Best Vegan Beef

Name: Vegan Beef Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 ounces soy curls; 1 vegetable bouillon cube (or 2 cups vegetable broth (low-sodium)); 1 tablespoon mellow miso ((optional)); 1 tablespoon cornstarch (or arrowroot); 1 tablespoon avocado oil (or olive oil); 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon minced ginger; 3 tablespoons tamari ((reduced sodium) or soy sauce or dark soy sauce); 2 tablespoons rice vinegar; 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or blackstrap molasses•, or date syrup, plus more to taste); 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce; 1/2 tablespoon sriracha; 2 1/2 cups broccoli florets (lightly steamed); 8 ounces noodles (cooked)

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The Best Vegan Beef made with healthy non-GMO soy curls. Soy curls are a delicious plant-based alternative to traditional beef, perfect for those seeking a meat-free option without compromising flavor. Plus, they are low in calories and high in plant-based protein. This easy recipe tastes just like beef. Add broccoli and noodles or rice for a complete and tasty meal.

Vegan beef with broccoli and noodles on a white plate.

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If you haven't tried soy curls, this is your sign to start! They are so easy to prepare, their texture is very similar to chicken and stir-fry beef, and they are very healthy. Made with just one ingredient-non-GMO whole soybeans-soy curls typically have no additives, preservatives, or sodium. Plus, they are a good source of protein and fiber.

This Vegan Beef recipe uses a reliable method to flavor soy curls without compromising their texture. Plus, I use miso to add an extra burst of umami. This study explores how miso, despite its high sodium content, does not raise blood pressure in the same way that salt does, and it even showed a reduction in nighttime blood pressure among those with hypertension.

This Best Vegan Beef dish was inspired by my Easy Soy Curl & Vegetable Stir-Fry on this site, as well as this sheet-pan recipe for Soy Curls in Creamy Peanut Sauce.

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👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients for Vegan Beef
🥦 Substitutions
📖 How to Make Vegan Beef with Soy Curls
💡 Expert Tips
🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs
🍽 Related Recipes
👩🏽‍🍳 Made This Recipe?
Vegan Beef Recipe
💬 Comments

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients for Vegan Beef

Cornstarch, tamari, rice vinegar, maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, ginger, garlic, broccoli, soy curls, chili garlic sauce, sriracha, and a bouillon cube on a gray table. — Ingredients for Vegan Beef

Soy curls are a healthy and delicious alternative to beef. They are gluten-free and have no sodium, cholesterol, or trans fats. I use the Butler Foods brand, but any variety will work.
Bouillon cube ingredients vary depending on the brand. I use low-sodium cubes made with fewer ingredients, such as Edward & Sons' Low Sodium Not Chick'n. You can also use low-sodium vegetable broth and omit the water in the recipe.
Add 1 tablespoon miso to the broth for more umami (optional).
Optional for serving: The recipe card provides instructions for adding steamed broccoli and noodles for a complete meal.

See the recipe card for quantities.

🥦 Substitutions

Tamari - Use gluten-free tamari for a gluten-free meal. Otherwise, you can use soy sauce or dark soy sauce instead for a richer flavor. I use reduced sodium to avoid excessive salt.
Maple syrup - use blackstrap molasses instead for extra umami flavor and a darker color
Bouillon cube - Substitute with 2 cups vegetable broth and omit the water instead. Or use 1 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon No Beef Base in 2 cups water for a real beefy flavor. Alternatively, use this Better Than Bouillon reduced-sodium vegetable base and mix in 1 tablespoon miso for more umami.
Cornstarch - use arrowroot instead

Craving a high-protein pasta dinner? Try this Easy Pasta with Peas. For more soy curl recipes, visit my Vegan Asian Recipes page.

📖 How to Make Vegan Beef with Soy Curls

Broth in a Pyrex measuring cup with a silver whisk, and a jar of Better Than Bouillon, and a packet of Edward and Sons' bouillon cubes.

Step 1. Make broth mixture: Dissolve 1 vegetable bouillon cube in 2 cups hot water or use 2 cups warm vegetable broth. Add 1 tablespoon miso for more flavor (optional).

Soy curls soaking in water in a glass bowl.

Step 2: Transfer the soy curls to a medium bowl and add the hot broth mixture to cover. (Add more water as needed to make sure the soy curls are completely covered in liquid.) Soak them for 10 minutes.

Soy curls cooking in broth in a black skillet.

Step 3. Drain the soy curls, reserving the broth. Squeeze them gently to remove excess liquid. Toss them with the cornstarch to evenly coat them.

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the soy curls and cook them for about 5 minutes or until lightly golden.

Vegan beef in a black skillet beside a bowl of steamed broccoli.

Step 4. Add the garlic, and ginger and cook over 2 minutes more.

Then, mix in the reserved broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, chili garlic sauce, and sriracha and continue cooking until gently bubbling.

💡 Expert Tips

Soak the soy curls for 10 minutes. Do not soak them for longer or they will become mushy.
For more flavor, add 1 tablespoon miso to the broth mixture and mix.
If you want the soy curls to crisp a little, cook them in batches until the liquid is absorbed. Then add a touch of oil and saute them until golden.
Using Blackstrap molasses instead of maple syrup adds a richer umami flavor, additional iron, and a dark beef-like color.
Storage: Refrigerate any remaining Vegan Beef in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat in a microwave or saucepan.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

Are soy curls good for you?

Soy curls are made from just one ingredient: whole soybeans. Many other chicken or beef substitutes contain oil, protein isolates, and other processed ingredients. Plus, soy curls provide fiber (6 grams per serving), a decent amount of protein (11 grams per serving), and have no sodium, cholesterol, or trans fats.

How long do soy curls last?

If you are storing them in their dehydrated form they can last up to 6 months in your pantry. If you want to rehydrate them ahead of time, they will last up to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Should soy curls be refrigerated?

Soy curls are an all-natural product and do not contain any preservatives or additives. Keeping them refrigerated or frozen will keep them fresher for longer.