I would almost have to say: It is a sin how good these are... Perfect for Sunday Brunch, next to a huge stack of pancakes. And don't even get me started on how amazing these are on whole wheat toast slathered with Veganaise, lettuce and tomato...
So, Soy Curls...
When dry, they kind of remind me of shriveled up witches' fingers Not very appetizing, I know, but when re-hydrated, these little babies take on a life of their own! Soy Curls are not sold in stores anywhere in Rhode Island, so I decided to order me some bags to keep in the pantry. I ordered quite a few... but the price was better the more you bought!! They also threw in a container of their Chickn Seasoning too, (kewl)!
The beauty of the soy curl is two-fold.
ONE: although they are technically a processed soy product, Soy curls are actually made from certified Non-GMO, WHOLE soybeans, grown without chemical pesticides. Many of the vegan "meat" products on the market today are made with “soy protein isolates”. These protein isolates are obtained through a rigorous chemical process, often using the chemical hexane, where the soy protein is actually separated from the fat of the soybean. Thankfully, soy curls leave this chemical bath behind when making their product
TWO: Soy curls have no FLAVOR, whatsoever. Which gives you, the cook, the power to impart any flavor your heart desires! The suggested method of re hydration from the Soy Curls website is plain ol' boiling water. I always thought that was a little pedestrian, considering there are so many broths and spices one could use to infuse flavor RIGHT into the curl! I'm thinking something more like veggie broth, a splash of soy or Bragg's, some sage, thyme or rosemary, onion powder, garlic powder...something!
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That's what makes Julie's recipe so great. The curls are re hydrated in a mix of water, soy sauce and LIQUID SMOKE, the vegan equivalent of smoky, bacon-flavored goodness! These smoky curls can be whipped up, marinated, and sauteed to a crispy-sweet and smoky goodness in about 15 minutes. Julie's recipe, as written, makes an abundance of smoky curls!
I have about a third of them leftover, and am going to attempt a Pasta Carbonara. Will let you know how it goes! If I can pull it off, my meat-eating better half will be MINE foreverrrrr!! ^_^
I JUST bought my first bag of soy curls and I was looking for the perfect recipe to try them. I have Vegan Diner, I should make this!
ReplyDeleteI need to pick up Vegan Diner. I got turned on to soy curls in Portland and promptly ordered three bags from Butlers (plus the Chik-Style seasoning, a simple soy curl saute in that stuff is awesome)! Yours look great!
ReplyDeletethey looks so good! i agree so hard about Vegan Diner. Such a good book!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I buy soy curls b/c they are GF and I love them. This recipe looks so good. I want to eat them now!
ReplyDeleteWow I don't think I should have stopped by before breakfast. Me want! I have not had the good fortune to try soy curls yet. Does WF have them? Thanx for posting.
ReplyDeleteWF carries them- they are in a bag and the vendor is Butler Foods. You can also buy them in bulk online-- I just bought a large quantity from Country Store something or other online.. and remember to keep 'em refrigerated.
DeleteI've made these 3 times now and i love them (am now making double batches and giving some away to friends). I don't bother to saute them in the oil-- I make them up till that point and just save them in jars to use on baked potatoes, salads, tofu scrambles- everything! I also pulse them in the food processor to make them into smaller bits. These are really delicious and soy curls are a great base for the flavoring.
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