Soy is virtually non-existent in the average westerner's diet, and you have to wonder why.
It doesn't taste bad, and it can be incorporated into many different dishes and you would never know it's there. And the health benefits of Soy are pretty amazing. Everything from lower cholesterol to preventing heart disease. It should therefore definitely be included in your healthy-eating plan.
Most vegetarians would probably know what I'm talking about - soy beans are a principial source of protein from a plant food as an alternative to meat.
Familiar soy foods are tofu (bean curd), miso, tempeh and soy sauce.
With tofu (dry soybeans are soaked, ground up and then pressed to separate out the milk), taste and texture can vary greatly depending on the brand you buy.
If you're a newcomer, you may want to buy a few different brands and have a tasting session at home to see which you like best. Some prefer a nutty taste, others a more mild taste. Some prefer a smooth texture, others a more grainy texture.
Either way, tofu has no cholesterol and is packed with protein. It is great in foods from dips and sauces, to soups, lasagnes, cheesecakes and salads.
Miso is a fermented bean paste, usually made from a mixture of soy bean and rice, although barley can be used. It is aged before it is packaged and sold. I love miso in a chili, soups and viniagrettes.
Tempuh originates from Indonesia. Soy beans are cooked and bound together into slabs. They are cut and placed into plastic sheets and sold in the refridgerated department at your supermarket. I always marinate or fry my tempuh quickly before using it. I like the taste and it gives it a nice color.
Most of us probably have a bottle of soy sauce standing in the fridge. And for many of us this is the only soy product we have ever used. Whilst full of flavour and a great addition to cooking, it doesn't have the same properties as these other soy products or the same health benefits.
<< Sponsor >>
As seen in Oprah’s Magazine!