Cooling Summer Soyfoods Recipes Inspired by Global Flavor Trends
Linda Funk - Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
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Ankeny, Iowa, July 14, 2022— Indulge yourself with seasonal recipes bursting with global flavors. According to the 2022 Food and Health Survey conducted by the International Food Information Council, taste is one of the top food purchase-drivers for American consumers. Taste generally refers to what our taste buds perceive— sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami. For example, soy sauce and miso are classic examples of umami. Flavor, on the other hand, is the multi-sensory experience that incorporates the aroma and texture as well as the taste of a food or beverage.
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It's simple to enjoy variety by adding flavored syrups to soymilk, or stirring miso paste into mayonnaise. Globally inspired soyfoods such as marinated tofu are widely available in supermarkets. Products like garlic and herb-flavored tofu cubes are ready to toss into summery garden salads or pasta salads and add about 14 grams of high-quality plant protein per 3-ounce serving.
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Versatile soyfoods including edamame and tempeh make it easy to incorporate more plant protein into snacks and meals. Neutral-flavored textured soy protein (TSP, also called textured vegetable protein or TVP) is compatible with recipes featuring trendy global flavors.
Hybrid cuisine flavors: Explore blended cuisine styles like Modern Greek recipes, or American Classics with a Korean accent. The Soyfoods Council offers a variety of adventurous ideas for adding international flavors to some of your favorite foods. Taste meets texture with Creamy Avocado and Silken Tofu Hummus, made in a blender with tofu, seasoning and ripe avocados. Start with prepared hummus, or make your own with canned garbanzo beans, soybean oil, tahini and 2 Tablespoons water. Season with minced garlic, cumin, parsley and lime juice.
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Nostalgia flavors: If you’re a fan of the treats you enjoyed during your childhood, add soy protein to update the classics. The Soyfoods Council suggests recipes such as Rice Krispies Treats TM with a Soy Twist. Simply add TVP to the mix. You’ll also be adding 11 to 13 grams of plant protein per ¼ cup of TVP.
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Citrus flavors: Discover how easy it is to add a citrus note and plant protein to salad dressings and dips with products like Mori-Nu Yuzu Flavored Tofu. Extra firm silken tofu adds creaminess as well as flavor to recipes. Silken tofu offers about 8 grams of protein per serving. To make Yuzu Tofu Ranch Dressing, combine a 12.5-ounce package of Yuzu Flavored Tofu, 2 Tablespoons lemon juice, 5 Tablespoons soybean oil, and 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, parsley, onion powder and ground black pepper and 2 teaspoons of salt if desired. To make Spiced Fruit Dip for fresh summer fruits, combine 1¼ cups Yuzu Flavored Tofu, 2 Tablespoons brown sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
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Global condiments: Chimichurri sauce is a Latin American condiment that makes an ideal flavoring for grilled tofu. Grilled Tofu with Chimichurri Sauce features a Latin American uncooked condiment made in a blender. The sauce incorporates chopped parsley, garlic, chili pepper flakes, black pepper, minced onion, soybean oil, sherry wine vinegar and lemon juice. Before grilling, rub extra-firm water-packed tofu slices with granulated garlic, smoked paprika, ground cumin and a bit of olive oil. Sear the tofu on each side for 3 to 4 minutes and serve with Chimichurri sauce.
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Experience the world on your dessert plate: Cinnamon Mocha Soymilk Risotto is a dessert that combines chocolate soymilk, coffee soymilk, arborio rice, cinnamon, bananas, almonds and honey. Silky Icy Lemon Cups are a cooling frozen dessert, featuring fresh lemons, vanilla soymilk and tofu.
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For additional flavorful recipes, cooking tips and recent updates about soyfoods and your health, visit The Soyfoods Council website: www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. You also can download the free digital cookbooks Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good and Easy Snackable Soy at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com/cook-book
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of Soyfoods.
Celebrate May and Mother’s Day with
Three Easy Spring Recipes
Linda Funk - Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
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We’re excited about new soyfoods products like flavored silken tofu. Not only does tofu add high-quality plant protein to your recipes, it also can provide health benefits for women. Visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com to learn about the potential benefits of eating one or two servings of soyfoods a day.
