Schnitzel is a breaded cutlet fried to crispy perfection. Most people associate it with thinly sliced meat like veal, pork, or chicken since the name comes from the German word “schnitt,” which means cut. Iconic to Austria and other Eastern European countries, schnitzel is the ideal dish to serve with healthy accompaniments like potatoes and salads.
However, there’s no reason why you cannot enjoy this versatile crumbed meal if you are vegan. Here’s how to make the best vegan schnitzel every time:
Crispy and Delicious: The Best Vegan Schnitzel Recipe
There are several vegetables you can use to make your schnitzel. Popular choices include celeriac, cauliflower, eggplant, and mushrooms, and they all work well. The best vegan schnitzel recipe is completely plant-based and made with tofu or seitan. It’s also baked to make it healthier.
Crispy and Delicious Oven -Baked Vegan Schnitzel
Ingredients
- 1 block extra firm tofu, cut into four ¼ inch slices
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- ½ cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
- ½ cup chickpea flour
- 1 t. salt
- ½ t. garlic powder
- ½ t. paprika
- Some cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating it to 400° F and lining the baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the seasoned breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl.
- Mix the non-dairy milk, chickpea flour, salt, garlic, and paprika in another shallow dish.
- Dip the tofu pieces into the batter, coat it with breadcrumbs, and place it on the baking sheet.
- Once you have completed all the tofu slices, spray them with a generous amount of cooking oil. This step is optional but creates a crispness to the outside layer.
- Bake for 20 minutes, turning them in the middle through the cooking process.
- Serve with a squeeze of lemon, crispy potatoes, and your favorite salad.
Easy Vegan Schnitzel: A Mouthwatering Plant-Based Alternative
Do you prefer a fried schnitzel? No problem, here’s a recipe for preparing the best vegan schnitzel. Remember, even though the recipe uses celeriac, you can substitute it with anything you prefer, as long as you stick to the ¼-inch-cutting rule that ensures it cooks through.
Easy Vegan Schnitzel
Ingredients
- 4 slices from a peeled celeriac cut into ¼-inch thick rounds
- ¼ cup chickpea flour
- ¼ cup water
- 1 T. soy sauce
- pinch of pepper
- 2 T. plain flour
- 1 cup fine breadcrumbs
- 1 t. salt
- Sunflower oil for frying
Instructions
- Combine the chickpea, water, soy sauce, and pepper in a shallow bowl to form a smooth batter.
- Place the plain flour on a plate.
- Use another plate to combine the breadcrumbs and the salt.
- Start the breading by finely coating a celeriac slice with flour.
- Next, dip the celeriac slice in the batter, letting the excess batter drip off.
- Finally, coat it with breadcrumbs and set aside. Repeat the process with all slices.
- Heat about 1 cm of oil in the frying pan until hot. You don’t want the schnitzels to sit at the bottom of the frying pan, so ensure they have enough oil to float in.
- Fry the schnitzels in the hot oil for 2 minutes on each side until nicely browned.
- Serve with some lemon drizzled over and your favorite accompaniments.
Craving Comfort Food? Try These Vegan Schnitzel Recipes
There’s nothing nicer than a plate of schnitzel served in a burger bun or with your favorite sides on a plate. It is the ultimate way to appease your comfort food craving.
Luckily, you can use several plant-based ingredients to make deliciously filling schnitzels. Try these vegan schnitzel recipes from Vegan on Board or The Edgy Vegan. Between the two, you will have the secrets to preparing several plant-based variations of the best vegan schnitzel.
The Vegan Schnitzel recipe from The Edgy Vegan uses seitan. The breading, flour, and batter have an exciting mix of ingredients, ensuring a delicious vegan schnitzel.
Both recipes are for fried schnitzel, but you can also bake it according to the recipe above for the oven-baked schnitzel.
Must-Try Vegan Schnitzel Variations for Every Palate
Since not everyone likes the same ingredients, several must-try vegan schnitzel variations will suit every plate. Here are some of the most delicious:
Seitan
Seitan is made from vital wheat gluten that has a meaty texture and similar chewiness. It’s a popular meat substitute for vegetarians and is easy to make at home. Seitan is easy to shape into cutlets or to slice thinly for vegan schnitzel.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms have an earthy essence and meaty texture, making them perfect for vegan schnitzel. Use large mushrooms like portobello caps or oyster mushrooms. You can also slice puffballs. You can marinate the mushrooms after cleaning and trimming them to give them flavor. Coat them in your batter and breadcrumbs according to your recipe, fry, and enjoy.
