If you love the bold flavors of barbecue but want a plant-based option, this Vegan Filipino BBQ is for you. Cooked to perfection, this dish delivers all the nostalgic flavors of classic Filipino street food, minus the meat!
Craving more Filipino flavors without meat? Try my Vegan Fried Chicken Tofu for a crunchy, flavorful bite, or my Vegetarian Marinated Bangus for a tangy, savory dish. Both pair well with this vegan Filipino barbecue!
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What is Vegan Filipino BBQ?
Vegan Filipino BBQ is a plant-based version of the famous Filipino street food recipe, barbecue skewers, known for their sweet, smoky, and savory taste.
Instead of pork or chicken, this recipe uses seitan cutlets as a vegan meat substitute. Tofu or mushrooms can also be used for other meat alternatives. These ingredients absorb the flavorful marinade made with savory ingredients like the seasonings, lime juice, or lemon juice. It also includes either regular fruit-sweetened ketchup or low-sugar banana ketchup, which makes a delicious Filipino vegan dish.
It is best served with steamed rice and is perfect for backyard barbecues, family gatherings, fiestas, potlucks, or as a street food snack!
History of Vegan Filipino BBQ
This flavor-packed Filipino barbecue was traditionally made with marinated pork or chicken, grilled on skewers, and often served with a savoury sauce made with a mix of soy sauce and white vinegar or calamansi juice.
It became a favorite dish for its rich, smoky-sweet glaze and irresistible texture. Today, this vegan Filipino BBQ is a popular alternative for those who avoid meat. It shows how Filipino cuisine can evolve without losing its signature taste.
Learn more about this healthy dish and add this to your list of vegan Filipino recipes!
Health Benefits of Seitan Cutlets
- High in protein
- Low in fat and cholesterol-free
- Rich in iron
- Good source of selenium
- Versatile and satisfying
Substitutions
- Seitan cutlets – Tofu, tempeh, jackfruit, or oyster mushrooms
- Smoked paprika – Regular paprika + a dash of liquid smoke or chipotle powder
- Italian seasoning – A mix of dried basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary
- Hickory BBQ sauce – Any vegan BBQ sauce or homemade tomato-based BBQ sauce
- Maple syrup – Agave nectar, honey (if not strictly vegan), or date syrup
- Sriracha – Hot sauce, chili garlic sauce, or red pepper flakes mixed with vinegar
Recipe Variations
- Air-Fried BBQ – A crispier alternative with less oil. Cook at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Pineapple BBQ Glaze – Blend pineapple juice with BBQ sauce for a sweet, fruity finish.
- Tamarind Glaze – Mix tamarind paste with brown sugar for a tangy twist.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftover BBQ in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Then, reheat in a pan, oven, or air fryer for the best texture.
- Freezing (Uncooked BBQ): If making in advance, freeze marinated but uncooked BBQ in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before frying or grilling, whichever you desire.
- Freezing (Cooked BBQ): Store BBQ in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or in an air fryer at 375°F for 5-7 minutes.
- Marinade Storage: Extra BBQ marinade can be kept in a jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or frozen in ice cube trays for easy portioning.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
- Seitan cutlets
- Oil
- Oat milk
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Brown sugar
- Chili powder
- Hickory BBQ sauce
- Ketchup
- Maple syrup
- Sriracha
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
In a bowl, mix hickory BBQ sauce, banana ketchup, Sriracha, and maple syrup. Microwave for 30 seconds, mix again, and set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together oat milk, all-purpose flour, salt, and a teaspoon of ground black pepper until smooth.
Blend all dry seasoning ingredients in a blender until finely ground, then transfer to a bowl.
Dredge each seitan cutlet in the following order: Wet batter → Dry seasoning → Wet batter → Dry seasoning.
Medium heat olive oil in a pan or large cast-iron skillet and fry the cutlets until golden and crispy.
Place fried cutlets in a bowl, add 3 tablespoons of BBQ sauce, and toss until well coated.
Serve hot with steamed garlic turmeric rice or grilled vegetables.
Garnish with chopped green onion or celery for a more appealing dish. Enjoy!
Hint: Use cornstarch instead of flour in the wet batter for an extra crispy crust.
⭐ Top Tip
- For the best plant-based diet Filipino BBQ, baste while medium-high heat grilling for a juicy, caramelized finish, or use an air fryer for a crispy touch.
- Add liquid smoke or smoked paprika for extra smokiness, and serve with steamed rice and spicy vinegar dip!
FAQ
More Recipes
Want soup instead? Try some of my favorite soups:
Vegan Filipino BBQ
Ingredients
Meat Alternative:
- 1 pound seitan cutlets
Wet Batter:
- 1 cup oat milk
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Dry Seasoning:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
BBQ Sauce:
- ½ cup Hickory BBQ sauce
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
Instructions
Prepare the BBQ Sauce:
- In a bowl, mix hickory BBQ sauce, ketchup, sriracha, and maple syrup.
- Microwave for 30 seconds, mix again, and set aside.
Prepare the Wet Batter:
- In a separate bowl, whisk together oat milk, all-purpose flour, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
Prepare the Dry Seasoning:
- Blend all dry seasoning ingredients in a blender until finely ground, then transfer to a bowl.
Make the Crispy Seitan Cutlets:
- Dredge each seitan cutlet in the following order: Wet batter → Dry seasoning → Wet batter → Dry seasoning.
- Heat oil in a pan and fry the cutlets until golden and crispy.
Coat with BBQ Sauce:
- Place fried cutlets in a bowl, add three tablespoons of BBQ sauce, and toss until well coated.
- Serve hot with steamed rice or grilled vegetables.
Notes
Watch The Recipe Video!
Sheen says
Sheeeesh!! So flavorful! So yummyyy!!
Irven says
This reminds me of one of the meals from my first date with my ex-girlfriend, who is now my wife, but this one looks even more delicious! 😁
Ani says
Amazing recipe! Thank you for sharing!
Sweetie says
Oooooh interesting take on barbeque. I wanna try thisssssss!
Lizzy says
Just tried this! This is so good, didn't change anything about this recipe. Thanks Lainey!🤩🤩🤩
Che says
I love this vegan version of my favorite dish, BBQ! Thank you for sharing this recipe! 🙂
Sweet says
Looks yummy. I was able to taste this once and I loved it. I'm so happy I can make a better and simple-to-follow version at home!
Claire M says
How to do diy bbq sauce??
Dimple says
This is a classic recipe. You will never go wrong with BBQs!