Vegan Popcorn Chicken
The popular golden, crunchy, bite sized popcorn chicken goes all vegan in our kitchen.
A hot favorite with the kids and adults is the popcorn chicken; you get it in a cup in various fast foods – great finger foods for snacks or on the go. Arjun came up with this vegan versions and I bet it tastes as good as the real chicken. We have used the soy proteins/TVP here, commonly known as Nutrela and easily available in all Indian grocery stores as nuggets or granules. The nuggets work best for this recipe. We have double coated the nuggets for a thicker and crunchier outside; do it once if you are lazy or do not need a thick and crunchy coat.
Vegan Popcorn Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1.5 Cups Dry Soy Chunks or Nuggets/TVP
- Water
- 2 Garlic Cloves, Mashed
- 1″ Ginger, Grated
- Salt
For the coating:
- 3.5 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Corn Starch/Corn Flour
- 1 Cup Water
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Any other spice if you want to use (Optional)
- 1 Cup Bread Crumbs
- Oil for deep frying
Preparation:Boil about 4 Cups of water with mashed garlic and grated fresh ginger. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt & add the soy chunks/nuggets to the water. Cover & Soak for about 15 Minutes. There is no harm done if they soak longer than 15 minutes. Just don’t leave it overnight:-)
Drain the Soy Chunks, and cool. Gently squeeze out some water out of the nuggets (by wrapping them in a cheese cloth or paper towels or between the palm of your hands), they will still stay soft after doing this. Set the nuggets aside.
Combine the all purpose flour and one cup of water and stir till smooth and lump free. Divide this thick batter in to 2 equal halves in two wide bottomed bowls/deep dishes.
In a zip lock bag pour in the corn flour/corn starch.
In another zip lock bag, combine the bread crumbs, black pepper, salt and garlic powder (+ any other spices if you are using them). Shake them till well combined.
Take all the nuggets and add them to one of the bowls containing the flour batter. Toss them well till all the nuggets are well coated on all sides. Toss all the batter coated nuggets into the zip lock bag containing the corn flour/corn starch. Lock the back and give a good shake till all the nuggets are coated with the corn flour.
Pour out the nuggets into the other bowl/dish containing the flour batter. Toss again till the nuggets are well coated on all sides. Now pour out the nuggets in the bag with the bread crumbs and spices. Shake the bag really really well to coat the nuggets evenly on all sides.
Heat oil and a pan. (There should be enough oil for the nuggets to be completely deep fried); You will know that the oil is hot and ready, when you drop a pinch of bread crumb in the oil and it sizzles back right up to the top. Add the nuggets to the oil and fry them till golden brown. (If you have used a smaller pan, fry them in batches). Drain on a paper towel.
Serve hot with your favorite sauce/ketchup/chutney.
Great for parties and if you are planning on pick up foods for kids and adults.
Related Posts:
Khandvi: Layered Chickpea Swirls
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January 3rd, 2010 at 7:23 pm
What a great idea to use soy chunks. They look so yummy. Love that extra crunchy coating!
January 3rd, 2010 at 7:27 pm
This is a sure winner. Great one Soma. Happy New Year to you and the family
January 3rd, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Will you adopt me? Please? please?? This is sooooo my kinda dish! I could eat it all day long. Gorgeous pics. You are a super star!
January 3rd, 2010 at 8:00 pm
That looks so good.. love the cruncy texture.
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:16 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Recipes and Cuisine and Soma Rathore, topsy_top20k. topsy_top20k said: Eating chicken the Vegan Way: Popcorn Chicken http://www.ecurry.com/blog/starters-snacks/vegan-popcorn-chicken/ [...]
January 3rd, 2010 at 9:34 pm
That looks delicious and tasty
Cheers,
Rosa
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:11 pm
The title is so catchy Soma, for a moment I was confused. But after reading the recipe I am so impressed. The pictures are so stunning.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:21 pm
Hi Soma, I got so curious with the title and after I read the complete post I was thoroughly impressed. I have to try this soon. Just loved the idea. Will surely let you know once I have tried this. Many thanks for sharing.
Would love to hear from u some day at my blog.
January 3rd, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Great one Soma! and the pictures are so stunning and tempting….I am sure my son will love this…will try this one soon and let you know….Thanks for sharing the recipe
January 4th, 2010 at 1:35 am
When ever mom made something with soya when i was at home i neve rliked it, even though she used to be anrry with me telling it is really healthy.
I love this idea though looks so good.
January 4th, 2010 at 1:40 am
these look really yummy and tempting!
(in fact, they look very similar to the popcorn chicken at KFC – which used to be one of my favs before i went vegetarian) thanks for sharing the recipe 
January 4th, 2010 at 2:14 am
SUch a lovely dish soma, will try out soon..thanks for sharing..
January 4th, 2010 at 3:37 am
hey..it looks lovely..will try soon…
thanks for sharing..
January 4th, 2010 at 5:42 am
[...] Vegan Popcorn Chicken | eCurry – The Recipe Blog [...]
