Juneteenth Vegan Chicken And Waffles (Printable)
Crispy battered mushroom strips with golden waffles, seasoned with Southern spices and served with maple hot sauce drizzle.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegan Chicken
01 - 2 cups oyster mushrooms, torn into strips
02 - 1 cup unsweetened plant milk (soy or almond)
03 - 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
04 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
06 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
07 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
09 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon dried thyme
13 - 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
→ Waffles
14 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
15 - 2 tablespoons sugar
16 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
17 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
18 - ½ teaspoon salt
19 - 1½ cups unsweetened plant milk
20 - 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
21 - ¼ cup melted coconut oil or vegetable oil
22 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Maple Hot Sauce
23 - ¼ cup pure maple syrup
24 - 1 tablespoon hot sauce
# How-to Steps:
01 - Combine plant milk and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl. Add mushroom strips and let marinate for 10 minutes to absorb flavor.
02 - In a shallow dish, mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and dried thyme. Place panko breadcrumbs in a separate dish.
03 - Dredge each marinated mushroom strip in the flour mixture, dip back into the milk mixture, then press firmly into panko breadcrumbs until completely coated.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Fry breaded mushrooms in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
05 - Turn on waffle iron and allow to fully preheat while preparing the waffle batter.
06 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.
07 - In a separate bowl, whisk plant milk, apple cider vinegar, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract. Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir until just combined—some lumps are acceptable.
08 - Pour batter onto preheated waffle iron and cook according to manufacturer instructions until golden and crisp. Repeat until all batter is used.
09 - Whisk together pure maple syrup and hot sauce in a small bowl until fully incorporated.
10 - Place crispy vegan chicken on top of warm waffles. Drizzle with maple hot sauce and serve immediately.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- The crispy exterior gives way to tender, meaty mushrooms that even skeptics love
- Perfect for honoring tradition while embracing plant based compassion
02 -
- Do not overcrowd the pan when frying or the temperature will drop and you will get soggy mushrooms
- Let fried mushrooms rest on a wire rack instead of paper towels to maintain maximum crispiness
03 -
- Pat mushrooms dry before marinating to help the coating stick better
- Let the fried chicken rest on a cooling rack rather than paper towels to stay crispy on all sides