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This is a new version of my original vegan prime rib(less) roast made from washing flour. I subbed out fresh beetroot for powder to yield a firmer texture, as well as added more beefy flavoring to the mix. Still fancy enough for your holiday table, but easy enough to be enjoyed more often.





Ingredients

Washing Flour
 16 cups flour (2kg), divided*NOTE: I used bread flour with 12.7% protein. If using AP flour or anything with less than 11% protein, I recommend using the full 5lb (2.27kg) bag.
 7 cups water, dividedstart with 6 and add a little more as needed
 1 tbsp Methylcellulose optional, added for a more meaty texture
For Simmering
 1 ½ times the beaf variation of this recipe (3 quarts)or use 3 quarts low-sodium vegetable broth plus 1 1/2T dried porcini mushroom powder, 1 1/2T vegan Worcestershire sauce, 5T soy sauce or liquid aminos, 2t Marmite
Beefy Portion - 2/3 of the Dough
 1 1/2 tbsp dried porcini or mushroom powderHighly recommended to provide a beefy, umami flavor.
 1 1/2 tbsp beet root powder, optional, for colorThis may turn a little brown, especially around the outer edges during cooking, but I've had good results with this brand.
 A few drops of vegan red food coloring, optional, for colorI use this in combination with the beetroot to offset the color turning brown.
 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
 1/2 tbsp onion powder
 1 tsp ground black pepper
 1 tsp dried thyme
 1 tsp smoked paprika
 1 tsp sea salt
 1 tbsp soy sauce
 1 tbsp vegan worcestershire saucestore bought or make your own with this recipe
 1 tsp blackstrap molasses This is used to give an irony flavor more than for its sweetness.
Fatty Portion - 1/3 of the Dough
 ½ tsp garlic powder
 ½ tsp salt
 ½ tsp white pepper
 2 tbsp soft vegan butterI used Country Crock plant-based spread
For Roasting
 salt and pepper to season the roast
 a few splashes of reserved broth
 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) vegan butter, softened
 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
 A few cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
 1 tbsp dark mushroom soy sauceThis is thicker and darker than regular soy sauce. You can try subbing 1 tbsp regular soy sauce mixed with 1/2 tsp gravy enhancer such as Kitchen Bouquet.
For Gravy, Optional
 2 tbsp vegan butter
 1 large shallot, chopped fine
 3 cloves garlic, minced
 2 tbsp all purpose flour
 ¼ cup dry red vegan wine I used a peppery cabernet
 1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce store bought or make your own with this recipe
 1 ½ cups reserved simmering broth
 6 sprigs fresh thyme
 1 sprig fresh rosemary
 salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Washing Flour
1

Wash that flour! (WTF!) 😊 You can wash the 16 cups of bread flour (or full bag of AP flour) in two batches to make it easier to handle than all in one bowl. I have found that about 6 1/2 cups of water is about perfect for 16 cups of flour, but different flours may vary, so start with 6 cups total and add up to 7 or even a little more if you find it necessary. You're looking for the dough to come together not too sticky, not dry and crumbly. I washed this to the cloudy/hazy water stage. If you leave in too much starch you might have a doughy result.

New to washing flour? Follow steps 1-7 here.

2

While your dough ball(s) are resting in water, prepare your simmering liquid using 1 1/2x this recipe for the vegetable broth base plus beaf variation ingredients, or use 3 quarts (approximately 3L) low-sodium vegetable broth plus 1 1/2T dried porcini mushroom powder, 1 1/2T vegan Worcestershire sauce, 5T soy sauce or liquid aminos, 2t Marmite. Bring the broth up to a boil and let it simmer for at least an hour to develop the flavor before straining.

3

After washing, combine both dough balls (if washed separately) and let the gluten drain for at least 20 minutes. Really wring out the dough to make sure as much excess water as possible has been removed. If adding the 1 tbsp Methylcellulose, make sure the dough ball is cool to start off with, refrigerating it for about 30 minutes if necessary before adding. Use a food processor to integrate it into the dough ball, working in batches if necessary. Then let the dough rest for another 30 minutes or more in the refrigerator to give time for the Methylcellulose to absorb.

