Name: Crispy Vegan Karaage with Soy Chunks
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 3 cup Soy Meat Chunks; 3 Tbsp Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce (homemade sauce); 7 Tbsp Potato Starch; Vegetable Oil (as needed for deep frying)

5 from 3 votes

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Craving crispy fried chicken? Try this vegan karaage made from marinated soy chunks—super flavorful and satisfying!

Looking for simple vegan dishes? Try this Fried Tofu, Vegetable Gyoza, or Tofu Donburi!

I’ll walk you through the ingredients and step-by-step instructions. I hope you enjoy it!

Karaage

Karaage is a popular Japanese cooking method made by marinating pieces of meat or fish, usually chicken, in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and other seasonings. The marinated meat is then coated in flour or potato starch and deep-fried until crispy and golden brown.

Recipe Ingredients

You’ll need the following ingredients to make this vegan karaage:

Soy Meat: A plant-based meat alternative made from soybeans, usually sold dried and rehydrated before use. This recipe uses soy meat chunks.
Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce: This homemade sauce, made with minced ginger, garlic, and soy sauce, is versatile and adds flavor to any savory dish, from stir-fries to fried rice. For a quicker alternative, mix soy sauce with grated garlic and ginger.
Potato Starch: Coating the tofu with potato starch gives it a satisfying crunch. You can substitute it with wheat flour or rice flour for a lighter texture.

How to Make Vegan Karaage: STEP BY STEP

Here are some quick visual instructions! For the video and all the detailed ingredients and instructions, go to the printable recipe card below.

Step 1

Rehydrate the soy chunks in boiling water for 30 minutes, then drain them completely.

Step 2

Marinate the soy chunks in garlic ginger soy sauce for at least 10 minutes.

Step 3

Coat them evenly with potato starch.

Step 4

Deep fry at medium heat until browned and crispy.

vegan karaage (soy meat recipe) on a plate

The crispy texture is absolutely irresistible! However, they may become chewy over time, so enjoy them while they’re fresh and crunchy.

What To Serve With

To complement this vegan karaage, I recommend serving it with Japanese steamed rice, napa cabbage miso soup, and pickled napa cabbage!

a Japanese meal - stemaed rice, miso soup, and vegan karaage

Want More Plant-Based Ideas?

Download 10 Vegetarian Recipes

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I hope you enjoy this vegan karaage recipe! If you try it, don’t forget to leave a rating to share your thoughts—I love hearing from you!

Crispy Vegan Karaage with Soy Chunks

5 from 3 votes

Prep: 40

Cook: 10

Total: 50

Servings:

Author: Juri Austin

Craving crispy fried chicken? Try this vegan karaage made from marinated soy chunks—super flavorful and satisfying!

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Equipment

Medium frying pan

Ingredients

▢ 3 cup Soy Meat Chunks
▢ 3 Tbsp Garlic Ginger Soy Sauce, homemade sauce
▢ 7 Tbsp Potato Starch
▢ Vegetable Oil, as needed for deep frying

Instructions

Prepare the Soy Chunks: Bring water to a boil and add the soy chunks. Let them soak for 30 minutes. Drain the soy chunks and squeeze out excess water one by one.
Marinate: Add the soy chunks to a large bowl. Pour in the garlic ginger soy sauce and mix well. Let them marinate for at least 10 minutes.
Deep Fry: Lightly squeeze out excess marinade. Coat each chunk evenly with potato starch. Heat vegetable oil to medium temperature (about 170°C/340°F) and deep-fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove and drain on a paper towel.
Serve: Plate the crispy karaage and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Quick Substitute: If you don’t have garlic ginger soy sauce ready, mix soy sauce, grated garlic, and grated ginger as a quick alternative.
Keeping Soy Chunks Submerged: When soaking soy chunks, they may float—place a lid or plate on top to keep them fully submerged.
Reducing Soy Smell: If the soy chunks have a strong smell, rinse them with fresh water and squeeze out excess liquid 2–3 times before marinating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 349kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 36g

This nutritional information is estimated and provided for general reference only.

Course: Main

Cuisine: Japanese

Keyword: vegan karaage

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Juri Austin

Hi! I’m Juri, founder of Chef JA Cooks and the creator and photographer of this site. I’m here to guide you in authentic yet easy-to-follow Japanese recipes! Let’s explore the world of Japanese cuisine together!

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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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