Seitan (say-tan) is the original plant-based meat: a high-protein food made from wheat protein, also called wheat gluten. It has been used as a meat alternative in East Asia since the 6th century, which makes it one of the oldest plant proteins in the world, older than the modern idea of "plant-based" by about 1,400 years.

What is seitan made of?

Seitan is the main protein of wheat. At Blackbird we make ours in house, in our own NYC facility, by rinsing non-GMO, unbleached wheat until what remains is concentrated wheat protein. Our Original recipe uses just four simple ingredients: unbleached high-gluten flour, water, organic shoyu, and lemon juice. No fillers, no mystery.

What does seitan taste like?

Unlike soy-based proteins, seitan has a dense, meaty, pull-apart texture. It shreds like slow-cooked meat, chars on a grill, and crisps in a pan or air fryer. On its own it tastes lightly savory, which is exactly the point: it takes on whatever seasoning, marinade, or sauce you cook it with.

Seitan nutrition

Seitan is one of the most protein-dense plant foods you can buy. Blackbird seitan delivers 13 to 19 grams of protein per serving with just about 4 grams of carbs, and like all plants it is naturally cholesterol-free. It is high-protein, low-carb, vegan, dairy-free, and non-GMO. One honest caveat: seitan is wheat gluten, so it is not for gluten-free diets.

How to cook seitan

Blackbird seitan comes pre-cooked, so there is no pressing, marinating, or long braising. We recommend stir-frying with a bit of oil until the edges crisp, about 5 to 6 minutes. It also takes beautifully to the air fryer, the grill, and the oven. See our step-by-step How to Prepare guide, or browse 80+ recipes from tacos to pot pie.

Seitan at Blackbird

We started as chefs making seitan for NYC restaurants, then opened our own dedicated facility in Long Island City so home cooks could get the same thing: restaurant-quality plant protein, hand-made small-batch. Today the line includes Seitan Shreds in four flavors, an Organic Original Seitan Block, Italian Sausage Seitan Crumble, crispy seitan wings, and a build-your-own box for mixing flavors.