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Vegan Sesame “Chicken”

Vegan Sesame Chicken in white bowl topped with sesame seeds and green onion

5 from 19 reviews

This Vegan Sesame Chicken is saucy, sticky, and perfectly sweet. A delicious gluten-free + plant-based take on the classic Honey Sesame Chicken.

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Prep the Soy Curls: Bring 3 cups (700 ml) of water to a boil in a pot. Add the soy curls to a large glass bowl, then carefully pour the water over the soy curls. Let soak for 7 to 10 minutes, then drain. Press the soy curls thoroughly to remove excess water. In the meantime, measure and prepare all remaining ingredients
  2. Sauté: add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil to a pan over medium-high heat; once warm, add white portions of the green onions and the garlic. Cook for 60 seconds, then add the rehydrated soy curls. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally to brown the soy curls.
  3. Prep the Sauce: while the soy curls sauté, mix the broth, tamari, maple syrup, and vinegar together in a small bowl. Whisk the arrowroot powder or cornstarch into the sauce; keep mixing until it is completely dissolved.
  4. Combine: Pour the sauce into the pan with the soy curls, mixing everything together well to avoid any clumping of the sauce. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sauce has thickened to your liking.
  5. Serve: Divide the soy curls into serving bowls over rice and vegetables (or as desired). Serve warm; leftovers will last in the fridge for up to 5 days and are best reheated on the stovetop.

Notes

  • “Chicken” Substitutes: you can replace the soy curls with either 16 ounces of super firm tofu or tempeh. Soy curls expand a lot after soaking, so you can use more of these substitutions and still have it be saucy. You can also use up to 16 ounces of another plant-based chicken alternative, such as Gardein.
  • Maple syrup can be swapped with agave, coconut sugar, or brown sugar. If you are using granulated sweetener, make sure to whisk it into the wet ingredients until dissolved before adding it to the pan.
  • Oil-Free: sauté the vegetables and soy curls in 3-4 tablespoons of water or vegetable broth instead of oil. I would recommend adding the teaspoon of sesame oil at the end for flavor, but you can leave it out if you wish.

Keywords: vegan honey sesame chicken, soy curl recipes, vegan asian recipes, recipes with soy curls, vegan sesame chicken, healthy sesame chicken, vegetarian sesame chicken