One serving of silken tofu provides approximately 6 grams of complete protein with no cholesterol or saturated fat. Soyfoods may help reduce the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, help alleviate menopause symptoms, and contribute to bone strength and skin health.
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It’s simple to add plant protein to your lunches, snacks and desserts with new Mori-Nu® Flavored Silken Tofu from Morinaga Nutritional Foods. Yuzu flavor (the aromatic citrus fruit used in Japanese cuisine) and edamame flavor silken tofu are shelf stable and convenient to keep on hand for creating quick recipes. You can even order these new Mori-Nu® products online and have them shipped right to your door. Visit https://morinaganutrition.com for product details and ordering information.
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Green Goddess Dressing: Go greener with fresh spring salad greens by dressing them with this bright, flavorful spin on Green Goddess Salad Dressing. George Formaro, Chef/Owner of Malow Restaurant in Des Moines, adds plant protein to his recipe with the addition of Mori-Nu® Edamame Flavored Silken Tofu. Thanks to tofu’s edamame flavor and color, the only other ingredients you need are sour cream, chopped green onions and parsley, minced garlic, salt and pepper. The dressing is a colorful complement for fresh asparagus, too. To add a citrusy flavor to dress up asparagus, you can also make Green Goddess with Mori-Nu® Yuzu Flavored Silken Tofu.
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Guacamole with Edamame Flavored Tofu: Guacamole has earned its spot as a culinary classic, but that doesn’t mean your favorite dip and garnish can’t benefit from the addition of tofu. Combine 2 ripe avocados with a package of Mori-Nu Edamame Flavored tofu, one finely chopped jalapeño, ¼ cup each of finely diced onion and lemon or lime juice, 3 teaspoons of chopped garlic, plus salt and pepper. Serve with chips or fresh vegetables.
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Daffodil Strawberry Trifle: It only takes minutes to make this no-bake hybrid of three classic desserts—Daffodil Cake, English trifle and strawberry shortcake. It features Mori-Nu Yuzu Flavored Silken Tofu combined with lemon curd, fresh strawberries, cubed store-bought angel food and pound cakes, and whipped topping. In a clear glass bowl, layer cubed cake, tofu/lemon curd mixture, fresh sliced strawberries, and whipped topping. Repeat the layers and garnish with a few sliced berries. This eye-catching dessert serves 6 to 8 and can be made a day ahead of time.
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# About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of Soyfoods.
Green Goddess Dressing
George Formaro, Chef/Owner
Malow Restaurant
Des Moines, Iowa
½ cup Mori Nu Silken Edamame Flavored Tofu
½ cup sour cream
4 tablespoons green onions, chopped
1 teaspoon garlic, chopped
4 tablespoons chopped parsley
½ teaspoon Kosher salt
Pinch of black pepper
Place all ingredients into a quart pitcher. Using a standard stick blender, blend until smooth. Taste for more salt if needed. Or Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend all ingredients until smooth. Taste for salt if needed.
Yield: approximately 1 cup
Salad
8 cups salad greens of choice
10 grapefruit slices
10 avocado slices
Garnish with pomegranate seeds and slivered fennel
On a medium size serving platter, place salad greens, then grapefruit slices and avocado slices. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and slivered fennel.
Serves: approximately 8
Yuzu Silken Tofu Daffodil Trifle
This make-ahead trifle is a hybrid dessert inspired by the flavors and textures of the lemony springtime classic Daffodil Cake that rose to popularity nearly a century ago.
The original Daffodil Cake recipe featured a marbled batter of angel food cake and sponge cake.
Our convenient, contemporary version incorporates those cake types, but also borrows from the classic British layered trifle dessert, served in a bowl. We add fresh berries and a burst of plant protein to the mix with citrusy silken tofu and whipped topping featuring soymilk.
The result? A no-bake, crowd-pleasing dessert for Mother’s Day or springtime entertaining.
All you need for Daffodil Trifle are store-bought lemon loaf cake and angel food cake, a creamy base of yuzu-flavored tofu and lemon curd, strawberries and whipped topping.
