This vegan carne asada recipe is so easy to make and packs a ton of flavor! It's also super high in protein with over 19 grams of plant protein per serving!
Thanks to soy curls, you won't believe you're not eating meat!
Why I Made Vegan Carne Asada
I used to love carne asada burritos. They used to be my go-to meal any time I would visit Mexico or a Mexican restaurant. Ever since going vegan 5 years ago, I've struggled to find a way to still enjoy them. Most of the "beef" substitutes are ground so it doesn't have the same effect as slices of steak.
I recently discovered soy curls and they are an absolute gamechanger! They take on the taste of whatever you marinate them in and they come packaged in slices all ready for you to use in any recipe!
How To Make Vegan Carne Asada
Making vegan carne asada is surprisingly easy with the help of soy curls. If you've never cooked with soy curls before don't worry, it's not that complicated. I hadn't ever cooked with them before a couple of months ago either but with a little trial and error on my part I figured out the perfect way to cook them so you can just enjoy them!
Ingredients for Vegan Carne Asada
- Soy Curls
- Vegan Beef Broth (we use PC brand)
- Orange Juice
- Lime
- Soy Sauce (or Tamari)
- Jalepenos
- Garlic
- Liquid Smoke (optional)
- Oil
- Cilantro
- Cumin
Kitchen Equipment I used for recipe:
- Butler Soy Curls Pack of 2 - These are the exact soy curls we use for this recipe and they work so well! If you're like us and can't find soy curls locally this is the perfect place to get them.
- Fine Mesh Strainer - This strainer is perfect for this recipe and so many other uses in the kitchen. It doubles as a sieve and can sift your flour. Plus it has cute little feet so you can rest it while it drains!
Instructions for Vegan Carne Asada
- Empty bag and let the soy curls soak in vegan beef broth for 10 min, covered. While the curls soak mix the rest of the ingredients in a freezer bag.
- Drain the soy curls in a strainer and shake out any excess liquid. Add the soy curls to the marinade mixture ensuring they are all evenly coated with the mixture. Marinade for at least 30 minutes but you can leave up to 2 hours.
- Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade before draining the soy curls in a strainer. Shake off any excess liquid.
- In a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan heat 2 tablespoon of oil on medium-high. Once heated add the soy curls. Cook, stirring frequently until all pieces are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Mix in the remaining ¼ cup of marinade and remove from heat.
- Serve a lime wedge and cilantro in tacos, over rice, on fries, in burritos etc.
Commonly Asked Vegan Carne Asada Questions
Can you make it ahead of time?
Yes, you can make this vegan carne asada ahead of time! This recipe makes quite a bit so there is a strong chance you won't be able to finish it all yourself in one go. If you do plan on making it ahead of time omit the step where you add in the ¼ cup of marinade at the end and wait to add it until you are ready to use the recipe.
How to store vegan carne asada?
Store vegan carne asada in an air-tight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in a frying pan with a little bit of oil and if you have some of the marinade leftovers.
What is vegan carne asada made of?
Vegan carne asada can be made out of a multitude of different things. We choose to use soy curls as they are the most similar to steak strips that we have ever found. Other things that you could use include seitan (vital wheat gluten), tofu, prepackaged beef substitutes (Gardein, PC, etc.).
Full Measurements & Instructions Below!
Vegan Carne Asada
Equipment
- Strainer
Ingredients
Carne Asada
- 1 pack Soy Curls
- 3 cups Vegan Beef Broth
Marinade
- 1 cup Orange Juice
- 1 Lime juiced
- ¼ cup Cilantro
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- ⅓ cup Oil
- ¼ cup Soy Sauce or tamari
- 1 Jalapeno sliced
- 2 tablespoon Garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon Brine From Jarred Jalapeno optional
- 4 drops Liquid Smoke optional
Instructions
- Empty bag and let the soy curls soak in vegan beef broth for 10 min, covered. While the curls soak mix the rest of the ingredients in a freezer bag.
- Drain the soy curls in a strainer and shake out any excess liquid. Add the soy curls to the marinade mixture ensuring they are all evenly coated with the mixture. Marinade for at least 30 minutes but you can leave up to 2 hours.
- Reserve ¼ cup of the marinade before draining the soy curls in a strainer. Shake off any excess liquid.
- In a large cast-iron skillet or nonstick pan heat 2 tablespoon of oil on medium-high. Once heated add the soy curls. Cook, stirring frequently until all pieces are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Mix in the remaining ¼ cup of marinade and remove from heat.
- Serve a lime wedge and cilantro in tacos, over rice, on fries, in burritos etc.
Nutrition
If you try this recipe, please leave a 5-star review in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you! You can rate it, comment about it, send us pictures about it on Instagram @RescueDogKitchen.
Nutrition Facts for Vegan Carne Asada
This vegan carne asada is packed with protein! One serving has over 19 grams of protein and also 6 grams of fiber is a quarter of your daily intake.
The marinade for this recipe isn't really as accounted for in the recipe because it's impossible to tell how many calories it actually does impart into the soy curls. Most of the marinade is simply flushed down the drain.
The recipe is a great example of healthy food losing a lot of its nutritious value through the food processing process. Soy curls are made from soybeans which are extremely healthy beans with tons of vital nutrients. As you can see the bean lost most of this value through processing.
Pairing this recipe in a burrito or over rice and vegetables would make it extremely nutritious and add a huge boost in protein!
Other recipes you might like:
Leave a Reply