Protein source, pretty similar to TVP

It’s a type of TVP from a manufacturer called Butler Foods. It’s a very popular meat replacement for vegans. They have a similar texture to chicken so you typically rehydrate them in vegan chicken broth to prepare them for cooking. They’re very good, but you could absolutely use a different type of TVP too. Soy curls aren’t the cheapest TVP you can get.

It’s not too much, imo. Pretty standard amount of ingredients for a typical recipe. But every kitchen is different and if this is too much for you, that’s okay. You could probably skip a few ingredients here like dried thyme.