Best Soy Curls Recipe (2024)

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Soy curls are a vegan meat substitute that’s gaining steam — and it’s seriously delicious. Get convinced with this tasty soy curls recipe!

Best Soy Curls Recipe (1)

“Have you ever made anything with soy curls?” My friend sent me a What’s App message about a new food she’d discovered. I had no idea what they were, but I did know one thing: they were in need of a serious PR makeover. Who wants to eat something called soy curls? (Ew.) But Alex was intrigued. He bought a bag, we tried them, and lo and behold: they were actually good. Like, really good! “Tastes like chicken!” we said.

A few days later, we walked over to a new BBQ restaurant near our house. The menu was straight up of Texas barbecue: except for one dish. “Vegan option: BBQ soy curls!” the menu exclaimed. Inspired by the restaurant, we whipped up a version of our own, and we’re now officially obsessed with this healthy meat substitute. These curls are savory, tangy, and have a texture a little like chicken. Slathered in homemade BBQ sauce, they’re pretty darn amazing. Here’s our best soy curls recipe, what they are, and why you should eat them!

Best Soy Curls Recipe (2)

What are soy curls?

So: what are they, exactly? Soy curls are a meat alternative that’s made by boiling and dehydrating soybeans. The process is totally natural, which makes them a whole food and not a processed fake meat product. We know it might sound a little ify if you’ve never heard of them, but we promise these are legit good. This comes from two verrrry skeptical taste testers (us).

Of all the meat substitute products that exist, Alex and I have found that soy curls are one of the best ones at emulating meat. They have a texture similar to chicken, honestly. For a family who eats mostly vegetarian and vegan, they’re very satisfying. (The only thing they rival? Our “famous” vegetarian meatloaf.)

Best Soy Curls Recipe (3)

Get some soy curls

Are you convinced yet? Butler soy curls is another term you might see for this tasty treat: Butler is the company that makes soy curls. We buy ours online; the link is below.

As a note: You may have heard of something called tofu skins: this is similar, but not quite the same (the methods to make each are a little different).

Get them: Butler Soy curls (3 8-ounce bags) (enough for 6 batches)

How to make this soy curls recipe

Soy curls are very easy to make. Here we’ve combined them with our homemade BBQ sauce to make the legit best faux chicken tenders. They are savory, tangy, and oh so delicious. And the texture? It’s kind of like chicken, honestly. But it’s all plant-based! It’s kind of amazing. We promise: you’re going to love it!

The only thing you need to know is that the curls require soaking before cooking them. You’ll only need to soak for 9 minutes, then squeeze out all the water. That’s it! Then you can cook them in whatever way you’d like.

Here’s how to make this soy curls recipe:

  1. Make the homemade BBQ sauce (our recipe takes just 10 minutes to simmer).
  2. Soak the soy curls for 9 minutes, then drain and squeeze out the liquid.
  3. Saute the curls: heat olive oil and saute the curls for 3 to 4 minutes, then add a bit of BBQ sauce and cook another minute until start to lightly blacken.
  4. Remove from the heat and mix in more BBQ sauce.
  5. Serve with extra sauce for dipping!
Best Soy Curls Recipe (5)

How serve ’em

This soy curls recipe is like a comfort-food style appetizer, kind of like vegan chicken tenders. However, Alex and I also like to eat them when we’re looking for a filling snack or as part of a main dish dinner for the 2 of us with our toddler Larson. (He LOVED them, by the way, making them one of our top recs for vegan recipes for kids.) Here’s what we’d do to dress up them up into a meal:

  • Oven Baked Fries or Seasoned Baked Potato Wedges: Add fries or potato wedges as a side, and these curls are basically dinner!
  • Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich Substitute the curls for the jackfruit in this Jackfruit BBQ sandwich as a super satisfying main dish!
  • Grilled Buffalo Cauliflower Sandwich Another sandwich option is substituting curls for the cauliflower in this tasty sandwich.
  • Radish Chopped Salad Recipe Add them to this radish chopped salad with blue cheese dressing, and you have a tasty main dish salad!

This recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.

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Best Soy Curls Recipe (6)

Best Soy Curls Recipe!

★★★★★4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 4 as a snack, 2 as a main 1x

Description

Soy curls are a vegan meat substitute that’s gaining steam — and it’s seriously delicious. Get convinced with this tasty soy curls recipe!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 6 tablespoonsHomemade BBQ Sauce, plus more for serving
  • 2 cups soy curls (available here)
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Make theHomemade BBQ Sauce (or try our Vegan BBQ Sauce, Mustard BBQ SauceorSugar Free BBQ Sauce.)Don’t even think about using another purchased BBQ sauce: this one is absolutely worth the 10 minutes it takes to simmer while you wait for the soy curls.
  2. Place the soy curls in a bowl and cover with several inches of water. Soak for 9 minutes. Then drain and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
  3. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a skillet and heat to medium high. Cook the soy curls for 3 to 4 minutes until lightly browned, stirring often. Add 2 tablespoons of BBQ sauce and continue cooking 1 minute until starting to blacken.
  4. Remove the soy curls to bowl and stir them together with ¼ cup BBQ sauce. Serve warm, with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Soy curls, Butler soy curls, Soy curls recipe, What are soy curls

