seitan in one of my journal entries and you'd expressed an interest in making it. It's what's normally made into mock duck and similar canned products.

Anyway, you said you were having trouble at the health food store getting the shop assistant to know what you were looking for.

I'm a member at a vegan message baord (spending less time here and more time there- for a variety of reasons) with some UKian members, and found some ideas for you.

Apparently if you don't have a Whole Foods, there are shops called Fresh and Wild that carry it. Might be in the bulk food section; otherwise look in the baking aisle near the other flour products. Look for "vital gluten" or "gluten powder".

Don't know if you're anywhere near Manchester, but the Unicorn Grocery and Eight Day there both sell it, apparently.

There are two UK-based mail order places that ship it- CLaybrooke Mill and Flour Bin. Also, a US-based company called VeganEssentials.com ships to the UK.

Hope this helps.

Brilliant. I'll use one of the mail order places. Manchester is miles away and I don't think we have the Fresh and Wild place here. I'm getting the proper internet sorted at home next month as well. Start of the financial year so I get my bonus. I got more than a normal month's pay check. I'm buying an alarm clock and some wires and some software and a big bag of gluten by the looks of things and maybe just a small synthesizer .

Thanks!

You're welcome!

If the mail order places wind up being ridiculously expensive, let me know. I normally pay around $5.50 and I could probably ship a sack over in the absolute worst case scenario.

Will do. I hope it's not addictive though: could be the start of an expensive habit...

I can see it now: PC winds up in federal prison, convicted of racketeering, for heading an international flour smuggling ring.

Hopefully it's not too bad at the mail order place. I'm still surprised that your health food store assistant didn't know what it was or at least if they had it. I'll admit not everyone at Whole Foods knows what everything is used for, but they know where to point me.

I'll be using a bit more vital gluten this weekend when I whip up another batch of chickpea cutlets. I could give you a recipe if you want.

Any recipes would be great I need exciting things to distract me from the monotony of work and the horror of the fact I seem to be single-handedly keeping an Italian bakery in business at the moment. I've had two pizza breads today alreadyThe whole food shop definetly doesn't do the flour though, it's not a matter of if they can find it or not: the place is microscopic although it does do absolutely brilliant ginger beer.

Ours gets a nice Jamaican ginger beer. It's nice in the hot weather. Maybe I'll buy some later today.

I think I shared the recipe on one of my journals- even though it isn't mine, I recall crediting the original author(s)- but if I can't find it there, I'll send it in an email sometime this week.

Here it is!

Cook chickpeas; mash with olive oil till no whole beans remain.

Mix in 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten, 1/2 cup bread crumbs, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1/4 cup cold water, dry thyme, sage, Hungarian paprika, and a couple cloves pressed garlic. Knead for 3 minutes, then form into four separate balls. Press into cutlets and fry in olive oil for 5-6 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

They go well with a nice mustard sauce: 1/4 cup Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup cooking sherry, capers with brine, lemon juice, thyme, a few cloves minced garlic, and a bit of olive oil. Boil for a few minutes until bubbly and smooth, then thicken with arrowroot or corn starch.