Rather than meat, fill your next shawarma wrap with seitan served with a lovely sauce and bright cucumber-tomato salad.
Friday nights at our place have become wrap nights, and this seitan shawarma is our absolute favourite.
I like to prepare this in the morning and let it spend the day marinating then reheat it before serving. It works equally well served on a plate with a fork, or wrapped in fresh pita bread. 
Click here for the seitan recipe.
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Homemade Seitan Shawarma
- Total Time: 90 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Flavorful seitan shawarma, perfect for a weeknight dinner. This recipe is easy to customize to your liking!
Ingredients
For the Seitan Base
- 1 cup (120 g) vital wheat gluten
- 3 tbsp (24 g) chickpea flour or all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp (10 g) onion powder
- 1 tsp (5 g) garlic powder
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) cold water
For the Cooking Stock
- 4 cups (960 ml) vegetable broth
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
- 1 tsp (5 ml) olive oil
For the Shawarma Marinade and Sauce
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 large red onion, finely sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp (9 g) ground cumin
- 2 tsp (6 g) ground coriander
- 1 tsp (3 g) sweet paprika
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) turmeric
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp (0.5 g) ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp (1 g) black pepper
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
- 4 tbsp (60 ml) soy sauce
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) tomato paste
- Salt, to taste
For the Salad and Serving
- 2 large tomatoes, diced
- 1 cucumber (about 8 in / 20 cm), diced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
- 2 tbsp (6 g) chopped fresh mint
- 1/2 tsp (1 g) sumac
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Pita bread, for serving
- Greek yogurt or plant-based yogurt, for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the vital wheat gluten, chickpea flour, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Add the cold water gradually while stirring until a dough forms. Knead by hand for about 2 minutes until elastic and spongey.
- Shape the dough into a log and slice into ½-inch (1 cm) thick pieces, keeping them separate.
- Bring the vegetable broth, soy sauce, and olive oil to a boil in a large pot. Reduce heat to low, add the seitan pieces, cover, and simmer gently for 1 hour.
- Remove the seitan and drain in a colander while preparing the sauce.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced red onion and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more, then stir in cumin, coriander, paprika, cayenne, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the soy sauce, lemon juice, and tomato paste to form a thick sauce.
- Slice the cooked seitan into thin strips and add to the skillet. Toss well to coat and cook for about 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the seitan absorbs the flavor.
- In a bowl, combine the diced tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, lemon juice, mint, sumac, salt, and pepper to make a fresh salad.
- To serve, warm pita bread, spread with Greek yogurt, add the seitan shawarma, and top with the salad mixture. Roll or fold and serve warm.
Notes
- Do not over-knead the seitan dough — it will become too chewy.
- Simmer gently (not boil) to keep the seitan tender.
- You can prepare the seitan in advance and refrigerate for up to 3 days before marinating.
- Add a touch of chili paste to the sauce for extra heat.
- Serve with tahini or garlic sauce instead of yogurt for a vegan option.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Unsaturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 30
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I marinate the seitan for the shawarma?
For the best flavor, marinate the seitan for at least 4 hours, but letting it sit overnight in the fridge is ideal.
What type of sauce works best with Homemade Seitan Shawarma?
A tahini-based sauce or garlic yogurt sauce complements the flavors of the seitan and fresh salad perfectly.
Can I use store-bought seitan for this shawarma recipe?
Yes, you can use store-bought seitan if you’re short on time, but homemade seitan allows for better control over flavor and texture.
Looks really great!