For an eye-catching presentation, assemble it in a clear glass bowl. Large salad bowls or small punch bowls work well.
Serves 6 to 8.
1 (12.5 oz.) package Mori-Nu Yuzu Flavored Silken Tofu
1 (12.7 oz.) jar lemon curd
½ packaged lemon loaf pound cake, cut into cubes
½ prepared angel food cake, cut into cubes
1 envelope of Dream Whip
½ cup soymilk
½ tsp. vanilla extract or lemon extract
1 lb. fresh strawberries, sliced
For lemony layer: In a food processor, combine Mori-Nu Yuzu Flavored Silken Tofu and lemon curd until uniformly blended.
For whipped topping: Add 1 envelope of Dream Whip mix, ½ cup soymilk and ½ tsp. vanilla or lemon extract to a medium-sized bowl. Using an electric mixer, follow package directions.
In a clear glass bowl, assemble the trifle:
Add a layer of cubed cake (approximately 1/3 of the cubes), topped with half the yuzu flavored tofu/lemon curd mixture.
Sprinkle 1/3 of the sliced strawberries over lemony layer, and cover with 1/3 of the whipped topping.
Repeat the process, reserving some of the strawberry slices for a garnish.
Guacamole with Edamame Silken Tofu
2 medium ripe avocadoes, halved and pitted
1 (12.5-ounce) package Edamame Flavored Tofu
4 Tablespoon lime or lemon juice
¼ cup onion, finely diced
1 small jalapeno, finely chopped
3 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
¾ cup tomato, finely diced
Salt and Pepper, to taste
Scoop out flesh from 1 avocado; add to food processor. Pulse until smooth. Add tofu; process until smooth. In a medium bowl, add remaining avocado; mash. Add tofu mixture; blend together. Add remaining ingredients. Stir lightly to combine. Transfer to serving bowl.
Serve with tortilla chips and desired veggies.
Yield: 6 -8 servings
Celebrate April is National Soyfoods Month
5 Reasons and 5 Ways
Linda Funk - Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
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Ankeny, Iowa, March 8, 2022—The Soyfoods Council shares ideas to help you observe National Soyfoods Month in April. Soyfoods create craveable meals and satisfying snacks, but there are even more reasons to choose them:
• Health benefits. Aim for incorporating one or two servings of soyfoods into your daily menu to derive the health benefits of soy. Both soybean oil (the most widely used edible oil in the U.S.) and soy protein carry heart health claims from the FDA, confirming they may be able to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. For more details about soyfoods and health, visit the Soyfoods Council website.
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• Sustainability. Verified sustainably grown U.S. soy is not only good for you, it’s good for the planet, too. Growing soybeans is an environmentally advantageous way to produce high-quality protein. Additionally, 95% of U.S. soy farmers are committed to sustainable farming practices and adhere to national sustainability and conservation standards.
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• Preferred plant protein. Among plant-based proteins, soy is a star because it’s a cholesterol-free complete protein that provides all the essential amino acids necessary for human nutrition. When compared to other plant-based milks, soymilk typically has more protein, offering approximately 7 grams per one-cup serving. Soyfoods such as tofu have a long history. In Asia, foods such as tofu have been enjoyed for more than a thousand years. Also, while tofu may seem new to some American consumers, it has been made in the U.S. for more than 100 years.
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• Clean eating. Minimal processing, recognizable ingredients and simple ingredients meet most people’s definition of food transparency. Read food labels when choosing plant-based milks. Many brands of soymilk, for instance, have just two ingredients—organic soybeans and water.
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• Convenience. Add soyfoods to your grocery list and your meals. Soyfoods like frozen shelled edamame and soymilk are readily available in grocery stores. You also have the option of buying shelf-stable tofu, canned black soybeans and soymilk online. Adding soyfoods to your diet is easy, too. You don’t have to change the way you eat. Try some simple swaps, like using soymilk as an alternative to dairy milk in recipes or replace part of the mayonnaise in a dip with silken tofu.
