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.

What a great addition to a plant based diet. I can have fajitas again. They are an easy add protein.

I was introduced to Soy Curls at a Pot Luck Dinner. When I found out it was soy, I immediately ordered some for myself and a vegetarian daughter. You simply soak them in water for 15 minutes, drain the liquid then cook. My favorite is a bar-b-q sandwich where I simply cook it in my favorite sauce and serve it on a seeded bun. Everyone who has tried them, makes an order. A half a bag generously serves four. If you break up the pieces (they are long like an egg noodle) they can be used in any dish where you would use chicken, however I have found that they are best when cooked a long time (for instance, you can just add the sauce and serve in five minutes). It takes time for the soy to absorb the taste of the sauce. The company has a lot of recipes and I see many online, so the possibilities are endless.

I’m new to plant based eating and for a former carnivore, this hits the spot! I soak them in bullion and warm water anywhere from 10 mins to overnight and sautéed them in some of that juice along with some tomatoes and onions and added some spices & organic enchilada sauce…added to a corn tortilla…so yum! They’re so versatile and can probably be used in exchange for any recipe that calls for chicken meat. As for the Butler’s seasoning, after reading the ingredients, I decided not to use it for my meals (it has maltodextrin) due to my new way of eating but I did try it and it did give the soy curls a bit more of the chicken flavor. However, it’s not needed.

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.

A couple of years ago my wife and I decided to try a vegetarian diet. I gotta admit at first, for me, it was rough going. I missed all the trips to 5 Guys and the local steak houses. But, mostly thanks to my wife's culinary skills (and a couple of Instant Pot's) being a vegetarian is OK. Yup I've fallen off the wagon at times when we eat out. When I saw these I thought they were like a snack food. Popped one in my mouth, no taste, and it sucked all the moisture from my mouth. She explained to me that not everything needs to be sampled in its natural state.Flash forward a few days....one of my all time favorite sandwiches is/was BBQ. I just love the spicy sauce and the texture of the meat, chicken/pork/beef doesn't matter.I walked in from work to see BBQ warming in the pot. Have we decided to cheat today? She didn't say a thing, just sat me down with a sammich topped with fried onions and chopped pickles. I bit down,it tasted exactly as I remembered, pre-vegitarian, Same tangy sauce, same texture, everything that made me a happy carnivore. After my second helping, she says "remember those things you called soy curds? That's them."Enough said. We are keeping these around.Also got a sample bag of soy jerkey. I'm not a big jerky fan, but I actually liked them.

I've been cooking with Butler Soy Curls for several years now after learning about them through a YouTube video.Great in soups, as a chicken or beef replacement, I've even seen - although not tried - them used as a pork replacement for pulled pork.Can be air fried, baked, sauteed, whatever you want. I save the "crumbs" and use that in chili too.One suggestion - go to the Butler Soy Curls website and order there. Even with the price of shipping, it's cheaper than Amazon. And first time buyers will get bonus samples. It takes a little longer, but worth it.