Separate the dough into 2/3 and 1/3 portions.

Beefy Portion - 2/3
4

Mix all of the beefy portion ingredients together into a paste. I start by adding a small chunk of the dough in the food processor and add the seasoning paste, then add the rest of the beefy dough portion until it is fully incorporated. Allow to rest on the counter until the gluten has reformed and is strong enough to stretch and knot.

Fatty Portion - 1/3
5

While the beefy portion is resting, add the small fatty portion to the food processor with 1/2 each garlic powder, salt, and white pepper, along with 2T vegan butter. Let this rest for a while so the gluten starts to reform and it can be stretched and rolled out.

Preparing the Prime Rib(less)
6

Separate the beefy portion into 2/3 and 1/3 sections. Stretch and knot the 2/3 section a couple of times, really twisting the dough as you knot to develop the grains. Separate the fat portion into 2 halves. Stretch the first half over the red dough and completely cover it. Then stretch the remaining beefy portion to cover the top and sides of the first layers. Finally, stretch the remaining white dough over the top and sides. Wrap the entire ball as tightly as possible in cheesecloth. This will allow the dough to be firm while retaining its shape and still absorb flavor through the cloth.

7

Place the wrapped dough roll in hot broth. You want the broth to stay at around 190F (85C), and cook the seitan for about 2 hours, rotating once halfway through. I achieve that temperature with my slow cooker on high. I have also used the slow cooker function on my Instant Pot set to the "normal" setting for similar results, but I keep the lid loose because it can get too hot. You want your broth to be barely bubbling - too much can lead to spongey results.

Once your seitan is cooked, allow it come to room temperature and then refrigerate it out of the broth for about 8 hours or overnight. Save that broth for gravy and roasting!

Roasting
8

On the day you're serving, bring the roast out, unwrap it, and allow it to come to room temperature for about an hour or two. Preheat your oven to 350F. Generously coat the roast with salt and pepper. Mix together the softened vegan butter, rosemary and thyme. You can optionally mince in a few garlic cloves, but I find that the garlic can burn and get bitter during the final broil stage, so I reserve this for the gravy. If you have a meat injector, try injecting melted butter and minced garlic!

9

Add a few splashes of broth to the bottom of the pan so it doesn't dry out. Coat the roast with half of the herbed butter mixture and place it in the pan. Cook for 30 minutes, then coat the roast with the rest of the butter mix and cook for another 30. If it looks like it's drying out, baste the roast with the gravy and melted butter from the bottom of the pan. Coat the roast with half of the dark mushroom soy sauce and broil for a few minutes or until getting brown and crisp, then flip and repeat.

Gravy
10

While the roast is cooking, heat the 2 tbsp vegan butter on medium. Add the shallot and stir until it becomes a bit translucent. Next add the garlic and stir for about a minute. Coat them in the 2T flour and mix as the flour absorbs all the liquid in the pan, stirring so it doesn't stick. Deglaze with the wine, or if you're avoiding wine, add a few splashes of broth until everything comes together. Next add the vegan Worcestershire sauce and 2 cups broth, plus fresh thyme and rosemary. Cook the mixture down until it thickens and is reduced by about half. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

11

Bring out the finished roast, slice, and ladle on the hot gravy to serve.


