Recipes

Air Fryer Buffalo Soy Curls

Name: Air Fryer Buffalo Soy Curls
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 bag (227g/8oz) soy curls; 2/3 cup hot sauce ((I used Frank's RedHot Sauce)); 1/2 cup vegan butter; 2 tablespoons white vinegar; 1 tablespoon sweet paprika; 1/2 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Are you looking for new ways to enjoy plant-based protein? This flavorful soy curl recipe might just become a new staple.

Prepare this plant-based protein as part of your meal prep and use it in a variety of dishes throughout the week. Or prepare it on weeknights to enjoy fresh in wraps, sandwiches, salads and even as a pizza topping (skip the air frying step and add it to your pizza before cooking).

This recipe is made using homemade plant-based Buffalo sauce, which only requires 6 ingredients and 5 minutes. Here’s what you need.

Buffalo Soy Curls Ingredients:

Soy curls
Hot sauce (I used Frank’s RedHot Sauce)
Vegan butter
White vinegar
Sweet paprika
Vegan Worcestershire sauce
Garlic powder

How to Make Homemade Buffalo Soy Curls:

Here are the steps to make homemade Buffalo soy curls.

Rehydrate the Soy Curls
Place the soy curls in a large bowl and cover with water. Let soak for 10 minutes to rehydrate.
Prepare the Buffalo Sauce
Add all the Buffalo sauce ingredients to a medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, stir to combine. Once the sauce is well mixed and starts to bubble, remove from heat.
Combine
Strain the soy curls and press to remove any excess water. Transfer the soy curls to the saucepan with the Buffalo sauce. Stir until evenly coated with the sauce.
Cook in the Air Fryer
“Fry” the soy curls in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 400℉, or until some of the edges start to brown and the curls start to crisp. Enjoy warm in salads, wraps, sandwiches and more.

Air Fryer Buffalo Soy Curls FAQ:

What Are Soy Curls?

Soy curls are a plant-based alternative to meat. The texture and appearance is similar to chicken and they are made from only one ingredient: soy. Similar to tofu, they are plain in flavor, so they’re best served with sauces or additional flavoring. They come dehydrated in a bag and can be rehydrated in 10 minutes. Use them in a variety of recipes to replace meat.

Where Can I Find Soy Curls?

Here in Vancouver, I get soy curls at Vegan Supply Store. You can also buy them online if you can’t find it at a local health food store or vegan store.

Can I Use Store-Bought Buffalo Sauce?

Yes! Keep in mind that Buffalo sauce is not usually vegan. Use a vegan option to make this recipe plant-based, or make it homemade as I did in this recipe. It takes only 5 minutes!

Can I Bake These in the Oven?

Yes! Bake them at 400℉ for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the edges start to brown and they get lightly crispy.

What Air Fryer Do You Use?

I use this Air Fryer from Cuisinart and I love it! Keep in mind that every Air Fryer can vary slightly in temperature. Keep an eye on the soy curls in the last minutes of cooking to avoid burning, or cook them longer if desired.

If you’re looking for other ways to enjoy Buffalo sauce, you can try my Tempeh Buffalo Caesar Wrap. I also have a new recipe coming soon that uses these soy curls!

Air Fryer Buffalo Soy Curls

Quick and easy air fryer Buffalo soy curls. All you need is 20 minutes and a handful of pantry ingredients. These high protein soy curls can be used in salads, wraps, sandwiches and more.

Course Main Course

Cuisine vegan, vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Servings 6

Ingredients

1 bag (227g/8oz) soy curls

Buffalo Sauce

2/3 cup hot sauce (I used Frank's RedHot Sauce)
1/2 cup vegan butter
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Place the soy curls in a large bowl and cover with water. Let soak for 10 minutes to rehydrate.
Meanwhile, add all the Buffalo sauce ingredients to a medium to large saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, stir to combine. Once the sauce is well mixed and starts to bubble, remove from heat. Set aside.
Strain the soy curls. Press them to remove as much of the excess liquid as possible. I use the bottom of the large bowl to press them while in the strainer, over the sink.
Transfer the soy curls to the saucepan with the Buffalo sauce. Stir until evenly coated with the sauce. There may be some sauce at the bottom, this is okay. If you prepare them in advance, they will keep absorbing the sauce.
Scoop the soy curls and place them in the Air Fryer in a single layer. I recommend spreading them out a little to allow for even cooking. You will likely need to work two or more batches, depending on the size of your Air Fryer. I Recommend only cooking what you need, then storing the rest in the refrigerator in an air tight container until ready to cook and eat.
"Fry" the soy curls in the air fryer for 10 minutes at 400℉, or until some of the edges start to brown and the curls start to crisp. I don't bother flipping them halfway, but if you notice that they brown quickly, you can do so.
Enjoy warm in salads, wraps, sandwiches and more.

Notes

I use Butler Soy Curls.

I used Becel’s soft vegan butter (margarine) in a tub.

You can replace the white vinegar with white wine vinegar or rice vinegar.

Smoked paprika also works well in this recipe.

Meal Prep: I love making this recipe as part of my meal prep. Follow the recipe, but store them uncooked in an air tight container. Once ready to eat, cook them in the air fryer as instructed. They can be kept uncooked in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

If you make these air fryer Buffalo soy curls, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! And if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!