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5 Ways to Celebrate National Soyfoods Month
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• Visit a restaurant and order a menu item that lists soy ingredients such as edamame, tofu or tempeh. At Laishley Crab House in Punta Gorda, FL, for example, the menu combines seafood and soyfoods in its Mahi Edamame Salad. The grilled mahi mahi comes with a teriyaki sauce, and the salad is a mix of edamame served on spring greens, with strawberries, walnuts and house vinaigrette dressing.
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• Buy soynuts online and start making your own better-for-you trail mix, filled with satisfying flavors and textures. The Soyfoods Council offers recipes like Asian Style Chex Party Mix and Tempting Trail Mix to get you started. The latter is a take-along snack, featuring soynuts (roasted mature soybeans), TSP (textured soy protein, also called TVP, or textured vegetable protein), dried cherries and chocolate.
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• Start your day with soyfoods. Add a cup of soymilk to your cereal, oatmeal, pancake mix, smoothie or latte. You also can easily add soy to familiar foods throughout the day. Add steamed shelled edamame (fresh green soybeans) to a salad of corn and chopped red bell pepper with balsamic dressing.
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• Find ways to introduce young girls to soyfoods. Young girls who eat one or two servings of soyfoods per day may reduce by 50% their risk of breast cancer later in life. Consider fun-to-eat soyfoods such as edamame in the pod. One serving offers approximately 8-9 grams of protein. Other craveable snacks include chocolate-covered dried edamame and chocolate-covered soynuts.
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•Soy-ize your favorite recipe Adapt a family favorite by adding plant protein in the form of canned black soybeans, soy yogurt, soymilk, tofu or TSP. The Soyfoods Council suggests recipes such as Slow Cooker Bean Ranch Dip made with canned black soybeans, and spins on pasta classics like Easy Stuffed Shells filled with silken tofu, shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan.
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Visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com to download the free digital cookbooks, Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good and Easy Snackable Soy, with recipes to incorporate more soy into your meals. You’ll also find the latest soy-related research and cooking tips.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of Soyfoods.
Soy and Beef Make a Perfect Pairing
Linda Funk - Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
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Ankeny, Iowa, January 5, 2021—Explore the romance of dinners that celebrate beef and soy on one plate. You’ll discover how well beef and soyfoods such as tofu complement each other. Recently, The Soyfoods Council and Iowa Beef Industry Council held an Iowa Restaurant Association recipe contest event. The winning restaurant chefs demonstrated a wealth of ways to pair beef and soy. Winners include Chef Charles Severson, Chef Katarina Louk, Chef David Perez and Chef Jonathan Cook.
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Iowa Chef Charles Severson of Honey Creek Resort in Moravia created a match-making beef and tofu recipe featuring Iowa beef with another Iowa-grown specialty—soy. Beef with Agedashi Marinated Tofu and Glazed Tofu Scallops is complemented by pickled daikon salad. Chef Severson’s Japanese-inspired recipe marries flavors and textures that create a memorable meal made with regional ingredients.
Agedashi tofu is typically served with a broth of soy sauce, mirin (sweet rice wine) and dashi. Classic agedashi tofu is briefly deep-fried and served with a sauce. The resulting texture—lightly crisp tofu on the outside and smooth on the inside—combines well with the meaty texture of beef. Tofu is a versatile, cholesterol-free soyfood that contains approximately 8 grams of plant protein per serving.
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Other contest winners drew on global flavors as well. Chef Katarina Louk of Django in Des Moines created Roasted Tri-Tip Beef and Sweet Potatoes with Sauce Robert, Braised Red Cabbage and Tofu Bacon Crumbles. Her tofu bacon crumbles are made by marinating firm tofu chunks overnight in a mixture of liquid smoke and maple syrup, seasoned with smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt. The marinated tofu is broken into crumbles and sautéed in soybean oil until crispy.
Chef David Perez of Urban Cellar and Wine Bar in West Des Moines and Jonathan Cook of Iowa Events Center in Des Moines both headed south-of-the-border for beef and soy flavor inspirations.
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Chef David Perez prepared Birria Tacos with Tofu Tortillas, Tofu Avocado Crema and Pickled Red Onions. The beef taco filling is made with boneless beef tri-tip. The tofu tortillas incorporate a 12-ounce package soft silken tofu, two cups of masa harina (corn flour), one cup of hot water and a pinch of kosher salt.
