some mexican flavor July 3, 2008
Posted by a-k in beans and legumes, cookbooks, grains and flours, herbs, mexican food, protein alternatives, sammiches and wraps, seitan, vegetables.trackback
seitan fajitas with red, yellow, and poblano peppers, red onions, and guacamole on homemade corn tortillas
this week i made a plank of seitan, and i mean a plank. my experiences with making seitan have often resulted in firm interiors and spongier outsides. so, inspired by tofu666’s recent seitan excursions and less recent photo essay, plus a conglomeration of recipes, i first failed at making seitan from regular wheat flour. it disintegrated in the second batch of water, which makes me wonder whether i either didn’t knead the dough long enough at the beginning or my canister of “whole wheat flour” was actually something else. so i went to the old standby of vital wheat gluten, and rolled the resulting dough into a giant pancake of sorts. i put it into cold broth, simmered it for an hour, then let it cool all day in the pot while i was at work. it worked deliciously! so firm, pleasantly chewy, and it even makes a tasty nibble on its own.
today, however, it had a different calling:
i went off the real food daily recipe for seitan fajitas, though i made it for four mini servings, replaced some of the tamari with water, and added coriander and marmite. while the seitan pieces marinated, i made a small batch of corn tortillas. yum. i don’t think i can ever buy storebought corn tortillas again, though i will definitely have to try making flour ones as well sometime. this was only the second time i’ve made them, but really, they’re quite easy. (while my girlfriend was on tour, her band was treated to a homemade mexican-themed vegan breakfast feast cooked by chloe from montreal-based aids wolf. she made homemade everything, including tortillas!) then i browned the seitan in the cast iron pan, threw in some onions and peppers and sauteed them a couple of minutes. i poured the remaining marinade over everything and turned the heat off while they sizzled. topped with some guacamole, they made for a very tasty lunch.
i haven’t done a ton of cooking yet, because it’s been pretty hot out, and we’ve been really busy looking for a new place to live. i did, however, get a chance to try out the popular quinoa salad with black beans and sweet potatoes posted awhile back on the ppk. i made it spicier and added avocado, and it was quick and easy!
my stomach hasn’t been very happy with some of my food choices lately. i think the raw really had cleaned me out even after just a week, and i have been feeling the effects of my poorer choices (like pizza luce and malaysian golden tofu). so i’ve got to stop being lazy and put my foot down in this house about more fresh food! there’s a good-looking recipe for a raw creamy carrot soup that’s been calling my name. and more juice. definitely more juice.
Your fajitas look delicious! And I am happy you found a seitan recipe (or made one up) that you like.
I am sorry your stomach has been bothering you! In the summer it is easier to eat more fresh/raw food–who wants to cook in the humid MN summer heat?! Lots of salads and raw dishes are often the way to go!
Courtney
I’m in awe of anyone who makes their own seitan! And that salad–your version–looks astonishing.
Sorry you’ve been having tummy troubles–but eating raw for a while (and then switching) can do that to you, I guess.
Your fajitas look beautiful- I might try your seitan technique and just roll it flat… it looks very pretty, and if it’s tasty, too, then it sounds like a winner!
100 percent raw is a lofty aspiration. I eat a huge salad and at least 2 fresh fruits every day. That’s probably the best I could do. Besides, I love to cook and bake!
Mmm…your photos look delicious! I love the RFD cookbook. There are still so many recipes I’ve yet to try in it, but everything has been a winner.
Wow all your food looks really yummy! I need to try making seitan.
Cute kitty. And I love cous cous-the perfect summer meal when all you have to do is boil some water!
Your seitan fajitas look REALLY good. I had fajitas the other night, but they were just veggies, not nearly as good as this! I hope your stomach starts taking to your foods better soon.
how do you make your tortillas? do you use one of those metal things to get them flat, or do you just do it by hand?
tjf- i do use a cast iron tortilla press (they also come in wood) with some wax paper. it cost me about 14 bucks. otherwise they can be made by hand or with a rolling pin if you don’t mind a little thicker texture (the flavor is worth any texture at all, really!).
Mexican food makes me smile. I absolutely love fajitas and yours look fantastic! I’m with you on the more juice; I’m trying to up my juice & smoothie intake. Hope your tummy gets to feeling better!