Love Buffalo chicken? Try this vegan buffalo chicken sandwich made with seitan, topped with broccoli slaw and vegan Ranch.

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I feel like I finally won the battle of Ranch versus Blue Cheese when it comes to Buffalo chicken, solely based upon the fact that it’s a lot easier to make vegan Ranch than it is vegan Blue Cheese. That’s it, that’s my only piece of evidence.

Personally, I think the flavor combo of Buffalo and Ranch is superior to Blue Cheese. Don’t get me wrong, I love blue cheese, just not with Buffalo sauce. I may have grown up in Western NY and several friends will scoff at me but it is what it is. Blame it on me being born in Texas or something, IDK.

While today is technically National Fried Chicken Day, I faked you out with this vegan version. Honestly, I love fried seitan just as much as fried chicken, especially when served in a sandwich. But if you prefer fowl options, check out that other bloggers shared today, listed below:

• Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm (Vietnamese Fried Chicken Wings by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Copycat Canes Chicken and Sauce by Palatable Pastime
• Dirty Fried Chicken by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Korean Fried Chicken by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Thai Fried Chicken Wings With Red Fiery Sauce by Sneha’s Recipe

VEGAN BUFFALO CHICKEN SANDWICH

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Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 45 Minutes Cooking Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes 1 Hour 20 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

SEITAN

• 1 cup vital wheat gluten
• 1/4 cup chickpea flour
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup water
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp liquid smoke
• 1-1/2 cups breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp cayenne powder
• 1/2 cup dairy-free milk

VEGAN BUFFALO SAUCE

• 3/4 cup hot pepper sauce (like Frank's RedHot)
• 1/2 cup vegan butter or margarine
• 1-1/2 Tbsp white vinegar
• 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 1/4 tsp garlic
• Salt, to taste

VEGAN RANCH SLAW

• 1/4 cup vegan Ranch dressing
• 1 cup shredded slaw blend

SANDWICH

• 4 toasted brioche rolls

Directions

1. In a large bowl whisk together vital wheat gluten, chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, garlic, paprika, and salt. Add water and stir until a ball forms. Transfer to a clean surface and knead for about 5 minutes, or until dough comes together and is elastic. Cut into 4 pieces and form into chicken breast shapes. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
2. In a large pot, add the broth, vinegar, and liquid smoke. Place over high heat until boiling, then lower to a simmer. Carefully place the seitan into the broth, ensuring it is covered by the broth (if not, transfer to a smaller pot). Partially cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove from pot and let cool enough to touch.
3. Meanwhile in a small pot, combine hot sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, garlic powder, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat while stirring frequently with a whisk. As soon as the liquid begins to bubble on the sides of the pot, remove from heat, and set aside.
4. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and spray the rack with cooking spray. Set aside.
5. Place breadcrumbs in a wide, shallow dish. In a second shallow dish, mix the flour, cayenne powder, and season with salt and pepper. Finally, add the dairy-milk to a third dish.
6. Pat the seitan dry. Dip in the flour, then the milk, and finally the Panko mixture. Press the Panko onto the chicken to completely coat. Transfer to the prepared wire rack.
7. Brush the tops of the chicken with Buffalo sauce, flip and brush the other side. Transfer to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the slaw and Ranch dressing.
9. Assemble sandwich by spreading more Buffalo sauce on the bottom bun, place one piece of seitan on top, followed by coleslaw, more Ranch is desired, and top bun. Serve immediately.

Source: Adapted from my Vegan Spicy Chicken Sandwich and AllRecipes.

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Who knew vegan spicy chicken could be so damn delicious? Made with homemade, seitan even meat eaters will love this sandwich.

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This may look like a delicious chicken sandwich but you would be wrong. It’s a freaking delicious seitan sandwich! Yep, I finally took the leap and tried my hand at making my own seitan.

What is seitan?

Seitan is a vegan source of protein made from primarily wheat gluten and water (so not gluten free) and it also a great open for those that cannot eat soy-based products. You can find it in some stores but it is relatively easy to make, but does take a little bit of time.