Eggplant
Another delicious substitute ingredient for vegan schnitzel is eggplant slices. The rule says you should always slice vegetables for schnitzel to about ¼ inch thick to ensure they cook through. Dip them into your favorite breadcrumb and batter, and bake or fry until golden.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is another vegetable ideally used in vegan schnitzel. Either cut it into florets or slices before battering and breading them. They will crips well and retain a slightly firm texture. Cauliflower absorbs flavors well, making it a delicious choice for vegan schnitzel.
Soy-free tofu
You can also find soy-free tofu made with other seeds or legumes for those who cannot eat soy because of allergies. It is another excellent variation for making vegan schnitzel.
Vegan Schnitzel: A Quick and Satisfying Meat-Free Meal
Serve a quick and satisfying meat-free meal by preparing your favorite vegan schnitzel and serving it with your favorite accompaniments.
These could include a delicious vegan dip like tzatziki, vegan mayo, or hummus and fried or baked potatoes. Many people traditionally like to serve vegan schnitzel with potato salad or green salad. If you aren’t a potato fan, you could serve air-fried zucchini with baked sweet potato or carrot fries. Smashed Brussels sprouts are a great accompaniment if you want a replacement for baked or mashed potatoes.
If you don’t want to pair the best vegan schnitzel with freshly squeezed lemon juice, you could serve it with a ketchup, mustard, gravy, or pesto-like sauce.
Fried or baked schnitzels also create delicious vegan burger buns topped with lettuce, tomato, and pickles. They also make an excellent accompaniment to a filling bowl, pasta, or grain salad.
The Ultimate Guide to Making the Best Vegan Schnitzel
Whether you chose a tofu cutlet or vegetable variation, the best vegan schnitzel requires just a few ingredients. It’s quick and simple to prepare, budget-friendly, and versatile since you can serve it with loads of accompaniments and freeze them when you are busy.
Here’s a recipe for a delicious tofu vegan schnitzel from Glow Diaries that tastes like chicken schnitzel. Marinating the tofu with soy sauce provides an added depth of flavor. For those who don’t like soy sauce, tamari or coconut aminos make a suitable replacement.
Aquafaba from a can of chickpeas replaces the egg traditionally used in schnitzel batter.
Elevate Your Dinner with These Irresistible Vegan Schnitzel Recipes
There are several ways to elevate your dinner with vegan schnitzel. Try these irresistible vegan recipes from The Plant Based School using Vegan Schnitzel.
The basic recipe is easy to follow. It uses seitan to create a succulent and flavorful cutlet that’s fried until crispy and golden.
You can find recipe variations for the best vegan schnitzel meals on the website, including Vegan Chicken with Mushrooms, Vegan Chicken with Lemon, and a delicious Tofu Schnitzel with Spinach. Try them all!
Discover the Secret to Perfectly Tender Vegan Schnitzel
Follow these tips to glean the secret to creating the best vegan schnitzel that is perfectly tender:
- The basic process for making vegan schnitzels includes preparing, flour coating, batter coating, and breadcrumbing before frying or baking.
- Don’t cut vegetables, tofu, or seitan slices too thick; otherwise, the schnitzels won’t cook properly on the inside before browning on the outside. The ideal thickness is ¼ inch.
- If making your breadcrumbs, prepare them beforehand for time to cool. Ensure the bread has dried properly before blending it into fine and even crumbs in a food processor.
- Mix the herbs and spices you prefer into the flour and breading.
- Keep the oil between 340°F to maintain its flavor, texture, and crispy outside. At these temperatures, the oil is not too high to burn the food nor too low to make it absorb too much oil. Therefore, this way, you create healthier food. Drain to remove excess oil when frying the schnitzels.
- Bake vegan schnitzels at between 400 and 430° F on a lined or oiled baking sheet if you don’t want to fry them. Also, drizzle some oil on top for a crispier result.
- You can make the schnitzels ahead and store them cooked in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- You can also freeze them after breading for up to three months. First, freeze them on a baking sheet lined with parchment for about 2 hours before placing them in containers or freezer bags. Thaw them in the fridge before cooking.
Now that you know the secret to preparing perfectly tender vegan schnitzel, there’s no limit to the ideas for elevating meals with creative ideas.