Last updated: December 2020

vegan vegetarian gluten free

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Recipes

Tagged with:

  • BBQ
  • Dairy-Free
  • For Kids
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Plant-Based
  • Soy
  • Soy Curls
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Vegetarian Recipes

About the authors

Best Soy Curls Recipe (7)

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

About Us

Best Soy Curls Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does butler make soy curls? ›

We soak the beans in spring water (no chlorine). Then the beans are stirred while being cooked. Soy Curls™ are dried at low temperature thus ensuring the natural goodness of the whole soybean high in fiber and omega-3.

Do you have to soak soy curls? ›

Soy curls come dehydrated, so you will need to soak them in hot water to reconstitute them first. They have a nice chewy texture and a very neutral flavor, so they're a great canvas for any of your favorite spices and sauces.

Do soy curls go rancid? ›

Soy Curls are an all-natural product that do not contain any preservatives or additives. They also contain natural fats and will go rancid when stored on your pantry for long periods of time.

Are soy curls good for you? ›

In addition to protein and healthy fats, soy curls are high in fiber, containing 6 grams of fiber per serving, which can help aid in digestion and prevent constipation. They are also a good source of iron, calcium, and other essential minerals that are important for maintaining a healthy body.

How to make soy curls not chewy? ›

Oil: I recommend using the full 2 tablespoons of oil if you want the soy curls to have crispy edges; if you do not care as much about that, you can reduce the oil to 2-3 teaspoons. If you are oil-free you can sauté the soy curls in water or vegetable broth, but I personally find them a little too rubbery this way.

Are soy curls less processed than tofu? ›

Soy Curls

These protein-packed strips are different than soy products like tofu and tempeh because they are considered minimally processed. According to Butler Foods, soy curls are made by boiling whole non-GMO soybeans in water. They contain no other additives or preservatives.

Can you soak soy curls too long? ›

Soy curls come dehydrated and require soaking before use. Soak in warm water for 10 minutes. Be careful not to soak for too long or they will become mushy.

What is the difference between soy curls and TVP? ›

While soy curls are made from whole soybeans and preserve the fiber, protein, and nutrients from the original bean, TVP is made from dehulled and defatted soybeans (i.e., the leftovers from soybean oil production).

How long do soy curls last? ›

Once rehydrated though, they're best enjoyed as soon as possible. Cooked or par-cooked soy curls can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you don't think you'll eat them that quickly, stash leftovers in the freezer for 4 to 6 months.

How to tell if soy curls have gone bad? ›

The most obvious sign that soy curls have gone bad is a change in smell. They should have a neutral odor; if they smell sour or strange, it might indicate that they're no longer good. In addition to smell, look for any visible mold or discoloration. Remember, when in doubt, it's best to throw it out!

How much liquid to rehydrate soy curls? ›

Soak Soy Curls™

Place 1/2 of an 8 oz. bag of Soy Curls™ (approx. 2 1/2 cups) in a container large enough to cover with warm water and soak for 8-10 minutes to re-hydrate, then drain excess water.

Do soy curls taste like tofu? ›

Soy curls are similar to tofu in that they don't really have any flavor of their own but they act like sponges and will soak up whatever you give them.

Are soy curls healthier than tofu? ›

To prepare soy curls, you rehydrate them, squeeze out the excess liquid, and then marinate them or cook them in whatever recipe you want. They have a very chewy texture and are high in fiber, even more so than tofu.

Are soy curls healthier than chicken? ›

Soy curls contain some fat, but they are generally low in fat compared to meat-based protein sources. They are especially low in saturated fat, often contributing to heart disease and other health problems.

How to get water out of soy curls? ›

Drain and pat dry, squeezing liquid out of the soy curls(I use my salad spinner to remove liquid then pat dry in a towel). 2. Toss soy curls with 2 Tbsp cornstarch. In a large skillet over medium high heat with 2 Tbsp oil cook soy curls until well browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 7 minutes.

How long do Butler Soy Curls last? ›

Unopened packages of Butler Soy Curls will keep well in your fridge, freezer, or pantry for up to 6 months as long as they stay sealed.

Where are Butler Soy Curls made? ›

If the city of Portland had an official food product, a case could be made for it being the soy curl. The long, brown shreds of soy protein were invented nearby, in Grand Ronde, Ore., by family-owned Butler Foods, and local vegans can't get enough of them.

What is a soy curl? ›

Soy curls are a soy based meat alternative, made from boiling and dehydrating soybeans, with a texture similar to chicken. Soy curls are prepared by boiling, baking or frying.

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