When I was a kid, there were a few meals my mom would make that I would get so freaking excited about! They weren’t normal kid foods, and one of my favorites was pork chops and applesauce. Since the weather just turned chilly here in Florida, it seems like a good time to make you guys some vegan “pork chops” and applesauce! Crispy baked seitan, seasoned to perfection. Homemade chunky cinnamon applesauce. It is easy, delicious, comforting and you can serve it with lots of other sides. I love to serve it with smashed sweet potatoes. I also love to drizzle with an apple cider gravy. That’s optional, but I did include that recipe too, because, trust me, you probably want the gravy.
What You Need To Make This Seitan “Pork”:
- Apples: I used a mixture of green apples and pink ladies. Whatever kind of apple is your favorite will work!
- Brown Sugar: To sweeten up the applesauce.
- Cinnamon, Vanilla, Nutmeg: To flavor the applesauce.
- Chickpeas: This is one of the bases of the seitan.
- Olive Oil, Vegetable Broth, Soy Sauce: These are the liquids for the seitan.
- Vital Wheat Gluten: Yes, you definitely need the vital wheat gluten, nothing else is quite like it!
- Panko Bread Crumbs: This goes in the seitan and then is pressed onto the outside so that the “pork chops” get crispy.
- Brown Sugar, Paprika, Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder and Cumin: To flavor the seitan in a way that is the perfect fake out!
- Apple Cider, Vegetable Broth, Agave: To create the gravy if you plan to make it!
Just one bite of the vegan pork chops and applesauce together and you WILL be hooked. And, even though seitan can be intimidating, once you realize how easy this recipe is, you’ll be making it all the time. This seitan is made in a food processor, just throw everything in. This seitan also doesn’t need to be steamed and then baked or sautéed, it is just baked! This recipe is so cozy and is on rotation in my house at the moment.
Why Should You Make This Very Cozy Meal?
- This seitan is one recipe you’ll want to get down pat. It is easy to change the flavors and make it anything you want.
- This applesauce is so freaking delish and will make your whole house smell amazing.
- A taste of the “pork chop” and applesauce together is pure euphoria.
- This is a very good recipe to test out on people who “don’t like vegan food.”
- This is so simple, but still so fancy!
Vegan “Pork Chops” and Applesauce
Ingredients
Seitan "Pork Chops"
- 1 Can(15oz) Chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed
- 2 Tablespoons Olive oil
- 2/3 Cup Vegetable broth
- 1/4 Cup Soy sauce, regular or low sodium
- 1 Cup Vital wheat gluten
- 1 1/3 Cup Panko bread crumbs, vegan
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Cumin
For the Seitan Coating
- 1 Cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- Pinch of Salt and Pepper
Chunky Applesauce
- 4 Cups(about 1 1/2 lbs Apples, diced*
- 1/4 Cup Brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- Pinch of Nutmeg
Apple Cider Gravy
- 1/2 Cup Apple cider(NOT vinegar)
- 1/2 Cup Vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons Agave syrup
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Water
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees(F).
- And make your seitan. Add all of the seitan ingredients except the ingredients for the coating to a food processor.
- Process until the seitan is smooth and forms a dough ball. Scraping down the sides of the food processor as needed. It may take a few minutes to process, but just let it go until it has formed a ball.
- Remove the seitan from the food processor and cut it into 4-6 equal pieces, depending on how large you want your "pork chops" to be.
- Flatten each piece out.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the ingredients for the coating. Then press each piece of seitan into the panko mixture and evenly coat each side. You may have to press them down hard to get the panko to stick.
- Place each piece of seitan onto a sheet pan lined with parchment or sprayed with non-stick spray. Then spray the tops of the seitan with more non-stick spray or brush with a little oil.
- Bake for 15 minutes, flip and bake for another 15-17 minutes or until the seitan is brown and crispy outside and feels firm to the touch.
- While the seitan bakes, make the applesauce. Combine all the applesauce ingredients in a medium sized sauce pan. Heat on medium. Simmer, stirring frequently and reducing heat as needed for about 10-15 minutes.
- Once the apples have started to break down, you can mash them with a fork or potato masher. Then simmer for another 3-5 minutes or until the applesauce has thickened. Turn off the heat.
- Now, make the gravy if you are making it. Add the apple cider, broth, agave and a pinch of salt and pepper to a small sauce pan. Whisk to combine and simmer for about 5-7 minutes or until is has started to thicken.
- In a small bowl whisk together the corn starch and water. Then add it to the gravy whisk to combine and simmer for another 1-2 minutes or until the gravy is thick.
- Once the "pork chops" are done, serve with warm applesauce and apple cider gravy!
Notes
Nutrition
Can’t wait to try this this week! I=One of my favorite meals before I went vegan. Thanks
I need to make this with some Brussels sprouts this weekend. Wow.
Absolutely delicious! Made this twice already and it will become a regular in my fall/winter apple season recipe rotation. I froze leftover chops with mashed sweet potatoes and collards in meal prep containers without the applesauce. I made the applesauce fresh when I had one for lunch/dinner. Fabulous.
TOTALLY delicious!
Can you freeze the seitan mixture?
Totally enjoyed eating these! Leftovers were not dry as a leftover pork cutlet would have been! I do wonder, can they be frozen?
Thank you for another excellent recipe! Great texture and flavor.