Anyone know a Czech Wheat-Steak Recipe?

Question

Many years ago I visited a Czech family and the mother made a meal of "Wheat Steak" as they called it. She made some dough, then she boiled it in a covered pot, when it floated it was ready. She took it out and using a specific tool designed for this (I asked), she scooped it from the water and sliced it (the tool looks like a large wire-egg-slicer with plier-like handles for scooping and squeezing to cut). Then we each got slices, which were like spongy bread, and a gravy sauce was put on top. It was really good. Similar to what we call Wheat Gluten I guess, but I've never had wheat gluten like that (yes I have other wheat gluten recipes, but I want this specific one). They ate this regularly; perhaps once a month or more.

If you don't have a recipe, do you at least know the Czech name of the product/food?

They were not religious. I recall now that she used some yeast that came from a block of yeast.

Answer 1

These are czech dumplings (knedliky). They are delicious. Some recipies use ground dried mini-baguettes for extra texture. In Czech Republic they also have different "grinds" of flour cause, my Czech ex-girlfriend tried to make them once in the States and they didn;t turn out right. On te other hand, we went to a Czech restaurant and the chef said he used regular unbleached flour to make them. I guess they just take practice.There arealso potato dumplings,but they're different. Dobrou Chut
http://www.recipezaar.com/76670
http://www.netcooks.com/recipes/Breads/Houskove.Knedliky.(Bun.Dumplings).html

Answer 2

I've got more questions than answers. I cannot find anything online about this food. I have lived around Czechs, and never ate, saw anybody eating, or heard anybody talking about eating a Czech-traditional wheat gluten dish. I'm investigating with some friends and will reply with what I learn.

This recipe makes me think of Seventh-Day Adventists. Was this Czech family SDA? The SDAs have recipes like this. You might try searching for "gluten steak" and "adventist" online.

I'll check back when I get more info.

Answer 3

It is called Seitan... http://www.vrg.org/recipes/vjseitan.htm

Gluten steak (seitan)
3 cups gluten flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
4 tbsp. brewer’s yeast
¾ tsp. poultry seasoning (or a blend of sage, rosemary, & thyme)
¼ soya sauce
3 cups water

Broth
12 cups water
½ cup soya sauce
3 tbsp. oil
4 tbsp. poultry seasoning (or a blend of sage, rosemary, & thyme)
1 tbsp. salt
4 onions

Mix all gluten steak ingredients. It works best using your hands.
Let stand for 20 minutes.
Mix all broth ingredients into large pot. Bring to a boil.
While broth is heating up, knead wheat steak ingredients again, then mould into long roll.
Slice roll into ¼” pieces. (Or slice and roll into small “wheat balls”)
Place into boiling broth, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.

*it expands quite a bit in pot!
*these do look like dumplings at first, but let'em sit for a bit--they will slice nicely.
*store in the broth in fridge.

I love the texture and usually fry slices with soy sauce and make yummy sandwiches.