What are Soy Curls? — Gracious Vegan (2024)

Soy curls are dried strips of mashed soybeans that, when rehydrated, have a similar look and chewiness to chicken. This similarity makes them incredibly useful in many dishes. The added bonus of soy curls? They’re healthy.

Soy curls are made from only one ingredient: whole soybeans. This means they provide fiber (6 grams per serving) and a good amount of protein (11 grams per serving, 3 more than tofu). Many other chicken substitutes contain oil, protein isolates, and other processed ingredients. Soy curls also cost a lot less: from a half to two-thirds less than most chicken substitutes.

What are soy curls made of and how are they produced?

Soy curls are made of non-GMO soybeans. The process of making them starts with soaking the soybeans in water. They’re then cooked and stirred to break the beans down into mush. Then the mush is extruded (i.e., pushed through a small opening) into stringy shapes, which are dried at a low temperature.

Soy curls vs. texture vegetable protein (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). The process of turning the defatted soybeans into soy concentrate or soy flour and then into the puffed pellets we recognize as TVP involves very high heat and sometimes added chemicals as well. From a health point of view, soy curls are less processed.

Who makes soy curls?

As of now, only Butler Foods makes soy curls—in fact, they have trademarked the name “Soy Curls,” meaning no one else can call their products soy curls. Most people buy Butler Soy CurlsTM in 8-ounce packages, which, once rehydrated, becomes the equivalent of about 1.25 pounds of chicken.

What do I do with soy curls?

Soy curls come dry—they look a lot like pork rinds—in a cellophane bag. The first step is to rehydrate them in warm water—or better, in warm vegetable broth (I add a bit of soy sauce sometimes, too). After soaking them for 10 minutes, you gently drain the liquid off and squeeze out any excess liquid before you cook with them. Once rehydrated and squeezed, they can be used like cooked chicken pieces.

Oil-free uses for soy curls

There are hundreds of uses for soy curls. Here are just a few categories of ideas to get your imagination going.

  • Soups

  • Stir-fries

  • Chili

  • Curries

  • Bowls

  • Wraps

  • Tacos, tostadas, enchiladas, fajitas

  • Pulled “pork” and other sandwiches

  • “Chicken” salad and other salads

  • Buffalo chicken

  • Orange chicken

  • Pot pie

I’ve created three special recipes using soy curls. All of them use a roasting technique, which I’ve found effective for oil-free cooking. (If you look online, many recipes call for sautéing the soy curls in oil, which I avoid.)

What are Soy Curls? — Gracious Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What are Soy Curls? — Gracious Vegan? ›

Soy curls are made from only one ingredient: whole soybeans. This means they provide fiber (6 grams per serving) and a good amount of protein (11 grams per serving, 3 more than tofu).

What's the difference between tofu and soy curls? ›

What's the difference between soy curls and tofu? Both soy curls and tofu have a neutral flavor and are made from, you guessed it, soy. The major difference, though, is that tofu is pressed into a block and soy curls are formed as small dehydrated strips with a chewy texture.

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.

What is a substitute for soy curls? ›

Soy Curl Substitute for vegan satay skewers

Soy Chunks, Soya Chunks, and TVP Chunks are all basically the same thing, just in different shapes, so try looking out for those instead. You could also try subbing extra-firm tofu but it won't work exactly the same.

Are soy curls considered a processed food? ›

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.

Are soy curls considered a whole food? ›

They are made from select, non-GMO, whole soybeans (soy), and grown without chemical pesticides. Soy Curls are minimally processed, and they are compliant in the Whole Food Plant Based Diet.

Are soy curls hard to digest? ›

Soy curls are high in essential vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, and vitamin B12, all beneficial to overall health and well-being. However, it is important to note that some people are allergic to soy or have difficulty digesting it.

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.

Can soy curls go 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!

Do you refrigerate soy curls? ›

Soy Curls™ are an all natural product and do not contain any preservatives or additives. Keep them refrigerated or frozen to keep them fresh.