The sticky dough can be formed into a loaf, or in this case shaped into chicken breasts, then boiled and used as desired in various recipes. I have also used this seitan recipe to make vegan buffalo chicken sandwiches and I really want to try this seitan Mongolian beef or a seitan banh mi next.

But it wasn’t enough to just make the seitan, I had to then bread it, oven-fry it, and turn it into this beautiful as it is tasty sandwich. The inspiration which was taken from a spicy chicken sandwich served at Rockmill Tavern in Columbus, OH.

Just like their spicy chicken sandwich, it is garnished with bread and butter zucchini pickles, spicy urfa aioli (made with vegenaise of course), served with a blob of vegan honey butter on top of the bun. I know that honey is sometimes a debated item for vegans but maybe you could do a maple butter instead? I bet that would be delicious as well!

Speaking of questionable vegan items, technically I goofed and forgot that brioche buns I served these sandwiches on are not vegan. If you are vegan obviously use a different bun, or you can try making your own vegan brioche buns!

And the end result? Fan-freaking-tastic! Seriously look at that thing, would you ever guess it wasn’t a perfectly breaded and fried spicy chicken breast? I will admit it was a process but I would absolutely make them again.

Can I used pre-made seitan?

Absolutely! If you are lucky enough to find seitan-chicken breasts you could easily bread them and assemble into this sandwich. But of course you could do this with any vegan chicken cutlet replacement.

Not a vegan and want to use chicken? I’m not a vegan either but I do like to try plant-based options (still cannot get over these vegan scrambled” eggs” or vegan mac and cheese). But it goes without saying that you can for sure use chicken in this recipe instead if that’s preferable.

One year ago: Sourdough Recipe Roundup

Eight years ago: Review: Classic Snacks Made From Scratch

Nine years ago: Carrot Cake Waffles

Ten years ago: Chocolate Cookies ‘n’ Creme Cookies

VEGAN SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH

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Yield: 4 servings Cooking Time: 1 Hours 10 MInutes 1 Hours 10 MInutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

SEITAN

• 1 cup vital wheat gluten
• 1/4 cup chickpea flour
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup water
• 6 cups vegetable broth
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp liquid smoke
• 1-1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp cayenne powder
• 1/2 cup dairy-free milk
• Chili oil

URFA "MAYO"

• 1/4 cup vegenaise
• 1 tsp urfa pepper flakes*

HONEY-BUTTER

• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) vegan butter
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1/4 tsp salt

SANDWICH

• 4 toasted brioche rolls
• Pickled zucchini
• 4 grilled or roasted small red peppers

Directions

1. In a large bowl whisk together vital wheat gluten, chickpea flour, nutritional yeast, garlic, paprika, and salt. Add water and stir until a ball forms. Transfer to a clean surface and knead for about 5 minutes, or until dough comes together and is elastic. Cut into 4 pieces and form into chicken breast shapes. Let dough rest for 5 minutes.
2. In a large pot, add the broth, vinegar, and liquid smoke. Place over high heat until boiling, then lower to a simmer. Carefully place the seitan into the broth, ensuring it is covered by the broth (if not, transfer to a smaller pot). Partially cover and simmer for 1 hour. Remove from pot and let cool enough to touch.
3. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and spray the rack with cooking spray. Set aside.
4. Add the Panko and oil to a 12-inch skillet, stir frequently and toast the breadcrumbs until they are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer the breadcrumbs to a wide, shallow dish and allow to cool briefly. In a second shallow dish, mix the flour, cayenne powder, and season with salt and pepper. Finally, add the dairy-milk to a third dish.
5. Pat the seitan dry. Dip in the flour, then the milk, and finally the Panko mixture. Press the Panko onto the chicken to completely coat. Transfer to the prepared wire rack.
6. Brush the tops of the chicken with chili oil, flip and brush the other side. Transfer to the oven and bake for about 10 minutes.
7. Assemble sandwich by spreading urfa "mayo" on the bottom bun, place one piece of seitan on top, followed by pickled zucchini, top bun, roasted pepper, and a blob of honey butter. Skewer with a steak knife and serve.

