Butler Soy Curls 3 Pack - 3 x 8 oz bags + 10.35 oz Chik-Style Seasoning

Being someone who follows a largely plant-based diet (not strictly vegan, I do enjoy a splash of Irish whisky in my daily coffee, but otherwise no flesh and almost no dairy), I was happy to come across these delicious little gems.As a former meat eater, sometimes I get a craving for something hearty and chewy and meat-like. Often I satisfy my craving for Vitamin M(eat) with cooked mushrooms, or any number of meat substitutes like juicy Beyond Meat burgers and Gardein sweet and tangy Mandarin Chick'n. We're living in an age where eating mostly plant-based has never been easier. Gone are the days of subsisting on tofu burgers and wheat sprouts and pinto beans...nowadays you can eat as healthy or as junky as you wish, and feel more than satisfied. There's nothing like a sloppy joe made from vegan "meat" crumbles to hit the comfort-food sweet spot. Vegetables are all well and good, but many of us prefer a more varied diet; a diet that includes plenty of health foods, but also allows us spacious room to satisfy our cravings.And that's where these soy curls come in. I can eat tofu only in very small amounts, such as the tiny chunks in miso soup; in larger quantities, it doesn't agree with me. You won't see me buying a tofurky for Thanksgiving! Because of that I've tended to shy away from soy products. But these curls aren't tofu, they don't appear to be processed in the same way. They're made from the whole soybean, and while some reviewers have compared their texture as similar to chicken, I'd liken them more to fried calamari. They're not as grainy as chicken, they're more chewy.Pro-tip: the longer you cook them, the chewier they get. If you only lightly cook them, they'll have a spongier, more airy tofu-like texture. So if you want something more substantial, keep cooking! If you're afraid of over-cooking and/or burning them, just remove them from heat and let them rest for a few minutes after cooking, to achieve the same chewy effect.When you first buy these, suck up the added expense and get them with the seasoning included. I haven't used the seasoning for anything but the soy curls yet, but I'm sure it would be delicious in a variety of other applications. I can see adding it to noodles for a vegan chicken flavored ramen, or to sauteed vegetables for additional flavor. Soups, stews, rice, you name it...anywhere you would use bouillon, you can use this seasoning.As for the curls themselves, I've added them to vegetable dishes as a meat-like component for a heartier texture and taste, as well as just made up a batch and munched on them cold for a satisfying snack. One of my favorite uses is after soaking the curls for the recommended 10 minutes to re-hydrate them, to then drain them well and pan-fry them in a small amount of vegetable oil. Towards the end of the cooking time I shake on some of the included seasoning, and add a dash of turmeric to bring out their richness and give them a nice color. At that point I'll put half of them aside to save for a cold snack later, and to the remaining half I'll add a dollop of hoisin sauce. I stir them until they're thinly coated, and then I serve them over chow mein noodles with Asian-style veggies. It's similar to Korean bbq pork, and it's just scrumptious.The amount of seasoning included is generous, so unless you're using the seasoning for other purposes, the next time you purchase, you can just buy the 3-pack of soy curls minus the seasoning for a lot cheaper. And fear not, a 3-pack is NOT too much. I stored my unopened packages in the freezer just to be safe, but in less than a month I've already gone through two bags and have put in an order for my next 3-pack...they're just that good.They taste pretty much how you're imagining they taste, but they're even better than that. If you're a seasoned vegan or someone just transitioning to a more plant-based diet, you really can't go wrong with these curls. Even if you're a die-hard meat-eater, you'll enjoy these as a snack or an addition to salads or as part of a "meatless-Monday" meal.Eating plant-based doesn't have to taste bad, or be uber-health conscious...it can be easy, and simple, and still satisfy every craving you have...and even some cravings you didn't know you had. When I first transitioned to eating mostly plant-based, I was nervous that I would feel lacking, or that I wouldn't know what to eat. Instead of being limiting, my diet has opened me up to a whole WORLD of delicious food that I never knew existed, and these curls are a small but integral part of that world. Enjoy.

As a vegan, soy curls will be an invaluable source of protein for my diet.I received these curls recently along with the Chik-style seasoning. I didn't have any issues with the packaging and the expiration date was best used by May of 2020.I usually cook half a bag at one time, and simply soak the dehydrated curls in a bowl and regular tap water for about 15 minutes. I drain the water then I heat the curls in a pot with two tablespoons of the seasoning (directions say four TBSP for a full bag, so the ratio is correct). There's enough moisture in the curls so I don't have to use any oil to heat them up, and the curls absorb the seasoning perfectly as you fry them up.The texture has that chewy mouth feel to it, kind of like stir fry beef. The great thing about soy curls is that it absorbs whatever you put on it so it is very versatile and can be used on many things. I simply put soy curls on rice and eat it like that. The Chik-style seasoning is amazing and gives the curls the chicken flavoring you usually get from ramen packets.

These things are really versatile and make a great stand-in for chicken in a stir fry or pasta dish. I’ve been vegan for several years and I was happy making seitan and using tofu and the old standby beans, so it took a while for me to order the soy curls. I get tired of making his-and-hers dishes, the meat for him and seitan for me, with the extra work and extra pans to wash, and we can’t eat beans all the time, so decided to give soy curls a try. They are really easy to use, just rehydrate them in broth or some other liquid, fry them up, and toss them in your dish. They have no real flavor of their own so you need to season them well. Also the chicken flavoring powder they came with is pretty tasty. I do keep the curls and the seasoning in the freezer to keep them fresh, as suggested. This is a great addition to the vegan kitchen, or for anyone who would just like to eat less meat.

Bought these to explore new dishes for a holiday visit by my son's vegan significant other. I'm a hard core BBQ fanatic and non-vegan. Substituted these in tacos and were not bad. Not exactly a chicken substitute, much less a pork or beef substitute. Next dish was Mongolian Beef. The soy curls were prepped with a little hoisin sauce and corn starch before "breading" with a little more corn starch and deep fried before adding to the sweet and spicy sauce. They were substituted for the beef in the recipe and served over brown rice. Outstanding! Not beef, but excellent as a replacement. Next dish was a mushroom and tenderloin sauce served over noodles. Good, but not great. Conclusions: Deep frying these brought the curls to life. They are versatile and will take on the flavor of stronger flavored ingredients in a dish. I'll definitely keep these in mind for my vegetarian and vegan friends.

What a wonderful meal for meatless Monday. These soy curls are simple to prepare and delicious with teriyaki sauce and rice. I mean my husband is really enjoying them. I am definitely going to try them with other recipes. Next time I’ll use 1/2 a bag or 2 cups dry curls as we have lots of leftovers.