Are soy curls high in carbs? ›

Butler Soy Curls (0.75 cup) contains 8g total carbs, 2g net carbs, 5g fat, 11g protein, and 120 calories.

How to eat soy curls? ›

Soy curls are great for quick dinners because unlike tofu, there's no pressing involved. Simply rehydrate the soy curls in water or broth for about 10 minutes, then squeeze out the excess liquid and add them to a saute or stir fry. Sometimes you may not need to rehydrate soy curls before using them in a recipe.

Do soy curls taste good? ›

But never fear, they are incredibly easy to cook — and absolutely delicious. Soy curls are more of a whole food type fake meat, and not a super-processed, fake meat product with a long ingredient list.

How do you 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.

Are soy curls dehydrated? ›

Soy Curls: soy curls are of course a soy product that are just dehydrated soy chunks. You can get them from Butler's Foods. They are a great product to always keep on hand because they last a while, they are a great source of plant-based protein, and are very versatile!

Are soy curls better than tofu? ›

They're healthy. Soy curls are made from only one ingredient: whole soybeans. This means they provide fiber (6 grams per serving) and a good amount of protein (11 grams per serving, 3 more than tofu).

What is the fake meat called? ›

Fake meat can be divided into two main categories: plant-based meat and what is sometimes called lab-grown or cultivated meat. Plant-based meat is made from plant proteins like soy protein, pea protein and wheat protein.

What is the difference between TVP and soy curls? ›

Protein Content: Both Soy Curls and TVP are high in protein, but TVP tends to have a slightly higher protein content per serving. Fiber: Soy Curls have an advantage in terms of fiber since they are made from whole soybeans, whereas TVP has most of its fiber removed during processing.

Do soy curls cause gas? ›

Answer. Excessive soy intake can cause gas in some people. Like beans, soy products are derived from a legume. Some people have a hard time digesting the sugars in legumes which results in gas when eaten in large amounts.

Are soy chunks and soy curls the same? ›

what are soy curls? While Soy Curls are a specific product, the concept behind them is not new. It's essentially just TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) and there are variations of it around the world. Sometimes they are called Soya Chunks too.

What are examples of whole soy foods? ›

Choose whole soy foods like soymilk, tempeh, soy bread and tofu. Check ingredient lists to make sure the soy foods you buy are made from whole soybeans and not soy isolates. Make sure products (such as cereals) contain soy protein and not just added isoflavone.

Does soy affect your bowels? ›

When you ingest soy, you may have symptoms such as gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain. A soy allergy is a type of food allergy that occurs when your immune system mistakenly triggers a defensive response to soy.

Are soy curls anti-inflammatory? ›

Soy curls are a nutritious meat alternative made using whole soybeans. They are high in plant-based protein, fiber, and anti-inflammatory isoflavones, provide moderate amounts of heart-healthy unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, and contain small amounts of calcium, iron, and potassium.

Does soy cause gut inflammation? ›

Thus, considering these reports and the fact that soy protein does not induce intestinal inflammation or epithelial barrier dysfunction in zebrafish, but saponin, a glucoside present in soybean, does (12), we hypothesize that the mechanism by which a soybean meal diet induces intestinal inflammation is through ...

Is tofu better than soybeans? ›

Tofu is made from the whole bean and has a higher nutritional value than soya protein extract and no toxins. Soya is well researched as a nutritional component that, as we have discovered, has been a part of the diets of millions of adults and children in Asia for centuries.

What's the difference between edamame and tofu? ›

Edamame are immature soybeans that exerts a sweet and slightly grassy taste. They need to be steamed or boiled prior to consumption and can be eaten on their own or added to soups and salads. Tofu is made from bean curds pressed together in a process similar to cheesemaking.

Is soybean cake the same as tofu? ›

It is also commercially available for uses of the same culinary contexts as tofu, while it presents a denser, “meatier” texture, due to the presence of soy beans (Shurtleff and Aoyagi, 2011).

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