Sweet and Sour Orange Chik’n and Vegetables Stir Fry

A whole food plant-based twist on the classic stir fry with tons of rainbow vegetables and soy texture to enjoy! 

Have you ever purchased gloriously vibrant vegetables at the grocery store only to find them a week or two later, buried behind something way back in the nether regions of your refrigerator? 

I hate it when I forget about vegetables; and yet, it does happen.  I mean, look at my poor discolored broccoli and dry baby carrots. Everything else is in good shape, but still, that broccoli… actually, the colors are kinda cool. (And just so you know, those sugar snaps are still a bit frozen but they were perfect for this stir fry.)

So, when I find these tired vegetables I figure out how I can use them in a dish.  Of course, it depends on what the vegetables are; but typically, if it’s winter, they create a deliciously hearty soup.  In the summer, I tend to make a stir fry.

My favorite stir fry vegetables include onions, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, zucchini, squash, chard or kale, mushrooms, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, green beans, edamame, sugar snap peas, peas, and so on.  If I’m short on time or don’t have some of these favorites, I use a frozen stir fry medley. I like Kirkland’s frozen mixture because it comes in a large family size bag; but I’m not picky. I use whatever I have on hand.   The sky is the limit. I like to eat the rainbow!!

I absolutely love tender crisp vegetables; but I also like to add different kinds of textures and proteins when I can. Have you ever used Butler Soy Curls? They are incredibly versatile and nutritious. And they are perfect for this Sweet and Sour Orange Chik’n and Vegetables Stir Fry.

Butler Soy Curls are made of 100% delicately textured Non-GMO soy beans. They are a whole food plant-based protein consisting of one ingredient. This means they have all the health benefits of the soybean.  One serving (3/4 cup or 30 grams) contains 5 grams of fat and 11 grams of protein. (Butler Foods)

You can buy Butler Soy Curls direct from Butler, on Amazon, or from Country Life Natural Foods. I prefer buying them from Country Life Natural Foods since they’re much more affordable and excellent quality. They add incredible texture and protein to this stir fry. Check out these incredible soy curls.

Did you know that soybeans are native to China and have been part of the Asian diet for thousands of years. So get those chopsticks ready…. you’re going to need them!

This citrus sauce is delicious and refreshing. The liquid contains orange juice, applesauce, and soy sauce.  Add in some minced ginger, garlic, and chili-garlic sauce to make sure you lick that spoon.  And lastly, you need a thickener.  I like to use arrowroot starch but you can easily use cornstarch instead.

This stir fry packs so much flavor and is way better than any take out!🥡 But unlike typical take out, this Sweet and Sour Orange Chik’n and Vegetables Stir Fry recipe contains a lot less sodium, saturated fat, and oil. We use lower sodium soy sauce which means there’s slightly little less than regular soy sauce. But let’s be honest, there is some and it’s part of the reason this stir fry tastes so great. Well, that and all of those other tasty ingredients. One of those tasty ingredients is sesame oil. If you have it in your pantry and you don’t mind using oil, it adds great flavor; but it is completely optional.

This Sweet and Sour Orange Chik’n and Vegetables Stir Fry is fantastic over cooked brown rice. But you can also serve it over noodles, cauliflower rice, quinoa, or any other grain. You can even serve it al fresco – without anything. It’s that good and substantial all on its own. But like I said, we really prefer it over brown rice.

You can opt to use some chopsticks🥢 or if you prefer, you can use the old standby, albeit boring, fork. Of course, it’s up to you. But if you’re up for some adventure and want to test your trendy sills, I highly recommend going at these veggies and soy curls with chopsticks. Personally, I think chopsticks increase your overall dining experience.

I hope you enjoy this delicious Sweet and Sour Orange Chik’n and Vegetables recipe as much as we do. Please let me know if you try it in the comments below.

Ingredients

• 2 cups Butler soy curls
• 1-2 cups hot water
• 6-10 cups stir fry vegetables*
• 1 cup orange juice
• ½ cup applesauce
• ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp arrowroot starch (or 1 Tbsp cornstarch)
• 1 Tbsp chili garlic sauce**
• 1 Tbsp minced ginger
• 2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar 
• 1 Tbsp minced garlic 
• 2 tsp sesame seeds
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

1. In a measuring cup, pour the hot water over the soy curls for 3-5 minutes.
2. In a very large pan or pot on medium to low heat (I use a flame setting of 4) and sauté the vegetables* until tender crisp.  If the vegetables are dry, add 1 Tbsp of water or broth as needed to keep everything from sticking to the pan.
3. Drain the soy curls very well and add to the pan with the vegetables along with the sesame oil (if using). 
4. Sauté until the soy curls are slightly dry and starting to brown and vegetables are cooked to your desired preference.
5. In a small bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the orange juice and arrowroot starch (or cornstarch) and add all of the remaining ingredients.
6. Pour the orange-soy sauce mixture over the soy curl-vegetable medley. Increase heat slightly, if needed.
7. Stir occasionally until mixture thickens, about 3-5 minutes.
8. Serve over brown rice or quinoa, if desired.
9. Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.  

Notes

* Stir fry vegetables can include onions, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zuchini, squash, chard or kale, mushrooms, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, green beans, edamame, sugar snap peas, and so on.  I sometimes use a frozen medley but other times I use whatever I have on hand.   The sky is the limit – enjoy your favorite vegetables and eat the rainbow!!

** I love chili garlic sauce.  If you don’t have any, just use a sprinkling of red pepper flakes or siracha.  Adjust the amount based on your spicy/heat preference. 🌶 If you prefer mild food, start with 1 tsp chili garlic sauce or a tiny dash of red pepper flakes.  You can always add more.

If you follow a gluten-free diet, please check your labels and use tamari or coconut aminos instead of traditional soy sauce which is typically made with wheat. Otherwise, all of the ingredients should be safe. Just check everything to be sure.

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