Beef vs Seitan
Wheat gluten is the densest common plant protein and takes marinade like meat. It is not coeliac-safe, but for everyone else it is the closest textural match to braised beef.
Per per kg
Greenhouse gaseskg CO₂e / kg
Beef
99.5
Seitan
2.5
Land usem² / kg
Beef
326
Seitan
4
Proteing / 100 g
Beef
26
Seitan
25
Saturated fatg / 100 g
Beef
6.2
Seitan
0.4
Source: Poore & Nemecek (2018), Science · Our World in Data · USDA FoodData Central
Verdict
Seitan matches beef's protein density with almost no saturated fat.
Questions people ask
Is seitan a complete protein?
It is low in lysine. Serve with beans, lentils or soy sauce-based braises to balance the profile.