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Vegan Orange “Chicken” Lion’s Mane Tempura with Winter Veggies

There’s something magical about contrast in cooking—the crisp bite of tempura against tender, stir fry vegetables, the bright citrusy glaze meeting deep umami. This Vegan Orange “Chicken” made with Lion’s Mane Tempura with Winter Veggies is a perfect example, bringing together the earthy, meaty texture of lion’s mane mushrooms with a sweet-spiced orange sauce and a medley of winter greens.

Every element of this dish is designed for balance: the mushrooms are crispy yet light, the sauce is tangy yet rich, and the winter vegetables add a natural sweetness that rounds everything out.

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Why Lion’s Mane is Perfect for Tempura

Vegan Orange “chicken” is one way to use it. Using the air fryer adds crunch without the deep fryer.

Meaty, Buttery, and Absorbent

Lion’s mane mushrooms have a unique fibrous texture that mimics seafood or shredded chicken when cooked, making them perfect for crispy tempura. Unlike other mushrooms that turn spongy, lion’s mane holds its shape, absorbing flavors while maintaining a slightly chewy bite.

When battered and air-fried, the outside becomes crunchy and golden while the inside stays tender. This makes it an excellent plant-based alternative for dishes that typically use battered chicken or shrimp.

A Deep Umami Flavor That Complements Citrus

While many mushrooms have an earthy, woodsy taste, lion’s mane is known for its subtle seafood-like umami, often compared to crab or scallops. This makes it a natural match for bright, acidic flavors like fresh orange juice and warming spices.

Pairing it with a five-spice orange glaze enhances its natural depth, creating a dish that is sweet, savory, and deeply satisfying.

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Building Layers of Texture & Flavor

1. The Crunch Factor

The tempura batter—made with chickpea or rice flour and sparkling water—creates a light, crisp coating that doesn’t overpower the mushroom’s natural texture. Air-frying ensures a golden crunch without the heaviness of deep-frying.

2. The Velvety-Smooth Glaze

The sauce, a blend of fresh orange juice, coconut aminos, and five-spice, is silky and slightly sticky, clinging to the crispy tempura without making it soggy.

3. The Stir Fried Vegetables

The broccoli, fennel, carrots, radish, and dino kale bring a mix of textures—some roasted for sweetness, others lightly crisped for crunch. These vegetables soak up the sauce beautifully, adding depth to every bite.

An Invitation to Explore

• Cooking is about playing with flavors, textures, and balance. Want a twist?
• Try blood orange or tangerine instead of regular orange for a richer citrus profile.
• Add a dash of Sichuan peppercorns for a gentle numbing spice.
• Serve over jasmine rice or crispy rice cakes for extra crunch.

This dish is all about letting ingredients shine. What’s your favorite way to cook with lion’s mane? Let me know in the comments! 🍊🍄✨

Please help me get the word out about plant-based healthy living so that doctors know the value of lifestyle changes by sharing this post on your social media.

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Cruciferous & Root Veggies: Detox & Immunity

The winter vegetables in this dish—broccoli, dino kale, fennel, and radish—are rich in sulforaphane, fiber, and antioxidants, making them a powerful ally for liver support and digestive health. In Ayurveda, these ingredients can be vata provoking so add warming spices like ginger.

Five-Spice & Citrus: Warming, Digestive Harmony

The sauce is a fusion of fresh orange juice, Chinese five-spice, and ginger—a trifecta of warming, digestion-boosting, and anti-inflammatory elements. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, five-spice is believed to support circulation and gut function, while citrus provides vitamin C and flavonoids for immune resilience.

Kitchen Creativity: Play with Flavor & Texture

Cooking is a sensory experience—a way to bring together crisp and tender, sweet and earthy, warm and cool. As Alice Waters says, “Let things taste of what they are.”

• Swap orange juice for blood orange or grapefruit for a bolder citrus note.
• Roast the fennel for a caramelized, slightly sweet twist.
• Try air-frying watermelon radish chips for a crunchy side.

Click on the image to grab the ingredients from Instacart from a list I have personally selected. The app will let you pick the store and provide a basis for the shopping and ingredient list. Then you can choose what you need. It has worked great for us.

Also, if you select the “pick up” option, which you can do on your way home from work, you may even receive a small credit on your purchases for your next visit.

To sum up, if you are a busy professional, look into Instacart to eat healthier when your schedule is hectic, either as a delivery or pick-up option.

Learning about Plant-Based Eating

Having the right resources to learn about plant-based vegan principles is important for everyone.

These books are some of my tried-and-true resources that I have repeatedly referred to over the years. Let me know if you pick any of them up and what you learn.

Earn CME

This experience is powered by CMEfy – an AI-powered platform that directs learners along a pathway to capture reflections at the point of inspiration, point of care. Clinicians may earn CME/CE credit via ReflectCE, the accredited activity portal. Learn more at about.cmefy.com/cme-info

The CE experience for this Blog Post / Article is powered by CMEfy – click here to reflect and earn credits: https://earnc.me/7CbypP

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