Add all the seitan burger ingredients EXCEPT the vital wheat gluten to a food processor, and process until smooth. Next, add about half of the vital wheat gluten and process until mostly smooth. Then add the remaining half and process until mostly combined, without over-processing.
Transfer the mixture to a clean surface, like a cutting board or countertop, and knead the dough for about 30 seconds, but don't go overboard. Once you see strands of gluten, the dough is ready. (See process shots above for a visual.)
Divide into 8 equal pieces for even cooking. I use a kitchen scale to make them perfectly equal, but this is not necessary. You can eyeball it.
Roll each piece into a ball and then use a rolling pin to flatten each one into a patty. They will expand during cooking, so make them a little flatter than you'd like the final result to be. As you're stretching the burgers, you should see them spring back a little.
Use an oven-safe dish with a lid, like a dutch oven, and add a thin layer of vegetable broth to the bottom. Then layer your seitan patties on top, adding more broth in between the layers of patties. Add enough broth to ensure the patties are completely covered.
Then place the lid on top and bake in your preheated oven for 80 minutes, carefully flipping them at the 40-minute mark. Be very careful when flipping to prevent breaking the patties. When the 80 minutes is complete, remove from the oven.
If you're making these in advance, transfer the patties to a container to refrigerate overnight and finish cooking on the day you're serving. (Reserve the broth for drinking, it's delicious, don't dump it! ;) )
Treat these as you would raw burgers. They are NOT ready to eat straight out of the oven. Finish off your seitan burger on the grill, or in a frying pan. Brush a little oil to prevent sticking and sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Then grill or pan fry for a few minutes on each side until brown and heated through.
Enjoy with burger buns and all your favourite toppings.
Notes
If possible, prepare your burgers one day in advance of grilling. These taste best when refrigerated overnight, and grilled the next day. However, they're still great if grilled straight after making.Weigh your vital wheat gluten for the most accurate results. Relying on cup measurements could result in a seitan burger that's dry and dense as measuring tends to pack more flour into the cups when compared to weight.Use salty, flavourful broth for the best results since there is no other added salt to this recipe.Try to portion your mixture into 8 equal size pieces for even cooking and similar-sized patties. If you want them to be perfect, use a kitchen scale to weigh the pieces.Roll your patties fairly flat, as they will grow and almost double in size during cooking.You want the patties to simmer in the broth and NOT boil, so they cook slowly, for the best texture. Don't increase the oven temperature in an attempt to cook these faster.Your seitan burger patties will keep in the fridge for 4-5 days or freeze, layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking for up to 3 months.