Vegan Orange Chicken Recipe (soy curls) (2024)

FAQs

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.

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.

Soy curls are made from only one ingredient: whole soybeans. This means they provide fiber (6 grams per serving) and a good amount of protein (11 grams per serving, 3 more than tofu). Many other chicken substitutes contain oil, protein isolates, and other processed ingredients.

Tofu – If you can't find soy curls, you can substitute them with extra firm tofu instead. Simply pan-fry, air fry, or bake the tofu cubes first, then add them in with the stir fry veggies at the very end.

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.

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.

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.

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'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.

Soy Curls come dry and need to be rehydrated in order to cook them. They will increase in size as they soak, so an 8-ounce package will actually weigh about 1½ pounds after it's been rehydrated. You need to soak for only about 10 minutes. They then need to be drained of any excess water.

Are soy curls the same as soy chunks? ›

Soy Curls: soy curls are of course a soy product that are just dehydrated soy chunks. You can get them from Butler's Foods. They are a great product to always keep on hand because they last a while, they are a great source of plant-based protein, and are very versatile!

Soy curls are a good source of dietary fiber, offering around 6 grams of fiber per 30-gram serving. Fiber is one of the most crucial dietary elements that plays various roles in the body, such as promoting healthy digestion, regulating blood sugar levels, and reducing the risk of heart disease.

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.

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.

Place soy curls in a bowl then pour 2 cups boiled water over soy curls. Let stand 10 minutes to rehydrate. 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).

Vegan options at Panda Express are solid. Bring on the meatless orange chicken! Panda Express has been hard at work getting vegan options on the menu now that it's ramping up plant-based offerings like so many other fast-food chains.

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. *The dish uses a proprietary batter and sauce.

Water, Wheat Gluten (10%), Vegetable Oils (Maize, Sunflower), Thickener (E461), Pea Protein (4%), Wheat Starch (2%), Bamboo Fibre, Preservative (E326), Salt, Yeast Extract, Stabiliser (E425), Spices, Sugar, Natural Flavouring, Pea Fibre, Smoked Salt, Sage.

How to make the orange chicken sauce. The orange sauce is made from a mixture of the orange juice and zest, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and rice vinegar. This is bubbled up in the wok until slightly thickened. The chicken is then added back in, and tossed in the sauce until fully coated.