I love a thick hearty chili and I bet you do too. My Instant Pot caballero bean and soy curl chili is different from the traditional chili version and is closer to vegan white chili.
If you can’t get a hold of the seasonal heirloom caballero beans, use any dry white bean that you have in your pantry.
I got mine in a past box of Rancho Gordo’s bean club. Get on the waiting list if you can, it’s fun to get cool heirloom beans 4 times a year.
What’s a Caballero Bean?
Caballero beans are a fancy heirloom varietal that you can get sometimes at Rancho Gordo. It’s a big fleshy bean that’s super creamy.
I like using heirloom beans because the textures and flavors are really amazing. They do cost more, but you can always use less inexpensive beans in their place.
What Beans Could I Use Instead?
Any white bean will work well, as long as you soak them beforehand. My least favorite for this recipe would be navy beans but they will work too.
Try cannellini beans first. I like them because they are larger and have a nice bite. Honestly, you could use kidney beans in a pinch!
What Are Soy Curls?
Soy curls are non-GMO soybeans that are cooked, smashed, then dried. They are not all over the country, so many of you will have to order them on Amazon like I do.
If you live in the pacific northwest, you may find them, because the company is based there.
What Do Soy Curls Taste Like?
By themselves, they taste pretty bland. That’s why I often use a sauce on them.
You can always reconstitute them with vegetable broth to add flavor too.
Recipe Variations
- Leave out the soy curls and double the beans
- Use seitan, or vegan crumbles in place of the soy curls
- No carrots? Try sweet potatoes or butternut squash
- Use vegetable broth instead of water
More Recipes to Try
- Instant Pot Cabbage and Corn Soup with an Indo-Chinese Flair
- Instant Pot Tempeh Breakfast Bowl – Pot in Pot Method
- Instant Pot Vegan Pumpkin Spice Syrup Recipe
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.
Want to make some soy curl takeout recipes? I’ve got you covered with Oil-Free Vegan Butter Chicken Soy Curls, Date-Sweetened Teriyaki 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!
Instant Pot Caballero Bean and Soy Curl Chili
Equipment
Ingredients
SAUTE INGREDIENTS
- 1 teaspoon olive oil or water saute to make oil-free
- 1/2 cup minced onion
- 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 cup diced carrot
IP INGREDIENTS
- 2 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups soy curls
- 1 cup cannellini beans or other white bean, soaked overnight (there will be about 2 1/4 cups after they are soaked]
BEFORE SERVING INGREDIENTS
- 10 oz can of diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro
- 4 oz can green chilies
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Use the sauté setting over normal, or medium heat, and heat the oil or water. Saute the onion until they become transparent. Then add the garlic, cumin, chili powder, and carrot. Sauté a minute more.
- Add the water, soy curls, and soaked beans to your Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes and let the pressure release naturally. (Note: If your beans aren’t completely cooked, go ahead and cook 5 minutes more on high pressure)
- Puree the diced tomatoes and green chilies together in your blender.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally. Stir in the blended mixtures, nutritional yeast, oregano, salt, and pepper, then serve.
Judy says
Can you use canned beans; and if yes, do you put them in for 15 minutes as with the soaked beans? Or..is there some other method.
Thank you.
Kathy Hester says
You can use canned beans, but you’ll need to either use less water or turn the IP to saute before serving and cook off the extra water.
Nicole Dawson says
A bean club sounds like a fun idea…I’ll have to check that out.
Kortney says
I love that you use more exotic takes on some pretty common ingredients. Are the caballero beans like butter beans at all?
Jules Shepard says
OMGoodness this looks so so good! Thanks for sharing!
Leslie says
I need to find those soy curls. This recipe is intriguing!
Kelly says
I’m so ready for chili season. Love that you can use the Instant Pot for this dish.
Brianna says
I grew up eating white bean chili similar to this. I’m intrigued by the soy curls! I also don’t think I’ve ever tried caballero beans, I’ll have to add them to my list.
Alisa Fleming says
Okay, you\’ve intrigued me. I have never used soy curls! I remember hearing about them way back when, but they fell off my radar. What is the texture like?
Kathy Hester says
The texture is chicken-like and it absorbs flavors great too!
Kristina says
oh wow, I really need to get back into soy curls! I used to cook with them all the time – it is one of those things I kinda forget about unless I am at Food Fight Grocery. 🙂
it is chili season for sure! I love the sound of this one, and definitely love those Rancho Gordo beans.
Jereann Zann says
My son is currently obsessed with all things bean so I know he’ll love this recipe!
Sandi says
I definitely need to start using my instant pot more. I think this fall season will be all about soup and chili! I can’t wait to experiment with this recipe.
Jenni says
Oooh, Kathy Hester, this sounds so good! I shall show The Beloved!
Gail says
This was a keeper. I used borlotti/cranberry beans soaked about 8 hours. I never keep track of how old my beans are, but 15 minutes with natural release worked fine. This was so easy! Any adjustments if you double the recipe?
Kathy Hester says
I don’t think you’d need to adjust anything to double it. So glad you like it!
Horatio.Caroline says
your day of love may bring the gratitude of others for life.
Rachel says
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I just bought Soy Curls for the first time, so I am a newbie here. Do I need to rehydrate them first?
Kathy Hester says
In this particular recipe you do not need to rehydrate. In other things you will.
Kiki says
Made this today and it is awesome. I had to switch up a few things. I only had canned Cannellini beans so I drained those and put them in at the end. I also was not using the Instant pot since my beans were canned, so I wasn’t sure what to do about the soy curls. I rehydrated them in 3 cups of chik’un vegan stock, and I ended up using the liquid in this recipe so it’s more of a thick soup than chili. Used 3/4 c carrots instead of 1 cup, and 2 stalks of celery. According to MyFitnessPal, this is 266 calories per (1 cup) serving.
Gail says
Really good. Navy beans worked just fine, as that’s all I have awaiting my bean club shipment. I would have guessed that the canned tomatoes might have tasted metallic without being cooked, but they didn’t—I’m guessing from all the spices. And I’ve not seen nutritional yeast used quite like this, but hey it worked. So overall, a keeper I’ll put on my “go to” list. Thank you.
Shellie says
This recipe is a delicious and we’ll be having it often. Two of us inhaled it all. Thanks.