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Chef Jonathan Cook of Iowa Events Center in Des Moines made Beef and Soy Birria Tacos that included tofu cheese made in a food dehydrator with extra firm tofu, nutritional yeast and kosher salt. The tacos were accompanied by a side of cabbage and relish salad with tofu croutons. Tofu croutons are made by marinating extra firm tofu with cilantro, lime juice and spices. The marinated cubes are then sprinkled with cornstarch and sauteed in soybean oil until golden and crispy.
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For other beef-compatible soyfoods recipe ideas, visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. You’ll also find soy cooking tips and information about soyfoods and health.
Ideas for Updating Seasonal Recipes with Soyfoods
Linda Funk - Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
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Ankeny, Iowa, December 14, 2021—Shelf-stable soyfoods like silken tofu, TVP (textured vegetable protein) and Tetra Pak soymilk make it easy to add high-quality plant protein to your favorite recipes for holiday meals and entertaining. These soy ingredients are cholesterol free and offer complete protein with all of the essential amino acids in the proper amounts needed for healthy growth.
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• Celebrate with holiday breakfast: The Overnight Egg Casserole is a layered breakfast casserole that’s equally ideal for a stress-free Christmas morning meal, New Year’s Day brunch, or any busy holiday weekend. Set it up the night before. In a mixing bowl, combine 8 eggs, 2 cups unsweetened soymilk, a small, chopped onion, 2 teaspoons of dry mustard and 1 teaspoon salt. In a sauté pan, brown 3 ounces pork sausage and ½ cup TVP (textured vegetable protein). Spray a 9” x 13” dish with nonstick cooking spray and add 10 slices of wheat or white bread that has been cubed. Sprinkle with TVP/sausage mixture, and sprinkle 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese on top. Pour egg mixture over the meat mixture and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 6 hours). In the morning, bake at 350°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes until casserole is browned and firm to the touch. The casserole serves 12.
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• Create appetizer allure: There’s a reason why warm spinach dip is a classic party appetizer, but why not update it with the addition of plant protein? Make Pecan-Crusted Spinach Artichoke Dip with a base of soy cream cheese, firm silken tofu and soy sour cream. Frozen cut leaf spinach, coarsely chopped canned artichokes, chopped onion and grated Parmesan cheese add to the mix, seasoned with cayenne, salt and black pepper. The topping is a combination of melted butter with 1/3 cup crushed herb stuffing and ½ cup chopped pecans. Bake the dip in a greased 2-quart baking dish for 20 to 25 minutes until lightly browned on top.
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• Stick with simple side dishes: Whether your holiday entree is turkey, beef, ham or a vegetarian specialty, you’ll discover how easy it is to make this compatible side dish. Whip up Garlic Mashed Potatoes by combining peeled and cubed Yukon Gold Potatoes that have been boiled with sliced garlic cloves until tender. Add plain unsweetened soymilk, butter and salt and ground black pepper to taste. Beat with an electric mixer until potatoes are smooth.
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• Make easy holiday cookies: Simplify your life with bar cookies like Holiday M&Ms Soy Treats. What’s not to like when you’re talking about a mixture of oatmeal, Fudge Brownie Mix, TVP (textured vegetable protein), walnuts or pecans and red and green M&Ms?
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Visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com to download the free digital cookbooks, Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good and Easy Snackable Soy featuring these recipes and other ideas for holiday entertaining. You’ll also find the latest information about soyfoods and health.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
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Keep Soymilk on Hand for Cozy, Celebratory and Convenient Holiday Beverages
Linda Funk
Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
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Ankeny, Iowa, November 22, 2021— When you stock up on holiday pantry items for the busiest season of the year, don’t forget shelf-stable Tetra Pak cartons of soymilk. Having dairy-free soy eggnog, unsweetened soymilk, vanilla soymilk and chocolate soymilk on hand makes it so easy to add plant protein to your seasonal drink offerings. The Soyfoods Council offers tips that can simplify seasonal drinks and jump-start your own creativity—in a budget-conscious and nutrition-minded way.
