Seitan Fried "Chicken" Tenders

By
Ariane Resnick
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Ariane Resnick
Ariane Resnick is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author who takes great joy in shattering the image of what, and how, nutritionists eat.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/3/21
Seitan Fried "Chicken" Tenders

The Spruce / Ana Zelic
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Marinate: 60 mins
Total: 90 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 8 pieces
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
388 Calories
19g Fat
21g Carbs
33g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 388
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 95mg 32%
Sodium 1929mg 84%
Total Carbohydrate 21g 8%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Protein 33g
Calcium 488mg 38%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This vegan "chicken" dish is deep-fried and very tasty. Deep-fried seitan and a blend of spices create a dish that's surprisingly similar in appearance and taste to fried chicken. The dish comes together quickly, with no marinating time necessary.

Purchasing prepared seitan will omit any time needed to create the protein out of vital wheat gluten and spices. Seitan is available in chunks, cubes, slices, and steaks. For this recipe, you can purchase the chunks for nugget-sized pieces of fried "chicken," or cut the steaks vertically so that they are shaped like long chicken tenders.

For best results with the coating, use a vegan egg product like Just Eggs or Follow Your Heart that duplicates the full volume of eggs.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose (wheat or gluten free blend) flour
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rubbed sage
  • 1 pound seitan (steaks cut into tenders or chunks)
  • 1 cup prepared vegan egg replacer
  • Neutral oil, such as sunflower, sufficient for deep frying

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Seitan Fried "Chicken" Tenders ingredients

    The Spruce / Ana Zelic

  2. Mix the flour and seasonings together in a medium sized mixing bowl.

    Mix the flour and seasonings together in a medium sized mixing bowl

    The Spruce / Ana Zelic

  3. Place egg replacer in a shallow bowl and set up a dredging station of the seasoned flour, egg replacer, and seitan pieces.

    bowls with seitan, flour mixture and egg mixture

    The Spruce / Ana Zelic

  4. Dredge seitan pieces in the flour, then dunk them in the egg replacer, then dip them back into the flour again. Press gently if needed so that there is a solid outer coating of flour.

    seitan coated in the flour mixture

    The Spruce / Ana Zelic

  5. Heat oil over medium high heat in a large skillet until it reaches 375 degrees.

    oil in a pan

    The Spruce / Ana Zelic

  6. Fry chunks of "chicken" in the oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side, until both sides are golden brown. Drain pieces once removed from the pan and serve with vegan ranch dressing, vegan tarter sauce, or vegan soy dipping sauce.

    Seitan Fried "Chicken" Tenders frying in a pan

    The Spruce / Ana Zelic