Vegan Chicken Mole Torta With Lime Cabbage Slaw

🥪 Vegan Chicken Mole Torta Ingredients 

Soy curls

Soy curls are the meat of this sando, and since you'll likely have some left over after making this, they also crush it in vegan mi quang, vegan pot pie, vegan pancit canton, and vegan tokwa't baboy. If you want to make this fully from scratch, my seitan recipe is a good swap and totes worth the effort.

Mole poblano

This sandwich lives and dies by the mole, which is why I use my own mole poblano recipe for it and not store-bought mole sauces from a local grocery store. 

Vegan sour cream

I'm using my vegan sour cream recipe here because it hits the right balance of creamy and tangy and it's easy AF to make. If you're not making it from scratch, Kite Hill and Tofutti are my go-to store options. Unsweetened vegan yogurt is also the best way to replace the sour cream if you just can't get your hands on sour cream.

Bolillo or telera rolls

Bolillo or telera rolls are built for messy fillings and heavy vegan mole sauce, which is exactly what you want here. But quick reality check, some bolillos use lard, which is a rude surprise if you're not checking labels. If not, grab a hoagie roll or any crusty bun that looks trustworthy, honest, dependable, and handsome, with a high paying job with a 401k.

Vegan mayo

I'm using my vegan kewpie recipe here because it has more umami and flavor than your average mayo. Store-bought wise, Vegenaise by Follow Your Heart is the one I love most. You can also swap in mashed avocado if you want to keep it more simple.

📖 How to make vegan mole tortas

No shame in jumping straight to the recipe card if you're short on time. If you want the full rundown with reallyyy helpful notes, keep scrolling and I'll walk you through it m'love.

Step One

The Curl Next Door:

Add the soy curls to a heatproof bowl. Bring the vegetable stock to a simmer over medium heat, pour it over the soy curls, press gently so they're submerged, cover, and let soak for 10 minutes until fully hydrated.

Step Two

Drainspotting:

The next step is to drain the soy curls thoroughly, pressing gently to squeeze out excess liquid.

Step Three

Sautéder Night Live:

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. After 90 seconds, once the oil is hot, add the diced onion and drained soy curls and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring regularly, until the onions are fragrant and the soy curls are lightly browned all over.

Step Four

Molebraham Lincoln:

Stir in the homemade mole poblano, lower the heat to medium-low, and cook for 3 more minutes, stirring regularly until the soy curls are evenly coated and heated through. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Step Five

Slaw & Order:

In a mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, lime juice, lime zest, vegan sour cream, chopped cilantro, minced onion, and salt. Squeeze and massage the mixture until fully combined and the cabbage is tenderized.

Step Six

Toastbusters:

Slice the rolls lengthwise and toast cut-side down in a dry skillet over medium heat, or place on a baking sheet tray and warm in a 375°F (190°C) oven until lightly crisp inside and heated through.

Step Seven

Teenage Mutant Ninja Tortas:

Spread vegan mayo evenly on both cut sides of the rolls. Layer lettuce on the bottom halves, add the warm vegan chicken mole mixture, top with lime cabbage slaw and jalapeño slices, garnish with cilantro sprigs, close the sandwiches, and serve immediately.