Nutrition Facts

Servings 8

More Beaf & Holiday Recipes

Vegan Shepard’s PieBy JenThis Vegan Shepard's Pie starts with delicious seitan shreds from washed flour which get dusted with flour and fried, cooked with veggies in a beefy broth, and piled high with the creamiest vegan garlic mashed potatoes you will ever try!
Vegan Prime Rib(less) from Washed Flour 2By JenThis is a new version of my original vegan prime rib(less) roast made from washing flour. I subbed out fresh beetroot for powder to yield a firmer texture, as well as added more beefy flavoring to the mix. Still fancy enough for your holiday table, but easy enough to be enjoyed more often.
Vegan Roast Turkey II | Washed Flour SeitanBy JenThis is a slight variation to my first washed flour turkey recipe. I left out the mushrooms, started with a little more flour for a larger yield, and slightly adjusted the amount of seasonings and tofu. I really twisted the dough when knotting this one and wrapped in a cheesecloth to keep it from expanding in my slow cooker. I think this improved the texture, giving it a better "meat grain," but it's still just as flavorful and juicy as the original.
1 2 3 4 5 13

Ingredients

Washing Flour
 16 cups flour (2kg), divided*NOTE: I used bread flour with 12.7% protein. If using AP flour or anything with less than 11% protein, I recommend using the full 5lb (2.27kg) bag.
 7 cups water, dividedstart with 6 and add a little more as needed
 1 tbsp Methylcellulose optional, added for a more meaty texture
For Simmering
 1 ½ times the beaf variation of this recipe (3 quarts)or use 3 quarts low-sodium vegetable broth plus 1 1/2T dried porcini mushroom powder, 1 1/2T vegan Worcestershire sauce, 5T soy sauce or liquid aminos, 2t Marmite
Beefy Portion - 2/3 of the Dough
 1 1/2 tbsp dried porcini or mushroom powderHighly recommended to provide a beefy, umami flavor.
 1 1/2 tbsp beet root powder, optional, for colorThis may turn a little brown, especially around the outer edges during cooking, but I've had good results with this brand.
 A few drops of vegan red food coloring, optional, for colorI use this in combination with the beetroot to offset the color turning brown.
 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
 1/2 tbsp onion powder
 1 tsp ground black pepper
 1 tsp dried thyme
 1 tsp smoked paprika
 1 tsp sea salt
 1 tbsp soy sauce
 1 tbsp vegan worcestershire saucestore bought or make your own with this recipe
 1 tsp blackstrap molasses This is used to give an irony flavor more than for its sweetness.
Fatty Portion - 1/3 of the Dough
 ½ tsp garlic powder
 ½ tsp salt
 ½ tsp white pepper
 2 tbsp soft vegan butterI used Country Crock plant-based spread
For Roasting
 salt and pepper to season the roast
 a few splashes of reserved broth
 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) vegan butter, softened
 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
 1 tbsp fresh thyme, finely chopped
 A few cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
 1 tbsp dark mushroom soy sauceThis is thicker and darker than regular soy sauce. You can try subbing 1 tbsp regular soy sauce mixed with 1/2 tsp gravy enhancer such as Kitchen Bouquet.
For Gravy, Optional
 2 tbsp vegan butter
 1 large shallot, chopped fine
 3 cloves garlic, minced
 2 tbsp all purpose flour
 ¼ cup dry red vegan wine I used a peppery cabernet
 1 tbsp vegan Worcestershire sauce store bought or make your own with this recipe
 1 ½ cups reserved simmering broth
 6 sprigs fresh thyme
 1 sprig fresh rosemary
 salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Washing Flour
1

Wash that flour! (WTF!) 😊 You can wash the 16 cups of bread flour (or full bag of AP flour) in two batches to make it easier to handle than all in one bowl. I have found that about 6 1/2 cups of water is about perfect for 16 cups of flour, but different flours may vary, so start with 6 cups total and add up to 7 or even a little more if you find it necessary. You're looking for the dough to come together not too sticky, not dry and crumbly. I washed this to the cloudy/hazy water stage. If you leave in too much starch you might have a doughy result.

New to washing flour? Follow steps 1-7 here.

2

While your dough ball(s) are resting in water, prepare your simmering liquid using 1 1/2x this recipe for the vegetable broth base plus beaf variation ingredients, or use 3 quarts (approximately 3L) low-sodium vegetable broth plus 1 1/2T dried porcini mushroom powder, 1 1/2T vegan Worcestershire sauce, 5T soy sauce or liquid aminos, 2t Marmite. Bring the broth up to a boil and let it simmer for at least an hour to develop the flavor before straining.

