This was originally going to be a steak substitute; needless to say, it didn't quite work out.
This recipe is not exactly fast; provide about an hour, or perhaps two hours if one needs to steer others away from a hot stove.
These cutlets are crisp on the outside, while remaining moist and juicy on the inside. Even if they aren't suitably steaklike, they are nevertheless quite tasty. The mushrooms provide a rich, earthy flavor; the gluten knots give a bit of chewy texture.
This recipe calls for lots of frying. Double-frying, in fact. This is not air food.
Ingredients that may or may not be readily available
Time to go shopping.

- 75 grams (about 3 ounces) dried gluten knots
- 13-15 large dried black mushrooms
- 1/4 cup rolled oats
- 1/4-1/2 cup soy flour
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- water, milk, or 1 egg
- vegetable shortening or cooking oil
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1-1/2 tbsp steak sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Dried gluten knots and dried mushrooms can be purchased from your local Asian grocery or international foods market.
A word of caution regarding wheat gluten.
Information regarding the consumption of complete and incomplete proteins may be viewed here.
Step One: heat water to boiling
Place the gluten knots in one heat-resistant bowl; the mushrooms in another heat-resistant bowl.Boil sufficient water to cover the mushrooms and the gluten knots.
Pour the water into both containers; let soak until rehydrated. The gluten knots and mushrooms should soften in approximately fifteen minutes.
Step Two: break out the blender.
Pour the mushrooms into a mixing bowl. Add rolled oats, soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and steak sauce.
Do not blend the softened gluten knots; slice them into thin strips and add to the liquified mushrooms.
Add soy flour in small amounts and mix; check in between additions of flour to see if the mushroom and gluten mixture has sufficiently stiffened to make patties.
Step Five: take a moment to read about cryptography.
Steps Three and Four are not your concern.
Cooking with code
Why is there information about cryptography in this recipe?
Programming can be much like cooking; one needs to follow certain steps in order to get the results one wants. Likewise, there may be more than one way to program code, to make a vegetable patty, or to paint a picture.
It is our view that any exposure to the underpinnings of such technologies may introduce others, however slightly, to a bit of knowledge that might otherwise remain obscured.
Cooking with code is both an art and a science.
If one cannot find dried gluten knots, one may try substituting high gluten flour. Add water, and knead until the strands of gluten form. Neither simple substitution ciphers nor substitution of high gluten flour for dried gluten knots will prevent the compromise of confidential data. Should cryptanalysis of any kind be a concern, please enjoy one's double-fried breaded mushroom and gluten knots while one can.
Step Six: heat oil and fry stuff.
Not while reading, of course.
Guvf ernqvyl qrpbqrq zrffntr fubhyq uneqyl cnff sbe n zrffntr rapelcgrq sbe frphevgl checbfrf.
Wkh sulru olqh lv urw13 hqfrghg. Wklv olqh lv hqfrghg zlwk d fdhvdu flskhu.
Place water, milk, or 1 beaten egg in a bowl. Soy milk or some other substitute could be used here; it's just for moistening the patties so the bread crumbs will adhere.
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
Step Seven: bread cutlets and fry again!
Place 1/2" of cooking oil or vegetable shortening in the pan, again on medium heat. Place the bread crumbs on a plate. Dip the cutlets in the bowl of water, milk, or beaten egg. Bread both sides of the cutlet. Fry each side for 2-3 minutes, or until coating is crispy.
-
-
Iamsteven
Nov 9, 2011 @ 8:21 am | delete
- Informative lens, i think i learned a thing or two, keep up the good work
-
-
-
NevermoreShirts
Nov 6, 2011 @ 9:00 am | delete
- Creative cooking!
-
-
-
JoshK47
Nov 6, 2011 @ 8:54 am | delete
- Nice job!
-
-
-
Noctambulant
Oct 25, 2011 @ 1:48 am | delete
- I always enjoy the random diversion in the middle of your recipes...:)
Do you work as a chef?
-
-
-
elegiac
Oct 26, 2011 @ 4:43 am | delete
- Thank you for your kind words :-) I like to pretend I can cook, sometimes; it would probably lose much of its fun if I had to do so all the time.
-
- Load More
Brought to you by OCHO Candy
GoodVeg Recipe Finder
-
Blueberry Citrus Preserves
Preserves are the easiest way to extend the berry season, mainly because they do not involve pectin or gel points, terms that often send novice preservers running for cover.... »
GoodVeg: Mainstreaming vegetarian and vegan lifestyles since 2011.
Connect with GoodVeg
This author recommends...
-
Cooking with code: stock the pantry with three vegetarian meat substitutes
Dehydrated gluten, dried soy chunks, and textured vegetable protein provide quic... -
Cooking with code: Cooking with dehydrated gluten
Sometimes one doesn't have the availability to knead gluten, stretch it out, boi... -
Cooking with code: a vegetarian recipe miscellany
Lenses may, during the publishing process, become difficult to locate. We seek t... -
Cooking with code: Maple vegetarian breakfast sausage
This is a simple recipe for breakfast sausage patties made with textured vegetab...