One of my fave things as a kid was getting to grill with my dad in the summer. I would swim in our pool all day and then stand next to my dad in my bathing suit and side pony tail as he would grill hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, brats, and steak tips. Fast forward 25 years and I am vegan. Last year I discovered the Tofurky Beer Brats which taste on point despite a slightly herb hued green in them and are grillable which is amazing because most things (my husband has learned) fall apart on the grill if they are stamped “vegan”. So what about things like ribs and steak tips and BBQ chicken? I have not figured out any grillable options yet but I have 2 very yummy bbq sauce smoky flavored options still that you can cook indoors. One is Morningstar Farms BBQ Riblets which remind me of those school lunch riblet sandwiches without the yucky fat hard chunks in them. This Seitan recipe below though is my smoky sweet version of a bbq chicken sandwich or even a pulled pork sandwich that you can make at home in your kitchen and dream of the summer heat filling your backyard. And it only takes a few minutes to prepare after the rolls are done!

Spring has sprung so let’s make those dreams a reality folks!

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Smoky, Sweet BBQ Seitan on Pretzel Rolls

Ingredients:

Vegan Pretzel Rolls ( I use this recipe by Guy Fieri: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/pretzel-rolls-recipe/index.html )

Organic Vegan BBQ Sauce

1 tsp Liquid Smoke

1 tbsp Agave Nectar or Honey (if you are a vegan that eats honey like me)

1 package West Soy Seitan Strips or Cubes (Strips work better in a sandwich but you can chop the cubes for a “shredded/pulled pork style”)

Olive Oil

Garlic (I use chopped frozen)

Kosher Salt

Pepper

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Place olive oil and 1 tsp of salt in a frying pan over medium heat. Olive oil should thinly cover the bottom of the pan and you can always add more by the teaspoon if you need it. When it bubbles, add seitan and pepper to taste. Then add garlic to taste. I use at least 1/2tbsp. Heat until there are some brown bits forming on the bottom. Then squeeze in a tbsp of agave and 1 tsp of liquid smoke. Toss until well combined. Add BBQ sauce until well covered. Toss lightly and place on warm rolls. Serve hot. Enjoy!

For a Whole Meal: Add the Farro Salad and finish it off with the Fourth of July Trifle we made last year and it will be perfect for a summer party! 

Optional Add Ons: Add sliced tomatoes, lettuce, some pickled jalapeno, and melt on Daiya Havarti cheese.

XOXOX, The Hippie Gypsy