Date-Sweetened Teriyaki Soy Curls

Teriyaki for everyone! My Date Sweetened Teriyaki Soy Curls is not only vegan and plant-based, but also refined sugar-free, oil-free, and has a gluten-free option. The best part is the slight caramel flavor the dates add – a great flavor twist to the traditional flavors of a salty-sweet sauce.

Teriyaki actually refers to a cooking technique where food is grilled or broiled with a glaze or sauce. It then evolved into a sweet syrupy sauce when Japanese people came to Hawaii. They created a fusion sauce with soy sauce, pineapple juice, and brown sugar. 

My version is a much healthier one because we switch out the sugar for dates, and soy curls for the chicken. I have a few veggies in the recipe, but feel free to pile on the vegetables. You can stretch the meal out to serve a few more or to just eat more veggies!

What can I serve with teriyaki?

First, you want to make sure to have some steamed brown rice or quinoa to serve your soy curl teriyaki over. I love to start off with Easy Sesame Cucumber Noodles because you can make them ahead of time and serve them straight from the fridge. They are a great summer lunch all by themselves too. 

If you want to make a dinner party out of it try adding in some Slow Cooker Kung Pao Cauliflower or Broccoli with Garlic Sauce.

You can get even more soy curl info and recipes on my soy curl page, or just try my General Tso’s Soy Curls next!

Soy Curls vs. tofu

Both are made of soybeans, they are very different products. Tofu has a firm cheese texture, while soy curls have a texture similar to chicken.

Tofu would work in this dish too, but you would need to use extra firm high protein tofu that doesn’t need to be pressed, or press some regular firm tofu and then cut it into chunks. Personally, I would dust in organic cornstarch and cook in the air fryer for about 10 minutes. Then I’d toss in with the cooked veggies and sauce.

In general, they both have a neutral flavor by themselves but are best when either infused with flavor or coated with something that has a stronger flavor.

Where can I buy soy curls?

Depending on where you live, you may have to order Butler soy curls online, straight from the manufacturer or through Amazon like I do (see links below this). They aren’t in my local stores in North Carolina, but they are made in the Pacific Northwest can be found in stores near that area, as well as in some Seventh Day Adventist stores.

How do I store soy curls?

They need to be kept cool and dry, so your pantry will work if you will use them up in about one or two months. Since there are no preservatives they will go bad, but you can store them in the freezer and they will last for up to 6 months.

Date Sweetened Teriyaki Soy Curls

My sauce is made of simple ingredients water, pitted dates soaked in 1 cup of water for at least 2 hours, gluten-free soy sauce or low sodium coconut aminos, grated fresh ginger, and a little nutritional yeast for extra umami.

We use organic cornstarch to thicken the sauce, but you could use arrowroot if you prefer.

Then for the saute we’ll cook up some onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms. I like to use frozen tricolor peppers that I find at Trader Joe’s, and then the soy curls of course!

Makes a batch of steamed brown rice, quinoa, or even some rice noodles to serve the soy curls over.

How do you make teriyaki sauce from scratch?

Put all the blender ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth. Set aside ¼ cup of the sauce in a small bowl, then whisk in the cornstarch. This is what we’ll use to thicken the sauce later.

Saute the veggies, then stir in the sauce and soy curls. Cook over medium heat until the sauce reduces some, then stir in the thickening mixture and cook until it’s as thick as you’d like it. Easy, right?

Is teriyaki Japanese or Hawaiian?

It’s really a little bit of both. It’s a fusion of both cuisines which created this amazing dish. There are many versions of teriyaki sauce, and some include pineapple or other fruit.

How do I thicken teriyaki sauce without cornstarch?

If you aren’t a fan of cornstarch, remember that you can buy organic which means that it’s non-GMO. But if you have an allergy to corn, you can use arrowroot, tapioca, or even potato starch.

In a pinch, you can make an oil-free roux by sprinkling in your favorite flour like wheat or rice.

Does teriyaki sauce have gluten?

Most restaurants and bottled sauces do have gluten in them. But check out an app like Find Me Gluten Free will help you locate a place that has gluten-free soy sauce.

I’ve found a few Asian restaurants near me that I’m able to get the soy sauce gluten-free. Below I’ve linked to some pre-made sauces you can buy that have no gluten but note that they do have sugar.

Is teriyaki sauce vegan?

There is no fish sauce in teriyaki, but you may need to check for honey in store-bought sauces. But honestly, it’s easier to make my date-sweetened teriyaki sauce in the blender than it is to get in your car and go to the store!

Is teriyaki sauce bad for dogs?

There’s nothing in the sauce that would make your dog sick, but it is a very sweet sauce and the store-bought varieties have a ton of sugar in them.

I would avoid feeding your dog a bowl of this, but a bite or two should be fine.

How do I store teriyaki soy curls?

Make this dish ahead, or store leftovers in a covered dish in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze this, so you could make a double batch and stash one in the freezer for a night off of cooking in the future.

Want more Butler soy curl recipes?

Have I got some soy curl recipes for you! If you want to cook some Instant Pot soy curls try my Pad Thai with Soy Curls, or my caballero bean soy curl chili – you can substitute regular white beans for the heirlooms. 

Want to make some soy curl takeout recipes? I’ve got you covered with Oil-Free Vegan Butter Chicken Soy Curls, General Tso’s Soy Curls, or these super easy tacos.

You need to try my Southern Style Air Fryer Soy Curls, even if you don’t have an air fryer, because you can cook them in your oven. They are my reader’s favorite. My guilt-free treat way to serve them is over whole-food plant-based mashed potatoes with oil-free gravy and some vinegary greens – yum!