Description
This delicious Vegan Fried Chicken recipe features crispy, flavorful seitan ‘chicken’ strips made from vital wheat gluten and simmered in vegan broth before being coated in a seasoned batter and fried to golden perfection. Perfect for a plant-based comfort food craving, these crispy pieces are great served with classic vegan sides for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Seitan Chicken
- 1 1/2 cups vital wheat gluten
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups vegan no chicken broth (e.g., Better Than Bouillon)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 cups vegan no chicken broth (for simmering)
Buttermilk Mixture (Wet Batter)
- 1 cup unsweetened soy milk
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Dry Batter
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
For Frying
- Heat safe oil such as vegetable or peanut oil
Instructions
- Prepare the seitan chicken: In a large bowl, combine the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Mix well to distribute all dry ingredients evenly.
Next, add 1 1/2 cups vegan no chicken broth and 2 tablespoons olive oil to the dry mix. Stir until it begins to come together into a dough. - Knead the dough: Transfer the mixture to a clean surface and knead with your hands for about 1-2 minutes until it forms a large, slightly sticky ball of dough. This kneading activates the gluten for the chewy texture.
- Simmer the seitan: Break or slice the dough into two halves. Bring 5 cups of vegan no chicken broth to a boil in a medium pot. Place the dough halves into the boiling broth, then reduce to a simmer and cover. Let simmer for 25 minutes to cook and firm up the seitan.
After simmering, remove the seitan pieces and set them on a cutting board to cool. - Prepare the wet batter (buttermilk mixture): In a medium bowl, whisk together the unsweetened soy milk, all-purpose flour, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, black pepper, and apple cider vinegar until smooth and well combined.
- Prepare the dry batter: In another medium bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, and oregano. Stir until evenly blended.
- Slice the seitan: Cut the cooled seitan ‘chicken’ into strips, aiming for smaller or thinner pieces for a better crispy texture. Uniformity is not necessary.
- Coat the seitan strips: Using one hand for dry and one hand for wet, coat each seitan strip first in the dry mixture, then dip into the buttermilk mixture, and finally coat again in the dry mixture. Place coated pieces on a paper towel-lined plate to rest while coating the rest.
- Heat the oil for frying: In a large pot or pan with high sides, pour in a few inches of vegetable or peanut oil. Heat to 350°F (175°C) using a thermometer for accuracy and safety.
- Fry the vegan chicken: Carefully fry the coated seitan strips in batches, cooking for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy. Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain temperature.
Use a slotted spoon or tongs to remove the fried pieces and drain briefly on paper towels. - Serve: Serve the vegan fried chicken immediately for best crispiness. Ideal accompaniments include vegan mac and cheese, baked beans, buttermilk biscuits, or coleslaw. Enjoy your plant-based comfort meal!
Notes
- Make sure to use vital wheat gluten for the best texture in the seitan chicken.
- Maintaining the oil temperature at 350°F is key for achieving a crispy crust without greasy results.
- Apple cider vinegar in the buttermilk mixture helps mimic traditional buttermilk’s tang and aids in batter binding.
- Allow the seitan to cool slightly before slicing to ensure clean cuts and better texture.
- Use a thermometer to monitor frying temperature to avoid undercooked or burnt coating.
- Try different seasoning blends in the batter to customize flavor to your liking.
- Leftover fried seitan is best enjoyed fresh but can be reheated in an air fryer to restore crispiness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
