Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (2024)

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Seriously the best vegan orange chicken and rice made with soy curls and served with sautéed bok choy. A whole foods plant based, gluten free and oil free recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite.

Jump to RecipeVegan Orange Chicken

A riff on our vegan chicken with broccoli recipe, this homemade version of a fast food favorite is not to be missed. You have air fried or baked soy curls with crispy edges swimming in a luscious homemade orange sauce. What’s not to love, right ?!

100% better than any takeout! Panda Express has nothing on this!

The Orange Sauce

  • It’s a classic sticky sweet and sour sauce made with simple ingredients: orange juice, tamari, rice vinegar, sweetener, garlic and ginger with an optional pinch of chili flakes or hot sauce for heat.
  • You can adapt sweetness and tanginess to your taste and use a compliant sweetener for WFPB and Plantricious guidelines compliance. Remember that maple syrup is allowed on WFPB diets but only date paste is Plantricious compliant.
  • You’ll notice that my sauce doesn’t call for a slurry of cornstarch because it isn’t needed. The soy curls are already lightly coated in tapioca and as soon as you’ll add them to the sauce it will thicken it into a perfect glaze.

Recipe Variations

  • Cauliflower. Simply replace the soy curls with cauliflower florets, bake at 450”F for 20 to 25 minutes or until golden around the edges then toss in the orange sauce. Alternatively you could make a batter of equal parts plant milk and whole wheat pastry flour to dip the cauliflower then toss them in some panko bread crumbs before baking for extra crispness.
  • Tofu. Use one block (14 oz) of drained and pressed tofu torn or cut into pieces, coated in tapioca and air fried (or baked at 400”F for 25 minutes or so) before dipping it in the sauce. Easy peasy!
  • Tempeh. A plain block of tempeh cut into strips or bite size pieces could also be used here if desired using the same recipe below.

what to serve with:

roasted broccoli
coconut spinach rice
vegan fried rice
ramen noodles or chow mein
inside lettuce wraps
peanut noodles
even mashed potatoes.

P.S. If you made this recipe don’t forget to come back here to rate it, snap a photo and tag me with #VeggieSociety on Instagram, it always makes my day ~ Florentina Xo’s

Buy Soy Curls Here!

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (7)

how to make vegan orange chicken

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (8)

5 from 7 votes

Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls)

Seriously the best vegan orange chicken and rice made with soy curls and served with sautéed bok choy. A whole foods plant based, gluten free and oil free recipe that is sure to become a new family favorite.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Soaking Time:20 minutes mins

Total Time:45 minutes mins

Ingredients

Orange Sauce

  • 1 cup orange juice freshly squeezed
  • 6 Tablespoons tamari
  • 5 Tablespoons maple syrup or sugar (replace with date paste for Plantricious compliance)
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar (+ more to taste)
  • 1 inch ginger root (peelt + grated)
  • 2-3 cloves garlic grated
  • zest from 1 orange
  • 1 pinch red chili flakes optional to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer or oven to 375 “F.

  • Soak the soy curls in hot water for 20 minutes then use your hands to squeeze out as much of the moisture as you can. (Feel free to break them into smaller bite size pieces if desired).

  • Transfer to a mixing bowl and sprinkle with the tapioca (or cornstarch). Toss to coat well.

  • Place your soy curls in the air fryer basket making sure to shake off any tapioca excess. (If using the oven method place on a parchment lined baking sheet preferably without touching each other).

  • Air fry for 13 to 15 minutes until just crips around the edges.

    Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (9)

Make the Orange Sauce

  • Combine all of the sauce ingredients and add the sauce to a medium size skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 20 seconds or so to tame the garlic.

  • Add the air fried ( or baked) soy curls and toss everything until nicely coated all over. Cook an additional minute until the sauce thickens a bit and glazes the soy curls to your liking.

  • Serve over rice and sautéed bok choy garnished with sesame seeds, scallions or cilantro.

  • To make this sauce Plantricious compliant make sure to sweeten it with date paste + water instead of sugar or maple syrup.

    Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (10)

Notes

  • The recipe makes enough sauce to coat twice the amount of soy curls in my honest opinion. However, many people prefer extra sauce on the side when serving their orange “ chick’n with rice so you’ll have to decide for yourself what you prefer.
  • The bok choy in the photos is simply sautéed in a splash of water and tamari sauce until wilted. You can dress it with a drizzle of sesame oil if desired.
  • You can rehydrate the soy curls and mix the sauce in advance. It is recommended you cook them just before eating for the best texture, that being said they still make really great leftovers.
  • Resist the temptation to add any thickener / slurry to the sauce. The light dusting of tapioca on the soy curls will thicken it perfectly, i promise! Only if you plan to use this sauce on its own or in another recipe would you want to add cornstarch, tapioca or agar agar to thicken it.
  • Depending on the type of sweetener used (maple syrup, date paste, coconut nectar or sugar, white or brown sugar), your sauce might be lighter or darker in color.