Soymilk is a cholesterol-free, complete plant protein offering all of the essential amino acids in the amounts needed for healthy growth. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include soy beverages (soymilk) as part of the dairy group, noting that it is similar to dairy milk in nutrient composition and the way it is used in meals. One serving of soymilk offers on average 7 to 8 grams of plant-based protein per serving.
• Pick up a few cartons of ready-made soy eggnog at your local grocery store or order it online. If your guests are in the mood, you can add a splash of Cognac, brandy or rum and garnish the drinks with a sprinkling of nutmeg.
• Warm up mugs of chocolate soymilk in a microwave for instant hot chocolate. Chocolate soymilk is available in convenient 8-ounce boxes, too, providing more than 6 grams of protein per serving. Garnish hot chocolate soymilk with whipped topping, marshmallows or a peppermint stick. If you’re feeling festive, add all three.
• To create your own drink specialties for guests, make easy Homemade Soymilk Eggnog in a blender. Combine pasteurized liquid eggs from a carton, granulated sugar, unsweetened soymilk, ½ cup soy-based cream or creamer, vanilla extract, nutmeg and cinnamon to taste. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.
• Start with 1 cup of vanilla soymilk to make your Homemade Soy Irish Cream Liqueur in a blender. Add a 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup of soy-based or daily half-and-half, 1 Tablespoon of Hershey’s syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, ¾ cup Irish whiskey and 1/3 cup rum. Store in the refrigerator and stir before serving.
For details about these seasonal drinks and other beverage ideas, visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com and download a free copy of the digital cookbook Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good. You’ll find the complete soymilk recipes for Hot Chocolate, Homemade Soymilk Eggnog and Homemade Soy Irish Cream Liqueur. Also, look for the newest digital cookbook, Easy Snackable Soy: Simple Snack Recipes Featuring High-Quality Plant Protein, for more recipe ideas for holiday entertaining. The Soyfoods Council website also offers tips for cooking with soyfoods, a wide array of recipes, nutrition information and research updates on soyfoods and health.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
Pumpkin and Tofu Pair Up for New Versions of Fall Favorites
Linda Funk
Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
Ankeny, Iowa, November 2, 2021— Can you name a more popular fall flavor than pumpkin? When paired with tofu, pumpkin recipes become a plant protein powerhouse. Pumpkin is a food native to the Americas, a traditional holiday ingredient, and a nostalgia flavor all rolled into one. For holiday cooking, tofu makes the perfect partner for pumpkin, due to its smooth texture, neutral flavor nutrition profile. A 3-ounce serving of silken tofu has no cholesterol, and provides 8.5 grams of complete plant protein.
The Soyfoods Council offers a wide range of fall recipes featuring pumpkin and tofu. For appetizers, consider Soy Pumpkin Dip. You can make it quickly in a blender. Simply combine one 15-ounce can of pumpkin, 1/3 cup brown sugar, a Tablespoon of maple syrup and two teaspoons each of cinnamon and nutmeg. For an extra splash of autumn color, sprinkle in pomegranate seeds. The dip is ideal for fresh fruit.
As cooler weather rolls in, warm up with Pumpkin Tofu Soup. In a food processor, puree one cup of firm silken tofu and a can of pumpkin. Add two cups of vegetable stock. Season with turmeric, curry powder, ground ginger, honey and minced onion and garlic that have been sauteed in soybean oil. Serve with breadsticks and apple slices.
Pumpkin dessert ideas range from cookies to cheesecake and custard. To make Tofu Pumpkin Pie, combine extra firm silken tofu, a can of pumpkin, two Tablespoons of soybean oil and two Tablespoons of dark molasses in a food processor. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; add ¾ cup granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, a dash of cloves, and ½ teaspoon each of vanilla and salt. Mix well and pour into an unbaked pie crust; bake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes.
For details about these and other autumn recipes, visit the website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. You’ll also find research about soyfoods and your health, and can download a free copy of the digital cookbook, Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good. The cookbook contains complete recipes for Pumpkin Tofu Soup and Tofu Pumpkin Pie. The newest free digital cookbook is now available, too: Easy Snackable Soy: Simple Snack Recipes Featuring High-Quality Plant Protein.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans.