Notes

* Can use regular red pepper flakes.

Did you make this recipe? I want to see!
Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

If no one told you, you wouldn’t ever guess this macaroni and cheese is vegan. Creamy, tasty cheese sauce that you won’t believe contains zero dairy.

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Guys, don’t scoff at the idea of vegan macaroni and cheese. Even my doubtful husband thought this was delicious! 

The secret to making that thick, creamy, cheesy sauce? Well, lots of things: potato, carrot, dairy free milk, olive oil, nutritional yeast, mustard, lemon, salt, worcestershire sauce. garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Doesn’t sound so scary does it?

For July 4th this year, I was inspired by Valentina to make a vegan BBQ spread (granted it was served with smokes wings and brisket but that’s the life we live), with vegan mac and cheese and BBQ soy curls – a product we next want to test out in an Asian dish.

We may not be 100% vegan, but we do try to reduce our intake of animal-based products, which  gives me reason to play in the kitchen for which I am always down. These soy curls were surprisingly meaty in texture and are super easy to prepare. They are a great self-stable protein to keep on hand.

But enough about that, back to this vegan mac. This cheese sauce was originally for topping enchiladas, but by tweaking a couple ingredients I was able to make it taste just like macaroni and cheese sauce. And the color really seals the deal.

Who knew blended potatoes and carrots with some well paired seasonings could look and taste like macaroni and cheese? People that come up with vegan recipes to emulate non-vegan counterparts are basically magicians. 

100% recommend making this, vegan or not. You can justify it further by noting that you get a tiny serving of carrot with it, and it’s probably lower in fat that real cheese. So it is a healthier macaroni and cheese right?

If you ignore the fact that the sauce is basically liquid potato hahaha. 

Two years ago: Black Cherry Cheesecake Kolaches

Four years ago: Mexican Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Six years ago: Blackberry Basil Sparkler

Eight years ago: Banana Ice Cream Nutella Sandwiches

VEGAN MACARONI & CHEESE

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Yield: Serves 12 as side or 8 as entree Cooking Time: 40 Minutes 40 Minutes

Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

MACARONI & CHEESE

• 1 lb. favorite pasta shape
• 2 cups (2-3 medium) peeled and chopped Yukon gold potatoes
• 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cashew milk (or other nondairy milk)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp smoked paprika

TOPPING

• 2 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs
• 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 9x13-inch casserole dish and set aside.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions until just barely al-dente (about 1 minute less than recommended cook time). Drain, reserving the cooking water, and set aside.
3. Meanwhile, in a medium pot, place the potatoes and carrot, and cover with water. Place over hjgh heat to bring  to a boil, reduce heat to simmer for about 20 minutes, or until very tender when poked with a fork. Drain the vegetables.
4. In a blender, combine the drained vegetables with remaining sauce ingredients. Pulse until a smooth, creamy sauce forms. Add a little cooking water to thin if desired.
5. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in pasta until evenly coated.
6. Pour into the prepared dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and nutritional yeast over top. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until filling is bubbling, then broil for 1-2 minutes or until breadcrumbs are golden brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Did you make this recipe? I want to see!

Tag @THESPIFFYCOOKIE on Instagram and hashtag it #THESPIFFYCOOKIE

This vegan scrambled tofu looks and feels just like eggs that you might not even know you are eating tofu! Served of a bed of seasoned sweet potato and kale hash.

I love meat. Seems like a strange way to start a post about a Vegan recipe right? But what I’m trying to accomplish by doing so is that despite that statement, I also love Vegan food. I order it more often than I make it (which isn’t saying much as even that isn’t often) but I’m always surprised by the results when I do. I’ve only purposely posted two vegan recipes on my blog (Buckeye pancakes and Macaroons), but have posted a few others that I realized were vegan after the fact (two that come to mind are my lentil skillet and chocolate almond cupcakes minus the frosting)- further proof that just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it won’t be loved by meat eaters. So when I was asked by Valentina of The Baking Fairy to participate in her #Veganuary event I decided to step up to the challenge. I’ve been slacking lately and needed the creative push, so why not start 2019 with a Vegan recipe?