January 4th, 2010 at 5:43 am
That looks so so good. I hate deep frying in my ill-ventilated kitchen but this recipe may be well worth it!
January 4th, 2010 at 6:05 am
Vegan popcorn chicken – who knew?! Looks fantastic though
All the best for a wonderful 2010 to you and your family!
January 4th, 2010 at 7:43 am
[...] Vegan Popcorn Chicken | eCurry – The Recipe Blog [...]
January 4th, 2010 at 9:27 am
OMG- It looks exactly like the KFC ’s one!
Wish U a Wonderful Blogging Year Soma
January 4th, 2010 at 11:38 am
How innovative! For some time after seeing the title in my feeds, I wondered what it meant and then guessed it could be soya. I’ve never had much luck with these products.
January 4th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
First time I’ve seen these. They look so crispy. Happy New Year.
January 4th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Wow! After the recent deep-frying failure in my own “ill-ventilated kitchen” (I hear you, Nupur), I am charged to try these nuggets. Addictive.
Happy New Year, Soma!
January 4th, 2010 at 4:16 pm
I’m confused. Vegans abhor the killing, eating and/or use of animals…..yet they want to eat something that reminds them of eating an animal? Seems hypocritical somehow. C’est la vie.
That said, these look yummy and I’d totally try some. (Then again, I eat everything.)
January 4th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Wow, these chicken popcorns look yummie, great to serve as appetizer…will definitely give a try…hope you had a nice Holiday.
January 4th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Wow this sounds so good! Love fried foods so this would be a great one to try!
January 4th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Vegan Popcorn Chicken???? Liked the way you named it…I have made cutlets/patties and some kheema curry recipe with the soy nuggets. This recipe is simply great. Would love to make it for my daughter.
January 4th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Gosh, that looks soo..good!
January 5th, 2010 at 1:07 am
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by Soma_R: Eating chicken the Vegan Way: Popcorn Chicken http://www.ecurry.com/blog/starters-snacks/vegan-popcorn-chicken/...
January 5th, 2010 at 3:51 am
lovely! bookmarked!
January 5th, 2010 at 4:23 am
I’m alwa looking for vegetarian options for when we have guests over. This seems a beautiful option. Thanks for sharing.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Those look and sound scrumptious! An excellent vegan version!
January 5th, 2010 at 7:32 am
So cute! I don’t know if we get soy chunks here, but that is a great idea. I feed my daughter largely vegan cuisine, she is squeamish and sensitive.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Dear Soma,
Wish U & your family a very Happy New Year : 2010.
Nice twist using soy chunks….my nephew when he was toddler use to demand chicken for every meal, & my sis use to serve him soy chunks in various forms saying that it is chicken….ha..& he use to eat it happily….
January 5th, 2010 at 9:52 am
this looks delicious and a great click!
January 5th, 2010 at 10:46 am
thy look so yum..
January 5th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Oh yum. I have never quite figured out soya nuggets, they looked awfully dry to me when I passed them in the store. So thanks for the tip on SOAKING!! These look perfect for the kids!
January 5th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
O that looks so good. I love nuggets wether they are true chicken or something not so chickeny… Looks great!
January 5th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I don’t think i can stop snacking on these! Great idea using soy chunks!
January 5th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Super recipe for the vegan’s… Nice one
January 6th, 2010 at 10:25 am
this is bookmarked…awesome!
January 6th, 2010 at 10:50 am
Hi Soma
Thanks for sharing this recipe, actually my daughter was asking something like this after she ate very similar nuggets at christmas party. We were looking into the supermarkets, but never found with spicy flavour. So this is the one!!!!!!!!!! I will make it .
January 6th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
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January 9th, 2010 at 7:02 am
I was planning on making a Chicken tonight. Your recipe has given me further inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing. I really love your blog..
January 9th, 2010 at 11:38 am
What a lovely idea! I was intrigued by the Vegan Popcorn Chicken title thinking what on earth? But I LOVE the idea of using soy. These look so perfectly crunchy and addictive
I’ll have to give them a try. Thanks!
January 10th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
[...] Vegan Popcorn Chicken | eCurry – The Recipe Blog [...]
January 11th, 2010 at 7:00 am
[...] Vegan Popcorn Chicken | eCurry – The Recipe Blog [...]
January 11th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
[...] Vegan Popcorn Chicken | eCurry – The Recipe Blog [...]
January 20th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
what a delight !!
March 19th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
[...] Vegan Popcorn Chicken | eCurry – The Recipe Blog [...]
April 19th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Hang on…3.5 tablespoons of Flour and 1 Cup of Water?
It hasn’t come out as a ‘thick batter’. A very very watery one instead.
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:06 pm
I am allergic to soy. Will steamed small florets of cauliflower work here?
It will totally work with cauliflowers!
similar recipes: http://www.ecurry.com/blog/starters-snacks/gobi-manchuriancauliflower-fritters-in-spicy-sauce/