3

After washing, combine both dough balls (if washed separately) and let the gluten drain for at least 20 minutes. Really wring out the dough to make sure as much excess water as possible has been removed. If adding the 1 tbsp Methylcellulose, make sure the dough ball is cool to start off with, refrigerating it for about 30 minutes if necessary before adding. Use a food processor to integrate it into the dough ball, working in batches if necessary. Then let the dough rest for another 30 minutes or more in the refrigerator to give time for the Methylcellulose to absorb.

Separate the dough into 2/3 and 1/3 portions.

Beefy Portion - 2/3
4

Mix all of the beefy portion ingredients together into a paste. I start by adding a small chunk of the dough in the food processor and add the seasoning paste, then add the rest of the beefy dough portion until it is fully incorporated. Allow to rest on the counter until the gluten has reformed and is strong enough to stretch and knot.

Fatty Portion - 1/3
5

While the beefy portion is resting, add the small fatty portion to the food processor with 1/2 each garlic powder, salt, and white pepper, along with 2T vegan butter. Let this rest for a while so the gluten starts to reform and it can be stretched and rolled out.

Preparing the Prime Rib(less)
6

Separate the beefy portion into 2/3 and 1/3 sections. Stretch and knot the 2/3 section a couple of times, really twisting the dough as you knot to develop the grains. Separate the fat portion into 2 halves. Stretch the first half over the red dough and completely cover it. Then stretch the remaining beefy portion to cover the top and sides of the first layers. Finally, stretch the remaining white dough over the top and sides. Wrap the entire ball as tightly as possible in cheesecloth. This will allow the dough to be firm while retaining its shape and still absorb flavor through the cloth.

7

Place the wrapped dough roll in hot broth. You want the broth to stay at around 190F (85C), and cook the seitan for about 2 hours, rotating once halfway through. I achieve that temperature with my slow cooker on high. I have also used the slow cooker function on my Instant Pot set to the "normal" setting for similar results, but I keep the lid loose because it can get too hot. You want your broth to be barely bubbling - too much can lead to spongey results.

Once your seitan is cooked, allow it come to room temperature and then refrigerate it out of the broth for about 8 hours or overnight. Save that broth for gravy and roasting!

Roasting
8

On the day you're serving, bring the roast out, unwrap it, and allow it to come to room temperature for about an hour or two. Preheat your oven to 350F. Generously coat the roast with salt and pepper. Mix together the softened vegan butter, rosemary and thyme. You can optionally mince in a few garlic cloves, but I find that the garlic can burn and get bitter during the final broil stage, so I reserve this for the gravy. If you have a meat injector, try injecting melted butter and minced garlic!

9

Add a few splashes of broth to the bottom of the pan so it doesn't dry out. Coat the roast with half of the herbed butter mixture and place it in the pan. Cook for 30 minutes, then coat the roast with the rest of the butter mix and cook for another 30. If it looks like it's drying out, baste the roast with the gravy and melted butter from the bottom of the pan. Coat the roast with half of the dark mushroom soy sauce and broil for a few minutes or until getting brown and crisp, then flip and repeat.

Gravy
10

While the roast is cooking, heat the 2 tbsp vegan butter on medium. Add the shallot and stir until it becomes a bit translucent. Next add the garlic and stir for about a minute. Coat them in the 2T flour and mix as the flour absorbs all the liquid in the pan, stirring so it doesn't stick. Deglaze with the wine, or if you're avoiding wine, add a few splashes of broth until everything comes together. Next add the vegan Worcestershire sauce and 2 cups broth, plus fresh thyme and rosemary. Cook the mixture down until it thickens and is reduced by about half. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

11

Bring out the finished roast, slice, and ladle on the hot gravy to serve.

Vegan Prime Rib(less) from Washed Flour 2