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Tofu Pumpkin Pie
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oz package Mori-Nu Silken Tofu, extra firm
1-15 oz canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons soybean oil
2 tablespoons dark molasses
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash ground cloves
9-inch unbaked piecrust
Soy Whip topping
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Preheat oven to 350Ëš F degrees.
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In a blender or food processor, add tofu, pumpkin, oil, and molasses, blend until smooth. Place in a large bowl.
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Stir in sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt, vanilla, nutmeg, and cloves; blend.
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Pour into unbaked crust. Bake at 350° F for 50 to 60 minutes or until filling is puffed around the edges. Chill 2 to 3 hours.
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Serve topped with whipped topping. Refrigerate leftovers.
Yield: 8 servings
Soy-Rich Kids’ Snacks for the Busy
Back-to-School Season
Linda Funk
Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
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Ankeny, Iowa, September 15, 2021— Are you ready for snack season? Over 56 million students in the U.S. are heading back to their elementary or secondary schools, and just about all of them will be hungry after school. The Soyfoods Council provides snack ideas with its free new digital cookbook, Easy Snackable Soy: Simple Snack Recipes Featuring High-Quality Plant Protein. You can download this 126-page illustrated recipe collection with more than 50 simple snacks featuring soyfoods such as edamame, soymilk and soynuts. Soy ingredients make sensible snack choices, offering complete protein with all of the essential amino acids in the proper amounts needed for healthy growth. Currently, 65% of Americans say they have switched from traditional snacks to high protein, low sugar alternatives in the last 12 months. For children, snacks may account for as much as 30% of their daily energy intake.
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Walking in the door: Who says you have to rush around making after-school snacks as soon as you get home from work? You can make Slow Cooker Bean Ranch Dip in the morning. Combine canned black soybeans, canned refried beans, soy sour cream, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing mix and salsa. Hungry kids can help themselves to dip and tortilla chips. Just so you know, this dip is party-worthy, too.
If fruits and vegetables are your preference, try three-ingredient Spiced Fruit Dip made with firm silken tofu, brown sugar and cinnamon. Dip fresh berries, banana or melon slices for a satisfyingly sweet snack. Vegetable-friendly dips include Creamy Avocado and Silken Tofu Hummus, made in a blender. Combine canned garbanzo beans (chickpeas), a half carton of silken tofu, two ripe avocados, soybean oil, lime juice and tahini. The dip is seasoned with minced garlic and cumin. Serve with carrot, celery and bell pepper slices.
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Going out the door: Portable snacks can go wherever the kids go after school. Keep make-ahead snacks on hand, including Soynut Butter Pita Pockets with apple slices. Make Tempting Trail Mix with nuts, dried fruit, honey, chocolate chips and TVP (textured vegetable protein, also known as TSP or textured vegetable protein). You can also add a burst of protein to old favorites such as Rice Krispies Treats TM with a Soy Twist. Simply add TVP to the mix.
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For these and other kid-friendly snack recipes, visit the website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com and download a free copy of Easy Snackable Soy. The digital cookbook also includes an ingredient directory of the soyfoods that make it easy to create plant-powered snacks, plus sources for ordering soyfoods online for delivery right to your door. The website provides other resource information, including research about soyfoods and health.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
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SoyNut Butter Pita Pocket Recipe
Yield: 1 pita half
½ whole wheat pita pocket
1 Tbsp SoyNut Butter
1 Tbsp apple butter
6 apple slices
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Spread SoyNut butter and apple butter on pita half. Arrange apple inside pita.
CALORIES 231; FAT 6.5g; PROTEIN 7g; CARBOHYDRATE 38g; CHOLESTEROL 0mg
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Linda Funk
Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
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Ankeny, Iowa, August 4, 2021— Don’t you feel as if this is the height of snacking season? Active lifestyles really accelerate with the combination of summer vacation, road trips, outdoor activities and snacks for the millions of American kids who are already starting back to school. So here’s the good news: The Soyfoods Council shares easy-to-make snack ideas in a new free digital cookbook funded by The Soybean Checkoff. Easy Snackable Soy: Simple Snack Recipes Featuring High-Quality Plant Protein is a timely recipe collection. Currently, 65% of Americans say they have switched from traditional snacks to high protein/low sugar alternatives in the last 12 months. Additionally, 28% of U.S. consumers now eat more protein from plant sources than they did pre-pandemic.