Nutrition

Calories: 227kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1514mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 31mg | Calcium: 130mg | Iron: 4mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: plant based, soy curls, vegan chicken, vegan orange chicken, wfpb

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 227kcal

Author: Florentina

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Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (2024)

FAQs

What are the ingredients in soy curls? ›

Soy curls are made of non-GMO soybeans. The process of making them starts with soaking the soybeans in water. They're then cooked and stirred to break the beans down into mush. Then the mush is extruded (i.e., pushed through a small opening) into stringy shapes, which are dried at a low temperature.

What is a substitute for soy curls? ›

Soy Curl Substitute: while soy curls can be easy to find in some parts of the world, they can be very difficult to find, or very costly in other places. Soy Chunks, Soya Chunks, TVP Chunks are all basically the same thing, just in different shapes, so try looking out for these instead.

Do you have to soak soy curls? ›

Soy curls come dehydrated, so you will need to soak them in hot water to reconstitute them first. They have a nice chewy texture and a very neutral flavor, so they're a great canvas for any of your favorite spices and sauces.

What is vegan orange chicken made of? ›

2 Sticky Vegan Orange Chicken

Transform tofu with a simple sauce of orange juice, tamari, ginger, sriracha, maple syrup, and cornstarch. This basic recipe comes together in about a half hour, and it uses a brilliant tofu freezing technique to get the chewy, meaty texture just right.

Are soy curls healthier than tofu? ›

To prepare soy curls, you rehydrate them, squeeze out the excess liquid, and then marinate them or cook them in whatever recipe you want. They have a very chewy texture and are high in fiber, even more so than tofu.

Are soy curls good for you? ›

In addition to protein and healthy fats, soy curls are high in fiber, containing 6 grams of fiber per serving, which can help aid in digestion and prevent constipation. They are also a good source of iron, calcium, and other essential minerals that are important for maintaining a healthy body.

Do soy curls go rancid? ›

Soy Curls are an all-natural product that do not contain any preservatives or additives. They also contain natural fats and will go rancid when stored on your pantry for long periods of time.

Do soy curls need to be refrigerated? ›

Soy Curls™ are an all natural product and do not contain any preservatives or additives. Keep them refrigerated or frozen to keep them fresh.

How do you get water out of soy curls? ›

Drain and pat dry, squeezing liquid out of the soy curls(I use my salad spinner to remove liquid then pat dry in a towel). 2. Toss soy curls with 2 Tbsp cornstarch. In a large skillet over medium high heat with 2 Tbsp oil cook soy curls until well browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 7 minutes.

How to make soy curls not soggy? ›

When you soak soy curls in boiling water or broth, they plump up considerably. At this point, they can be drained of liquid and pressed a little to remove the extra moisture. Prepared this way, soy curls have a texture that's sort of similar to chicken in its chewiness.

Do soy curls taste like tofu? ›

Soy curls are similar to tofu in that they don't really have any flavor of their own but they act like sponges and will soak up whatever you give them.

Are soy curls considered a whole food? ›

Soy Curls are minimally processed, and they are compliant in the Whole Food Plant Based Diet. Bonus, they are a great source of plant protein too! If you haven't tried soy curls yet, then you are totally missing out.

Why did Panda get rid of vegan orange chicken? ›

Why this petition matters. Panda Express have discontinued serving the Beyond Meat orange chicken, the only vegan/vegetarian entree option. They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds.

What is most vegan chicken made of? ›

Vegan chicken is more sustainable, and healthier, and it's made primarily from plant-based products. These include vital wheat gluten, soy protein, pea protein, tofu, and jackfruit, which are rich in protein, calcium, fiber, and sodium—making the substitutes a perfect supplement for real meat.

What is the Chinese equivalent of orange chicken? ›

In Chinese, this dish is known as "陳皮雞", literally "dried citrus peel chicken", referring to dried orange or tangerine peel. However, the taste and recipes of this dish differ due to cultural and geographical factors.

Are soy curls considered processed? ›

Soy Curls

These protein-packed strips are different than soy products like tofu and tempeh because they are considered minimally processed. According to Butler Foods, soy curls are made by boiling whole non-GMO soybeans in water. They contain no other additives or preservatives.

What ingredient is often hidden in soy? ›

Soy is sometimes found in the following:

Grains prepared with soy (e.g. cereals, breads, chips, crackers, pasta, rice, tortillas and rice) Vegetable gum. Vegetable starch. Vegetable broth.

What are the ingredients in soy skincare? ›

In cosmetics and personal care products, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Soybean Glycerides and Soy Acid may be used in the formulation of bath products, cleansing products, eye makeup, hair conditioners, permanent waves, shampoos, suntan products, and other hair, skin and makeup products.

Are soy curls the same as soy chunks? ›

*Soy Curls are available in the USA, but are similar to 'soy chunks' in other parts of the world. Although Butler products are hard to find in stores, they can be bought from Amazon or directly from Butler.

References

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