Wheat-based meat alternative

SEITAN

This chewy protein is made by washing away the starch from wheat dough.

The clue points to seitan, a protein-rich food made from wheat gluten that’s often used as a meat substitute in vegetarian and vegan cooking. The term comes from Japanese, where it roughly means "made of protein," and it’s known for its chewy, meat-like texture. If you’ve seen mock meats like vegan chicken or beef strips, there’s a good chance they’re seitan-based. The clue is straightforward—no wordplay—just a direct reference to its wheat origin and role as an alternative to meat.