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.

Are soy curls healthy? ›

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.

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.

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.

Are soy curls less processed than tofu? ›

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's the difference between soy curls and tofu? ›

What's the difference between soy curls and tofu? Both soy curls and tofu have a neutral flavor and are made from, you guessed it, soy. The major difference, though, is that tofu is pressed into a block and soy curls are formed as small dehydrated strips with a chewy texture.

Do soy curls make you gassy? ›

Answer. Excessive soy intake can cause gas in some people. Like beans, soy products are derived from a legume.

Are soy curls healthier than chicken? ›

Soy curls contain some fat, but they are generally low in fat compared to meat-based protein sources. They are especially low in saturated fat, often contributing to heart disease and other health problems.

Are soy curls a processed food? ›

Soy Curls are minimally processed, and they are compliant in the Whole Food Plant Based Diet.

Why did Panda get rid of vegan orange chicken? ›

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 Panda Express orange chicken made of? ›

Ingredients: dark meat chicken, water, sugar, distilled vinegar, modified food starch, corn starch, potato starch, contains less than 2% of: wheat, orange extract, caramel color, salt, garlic, phosphoric acid, rice wine, sesame oil.

Is Panda Express plant-based orange chicken vegan? ›

According to chief brand officer Andrea Cherng, the restaurant chain has seen “incredible demand” for its vegan orange chicken, officially dubbed Beyond the Original Orange Chicken, which led to the current limited-time launch at all 2,300 locations nationwide.

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.

How do you know if soy curls have gone bad? ›

The most obvious sign that soy curls have gone bad is a change in smell. They should have a neutral odor; if they smell sour or strange, it might indicate that they're no longer good. In addition to smell, look for any visible mold or discoloration. Remember, when in doubt, it's best to throw it out!

Can you eat raw soy curls? ›

Short Answer: Yes! You always want to rehydrate soy curls before eating them. This is because: 1 - Soy curls are bland AF if you don't rehydrate and flavor them.

Are soy curls ultra processed? ›

If you're new to soy curls, don't panic! They might seem super processed or hard to work with, but they're actually neither. Soy curls are minimally processed. They're made by pressing soy beans and drying them out.

What are Butler soy curls made of? ›

How are Soy Curls™ made? Our soybeans are grown in the USA on a family farm, certified Non-GMO and grown without chemical pesticides. We soak the beans in spring water (no chlorine). Then the beans are stirred while being cooked.

Are soy curls the same as soy chunks? ›

Soy Curl Substitute for vegan satay skewers

Soy Chunks, Soya Chunks, and TVP Chunks are all basically the same thing, just in different shapes, so try looking out for those instead. You could also try subbing extra-firm tofu but it won't work exactly the same.

Are soy curls and TVP the same thing? ›

No, soy curls and TVP are not the exactly the same thing. Though they look similar, can be used interchangeably, offer similar textures and can both be used as meat substitutes, they aren't exactly the same thing.

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