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 is a substitute for soy curls? ›

If you don't like soy curls or don't have them, you can substitute tofu instead. Simply fry it in a pan first, bake it or air fry, then add in at the very end. You can also just use more veggies, tempeh or vegan chicken. The Chik-Style seasoning is totally optional, but so good.

What is Panda Express vegan orange chicken made of? ›

It's made with crispy breaded morsels of Beyond Chicken that are wok-tossed in Panda Express's signature vegan-friendly orange chicken sauce. Best of all, the Beyond Meat orange chicken at Panda Express is completely vegan as-is—no modifications needed!

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.

Can you soak soy curls too long? ›

Soy curls come dehydrated and require soaking before use. Soak in warm water for 10 minutes. Be careful not to soak for too long or they will become mushy.

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 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.

Why did Panda get rid of vegan orange chicken? ›

They have said this was due to the entree being a limited time item, but the popularity should make them change their minds. Now, millions of people will not be able to have a full meal other than sides at Panda Express. The people are outraged as seen in the comments on various social media accounts.

Does Panda Express use MSG in orange chicken? ›

From world-famous orange chicken to delicious chow mein, Panda Express defines American-Chinese cuisine with bold flavors and fresh ingredients. Panda Express entrees and sides contain zero grams of trans fat per serving and adds no MSG in their food.

Is Impossible orange chicken vegan? ›

The Impossible Orange Chicken Lo Mein, a vegan spin on a popular dish currently on the menu, is also utilizing the new meatless chicken—which is breaded with panko crumbs.

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 cause gas? ›

Answer. Excessive soy intake can cause gas in some people. Like beans, soy products are derived from a legume. Some people have a hard time digesting the sugars in legumes which results in gas when eaten in large amounts.

Are soy curls the same as soy chunks? ›

what are soy curls? While Soy Curls are a specific product, the concept behind them is not new. It's essentially just TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) and there are variations of it around the world. Sometimes they are called Soya Chunks too.

How to tell if soy curls are 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.

How much water do you put in soy curls? ›

Soak Soy Curls™

Place 1/2 of an 8 oz. bag of Soy Curls™ (approx. 2 1/2 cups) in a container large enough to cover with warm water and soak for 8-10 minutes to re-hydrate, then drain excess water.

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.

What can you use instead of soy? ›

7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing
  • Tamari.
  • Coconut Aminos.
  • Fish Sauce.
  • Miso Paste.
  • Balsamic Vinegar.
  • Worcestershire Sauce.
  • Oyster Sauce.
Jun 6, 2023

What is an alternative to soy products? ›

There is chick pea-based miso that works well. Other options to try that will impart a unique flavor with a salty component are olive brine, umeboshi vinegar (also called ume plum vinegar) or balsamic vinegar plus a fair amount of salt. You can also use coconut aminos with a bit of molasses (to darken the color).

References

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