My first more experimental journey into Vegan cooking was a little while ago at vegan cooking class here in Columbus where we learned to make three recipes, two of which I am sharing combined into one today (the other was a cashew cream used to make a parfait, which was also crazy good and plan to share eventually). Sweet potato hash was nothing new to me, but tossing it in ground flax seed was something I had not yet had before and was very pleasing. The surprise was found in the tofu eggs. Never would I ever thought of replacing scrambled eggs with crumbled tofu but it really is as simple as that because the scrambled tofu truly does texturally resemble eggs and the color added by the seasonings helped solidify the illusion.

Looks for other Vegan recipes to try? Check out the other bloggers sharing Vegan Recipes for #Veganuary:

• Vegan Burrito Bowls with Jackfruit Carnitas by The Baking Fairy
• Baba Ganoush by Lemon Blossoms
• Creamy Vegan Curry Bean Soup by Cheese Curd in Paradise
• Delicata Squash Fries with Chipotle Garlic Dipping Sauce by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Instant Pot Breakfast Stuffed Sweet Potatoes by The Live-In Kitchen
• Instant Pot Chipotle Sofritas by Herbivore Cucina
• Moroccan Eggplant with Chermoula by Caroline’s Cooking
• Roasted Veggies with Satay Peanut Sauce by Hardly A Goddess
• Scrambled Tofu with Sweet Potato & Kale Hash by The Spiffy Cookie
• Vegan Artichoke Hummus by A Day In The Life On The Farm
• Vegan Baked Oats and Vegetable Bites by Cook With Renu
• Vegan Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwiches by Kate’s Recipe Box
• Vegan Cannellini Rocket Tortilla Pizza by The Fiery Vegetarian
• Vegan Cookie Dough Energy Balls by Veggie Lexi
• Vegan Cranberry Apple Chickpea Salad by Join Us, Pull Up A Chair
• Vegan Fire-Roasted Tomato and Bean Soup by Blogghetti
• Vegan Khoresh Bademjan by Palatable Pastime
• Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff with Tofu by Simple and Savory
• Vegan Superfood Breakfast Cookies by Amy’s Cooking Adventures
• Vegan Thai Roasted Carrots with Peanuts by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Vegan Vanilla Chai Oatmeal by Fairyburger
• Vegetable Chettinad (Vegan Spicy Vegetable Curry) by Flavours Treat

Five years ago: Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Cookies

Six years ago: California Quesadillas with Honey-Balsamic Dipping Sauce

Eight years ago: Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies

SCRAMBLED TOFU WITH SWEET POTATO & KALE HASH

Serves 6

Ingredients:

HASH

3 medium sweet potatoes, sliced into 1/4-inch thick half moons

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

1/4 tsp onion powder

1/8 tsp ground allspice

Ground black pepper, to taste

2 cups kale, roughly chopped and tossed in 1 Tbsp olive oil

TOFU

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/4 sweet onion, finely diced

1 cup zucchini, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Roma tomato, finely diced

1 (14 oz.) pkg firm tofu, crumbled into large pieces

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp dried thyme

Ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with non-stick spray.
2. In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes in the olive oil, then sprinkle with flax and seasonings. Spread on prepared baking hsset and bake for 20 minutes, rotating halfway through. Add kale and bake 5 more minutes.
3. Meanwhile prepare the tofu. In a medium skillet over medium heat, add the oil. Add pepper and onion and saute until lightly caramelized. Add zucchini and saute for 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes and cook for 1 more minute. Add crumbled tofu and seasonings and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes.
4. Serve tofu over sweet potato hash.

Source: Adapted slightly from a Zest Juice Co. cooking class.