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Soy curls are the plant-based meat alternative you didn’t know you needed: savory, tender, and done in 15 minutes. Here’s my favorite BBQ soy curls recipe!
Ever made anything with soy curls? My friend sent me this What’s App message about a new food she’d discovered. I had no idea what they were, but a few days later I walked into a BBQ restaurant by my house. The menu was straight up Texas barbecue, except for one dish: “vegan option: BBQ soy curls!“
The BBQ soy curls were so delicious that I had to whip up a version of my own. Now I’m 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 my favorite soy curls recipe, what they are, and why you should try them!
5 Star Reader Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I used your recipe for my first attempt with soy curls. This was yummy and easy. Thanks so much!!!” -Susan
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.)
Where To Find Them
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 I’ve combined them with my homemade BBQ sauce to make the legit best faux chicken tenders. They are savory and tangy, with a texture kind of like chicken, honestly. But it’s all plant-based! It’s kind of amazing.
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. Then you can cook them in whatever way you’d like. Here’s how to make this soy curls recipe:
- Make the homemade BBQ sauce (our recipe takes just 10 minutes to simmer).
- Soak the soy curls for 9 minutes, then drain and squeeze out the liquid.
- 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.
- Remove from the heat and mix in more BBQ sauce. Serve with extra sauce for dipping.
How to Serve Soy Curls
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. (Our kids love them by the way, making them one of our top recs for vegan recipes for kids.) Here’s how to make them a meal:
- With fries: Add Oven Baked Fries or Seasoned Baked Potato Wedges, and these curls are basically dinner!
- In a sandwich: Substitute the cooked curls into this Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich as a super satisfying main dish.
- In a salad: Add them to this Chopped Salad Recipe for a tasty main dish salad.
Storage Information
Store cooked soy curls in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm them in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of BBQ sauce: the texture actually holds up!
I have not tried it personally, but people say you can freeze cooked soy curls in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Uncooked dry soy curls store in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry for up to 1 year, making them a great pantry staple.
Dietary Notes
This soy curls recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
BBQ Soy Curls Recipe
Soy curls are a vegan meat substitute that’s gaining steam — and it’s seriously delicious. Get convinced with this tasty soy curls recipe!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 as a snack, 2 as a main 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons Homemade BBQ Sauce, plus more for serving
- 2 cups soy curls (available here)
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Make the Homemade BBQ Sauce (or try Vegan BBQ Sauce, Mustard BBQ Sauce or Sugar Free BBQ Sauce.)
- 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.
- 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.
- Remove the soy curls to bowl and stir them together with ¼ cup BBQ sauce. Serve warm, with extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
Notes
Storage info: Store cooked soy curls in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm them in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of BBQ sauce: the texture actually holds up. I have not tried it personally, but you can likely freeze cooked soy curls in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Uncooked dry soy curls store in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry for up to 1 year, making them a great pantry staple.
I’ve never made soy curls or my own homemade BBQ sauce before. The sauce was a bit sweet for my taste, but is a great canvas that I can tweak. Found this recipe while searching for ways to use the bag of soy curls that had been sitting in the cupboard for too long. I turned it into a BBQ “chkn” wrap on a whole wheat tortilla with salad greens and a little ranch. I’m guessing the omnivores in my house will be too chicken (no pun intended) to try it, so I’ll have quick lunches all week.
I used your recipe for my first attempt with soy curls. This was yummy and easy. Thanks so much!!!
So glad you enjoyed it!