This delicious jerk seitan chicken is perfect for a vegan BBQ. The seitan gives a meaty texture and the delicious spicy, zingy jerk marinade provides an explosion of flavour. This vegan jerk chicken is a must try!

What is Jamaican Jerk?

Jerk seitan or vegan jerk chicken is a wonderful vegan take on the Jamaican classic marinade. Jamaican jerk seasoning is packed with delicious flavours and the right amount of heat.

Jamaica’s Rastafarian’s have a history of vegan food culture known as “Ital” and would use the jerk marinade for tofu and vegetables.

The flavours of this seitan jerk chicken is thanks to all spice and chilli peppers. Traditionally, scotch bonnet peppers are used to achieve an intense heat on the jerk chicken or veggie alternative.

Jerk is a savoury and sour type flavour with that spicy kick from the scotch bonnet peppers.

Traditionally in Jamaica, jerk seasoning can be used to dry roast meat and vegetables or alternatively it can be made into a marinade, which is what we use here.

Having a vegan/vegetarian alternative to jerk chicken is really easy with this tasty jerk seitan recipe.

This vegan jerk chicken recipe would be a perfect showstopper, finger licking treat for a plant based BBQ.

Inspiration for Jerk Seitan

Living near Brixton in London many moons ago, I would love weekends kicking back in this Caribbean hub South London. It is blessed with a high population of Caribbean folk, who bring their delicious food and beautiful traditions to the area.

I would often enjoy the Carribean cuisine and celebrations during Notting Hill carnival. So when I figured I could try and replicate the authentic jerk sauce I once devoured, I had to give it a go.

The zingy flavours of jerk is just unforgettable and even better if I can make a vegan jerk chicken version.

This jerk marinade is:

• Tangy
• Spicy
• Zingy
• Sweet
• Sour

When combined with the barbecue seitan it was a delicious mouthful of marinated bite, with beautiful charred edges.

What Is Seitan?

Seitan, also called vital wheat gluten is the primary protein of wheat. It is made by ridding or washing all of the starch from the wheat, leaving a sticky elastic dough.

This dough is then a blank canvas for all sorts of flavours to be added and various ways of cooking. This means its a vegans dream in recreating meat like foods, if that is your thing.

Seitan has been around for centuries and was called “wheat meat” – however with the exponential rise of veganism and vegetarianism, it is slightly more mainstream.

What are the characteristics of seitan?

Seitan itself tastes quite bland and is more popular for its meaty texture than its flavour. It is definitely a savoury food – however can be brought to life with whatever herbs, spices or marinades it is cooked with.

The elastic texture of the dough gives this meaty bite, however if overworked it can become tough so work with caution and gentle hands, avoid kneading it.

How To Make Seitan

Seitan can be bought ready made in the supermarket. Some people choose to make their own seitan from actual wheat flour which is a laborious process.

Vital wheat gluten comes readily available prepackaged as a flour. For this recipe, you’ll need vital wheat gluten which is essentially seitan!

It comes in the form of flour and through adding your flavours and some water, you are going to make an amazing dough.

When made from fresh, it is usually a case of firming the dough up through boiling then it is ready to go on the grill, BBQ, or in the oven. When you BBQ seitan, it only enhances the beautiful flavours adding that smokey taste!

This vital wheat gluten jerk chicken certainly does not disappoint!

How To Cook Seitan

The base of this seitan chicken recipe means it is super versatile and like a blank canvas for marinating goodness.

Once the vegan chicken patties have been formed and steamed, they are left to cool slightly to firm up a bit. Marinatting them in this jerk sauce brings them alive.

They can then be cooked in various ways, whether on the BBQ, in the oven, under the grill or in the air fryer.

Another great marinade is this vegan BBQ sauce.

How To Serve Jerk Barbecue Seitan

Another traditional dish of Jamaica is the delicious rice and pea combination. This goes perfectly for a hearty BBQ lunch. As I’ve made this a few times before, I’ve eaten it in different ways.

Vegan jerk chicken goes great with a big green salad and BBQ Corn on the Cob. An extra squirt of lime is always a bonus.

You can make the seitan cuttings a little smaller and have them replicate vegan jerk chicken wings.

Vegan Jamaican Recipes

Jamaica was originally known as Xaymaca, is famous for having nutrient dense soil and perfect conditions for growing an abundance of fruit and vegetables.

It is well known that many Jamaican Rastafarians have adopted a vegan diet, with some exceptions to eating fish.

This means many thrive on the island on a predominantly plant based diet – providing inspiration and wonderful recipes for us to try.

I must be clear however – this vegetarian jerk chicken recipe is the best version we had access to – with easy to source ingredients.

We would never claim to be the authentic Jamaican recipe. However the flavours here certainly do not disappoint!

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