Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwiches

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These vegan pulled pork sandwiches are easy to make and full of flavor. These are best topped with your favorite vegan creamy coleslaw or broccoli slaw to round out the flavors of this mock bbq pork sandwich. 

I love a good bbq sandwich.

These are perfect for throwing together in your Instant pot for a busy weekend meal.

Have you ever had soy curls or heard of soy curls?

They are delicious (if done correctly) and take on any flavor you throw at them.

What are soy curls?

Soy curls are dried-up (dehydrated) soybeans that you rehydrate. They go perfect for this vegan pulled pork recipe as a delicious vegan meat substitute.

They have a neutral taste that can take on flavors.

We always use Butlers Soy Curls; you can find them here (affiliate link). Our local health food stores carry them ( Whole Foods), but not any big chain grocery store I have seen around here.

How do you work with soy curls?

You start by rehydrating your soy curls; this is super easy.

Pour the bag into a bowl and cover them with warm water; let them sit for 10 minutes.

After the 10 minutes, they will be all hydrated and happy.

Now here comes the most crucial part, in my opinion.

You need to get all the water rinsed out of the soy curls.

I know it sounds strange to rehydrate them and then squeeze all the water out, but trust me. 

It will reabsorb the good seasoning and sauce we will apply.

How?

You squeeze them. I usually just take a hand full and squeeze until the water is mostly out. This doesn’t take long, but it is an extra step.

Then the soy curls are ready to use. 

What is vegan pulled pork made of?

It can be made with a variety of ingredients. Here are some ideas;

• Soy curls- you don’t get the pulled pork texture with soy curls, but it’s still super tasty.
• Jackfruit- is a tropical fruit. You can buy fresh jackfruit or canned. I would suggest only using canned young green jackfruit; you can find this at trader joe or online.
• King oyster mushrooms are hard to find in my area but they make a great pulled pork substitute.
• Lentils can have good flavor, but the texture isn’t the same.

Are hamburger buns vegan?

Not all hamburger buns are vegan, but the majority are. 

Brioche buns are most commonly not vegan.

Kaiser buns are most typically eaten with pulled pork sandwiches. They are typically vegan, but always check the back of the package.

A pretzel bun has become popular in recent years, and they are typically vegan as well.

What Ingredients do you need for this vegan bbq sandwich?

Check out the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full recipe.

Faux meat

• soy curls
• vegan barbecue sauce store-bought or your favorite homemade bbq sauce
• No beef broth

Dry rub spice mix

• brown sugar
• fresh garlic is the best or garlic powder if you must
• paprika
• salt
• pepper
• chili powder
• cumin powder

Others

• buns
• coleslaw or broccoli slaw

How do you make this vegan pulled pork sandwich recipe?

Instant pot instructions;

Start by soaking your soy curls. 

Pour the bag into a bowl and cover it with warm water; let sit for 10 minutes. 

After the 10 minutes, get all the water you can out of the soy curls by squeezing them until you can’t get much more liquid out. 

While you’re waiting for the soy curls, you can make your bbq seasoning by mixing it all together in a small bowl.

Place the prepared soy curls into the Instant pot and mix in the rub until the soy curls are evenly coated.

Now pour your half cup of no beef broth and about 1 cup of your barbecue sauce, stir. 

Put the Instant Pot lid on and make sure it’s to seal.

Set it on Manuel high for 25 minutes. 

Let it release naturally for about 10 minutes. 

Then add your favorite BBQ sauce until nicely coated.

How do you serve this vegan version of pulled pork?

This vegan pulled pork is best served warm on a bun with some extra barbeque sauce and then topped with broccoli slaw or vegan coleslaw.

Some people like to add a layer of vegan mayonnaise to their bun to add even more flavor.

Feel free to toast the bun if you prefer it that way.

You can also add pickles to your sandwich.

Any of these side dishes go great with this vegan sandwich;

• vegan potato salad
• fresh fruit
• vegan macaroni salad
• salad
• calico beans

How do you store leftovers?

Let the soy curls come to room temperature before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge.

Reheat them in either the microwave or for the best flavor in a non-stick skillet with a little bit of olive oil and extra BBQ sauce on medium heat to let the soy curls crisp up a bit.

Can you freeze this soy curl pulled pork?

You can in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat them the way I said above on the stove for the best flavor.

Want some other easy vegan recipes?

• Vegan Caesar Salad Wraps
• Vegan Chicken Salad Sandwich
• Black Bean Burgers

If you loved this recipe then give it a 5 star rating and leave a comment! I love to chat with you all. Please feel free to share on social media and tag #courtneyshomestead. I would love to see you over on Instagram or Facebook. 

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