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In the U.S. we’re serious about snacks, with 42% of consumers eating snacks three or more times a day. Snacks account for as much as one quarter of our daily energy intake; for children that number may rise to as much as 30%. For kid-friendly snack recipes, visit the website at www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com, click on the digital cookbook tab, download a copy of Easy Snackable Soy: Simple Snack Recipes Featuring High-Quality Plant Protein. Soyfoods such as edamame, soymilk and soynuts are sensible snack choices offering complete protein with all of the essential amino acids in the proper amounts needed for healthy growth.
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The illustrated 126-page digital collection features approximately 50 family-friendly recipes. The 82-plus color photos provide guidelines for how the prepared snacks should look and give home cooks a snap course in soyfoods ingredients to keep on hand. Easy Snackable Soy includes an ingredient directory of the soyfoods that make it easy to create plant-powered snacks. Readers can also find sources for ordering soyfoods online for delivery right to their doors.
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Easy Snackable Soy provides ideas for Zippy Dips, Sweet Snacks, Party Bites and Packable Snacks. The digital cookbook has been curated by authors Linda Funk, Executive Director of The Soyfoods Council, and food writer Gail Bellamy, former executive food and beverage editor of a national magazine for the restaurant industry. Designer Jana Strobel of JS Creative added touches that make this digital cookbook an easy-access, quick-read collection.
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In addition to recipes, readers are given soy-specific tips. These include how to use miso (fermented soybean paste); hints for making sweet snacks with silken tofu, soy flour and textured soy protein (TSP/TVP); plus suggestions for making your own flavored soynuts and trail mix blends. The ingredient section includes a list with five reasons soyfoods are for snackers—including the fact that soyfoods are stars in the plant protein world. There’s also an informal quiz that makes predictions about your lifestyle, based on your snack choice when tight budgets, busy days, children’s nutrition and other concerns affect snack choices.
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Check out sweet ideas like three-ingredient Chocolate Cardamom Tempeh made with lightly fried or air-fried tempeh (fermented soybean cake) triangles coated with microwave-melted chocolate flavored with a bit of ground cardamom. Get fresh dip ideas, too, like Cauliflower and Silken Tofu Dip made in a blender or food processor with tahini, lemon juice, garlic and a little soybean oil. Packable snacks include Asian-Style ChexTM Party Mix with roasted edamame and a burst of flavor from Sriracha sauce and Five Spice Powder. The Party Bites section offers simple snacks for entertaining, like Slow Cooker Bean Ranch Dip made with canned black soybeans, canned refried beans, soy sour cream, cheddar cheese, ranch dressing mix and salsa.
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Easy Snackable Soy also makes it easy to adapt your own favorite snack recipes to include soy protein. Visit www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com to download the free digital cookbook. You’ll also find Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good, The Soyfoods Council’s first digital cookbook. The website provides other resource information and research about soyfoods and health as well.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans.
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Free Digital Cookbook Easy Snackable Soy Offers Plant-Based Snack Ideas
Chill Out with Soy-Based Ice Cream
Ankeny, Iowa, July 21, 2021—Ice cream is a taste tradition that serves as both a comfort food and a splurge food. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, the average American eats an average of approximately 22 gallons of ice cream each year. With the rise of dairy alternatives, more consumers are exploring their options including soy-based dairy alternative ice creams.
In fact, nondairy ice cream in the U.S. grew 20 percent in 2020, with customers choosing dairy alternatives for a variety of reasons ranging from health considerations to food allergies or a desire for variety. With milk being the top food allergy out of the more than 160 foods that can cause allergic reactions, soy products are a viable dairy alternative. According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, fortified soy beverages and soy yogurt are the only plant-based milk alternatives considered to be a dairy equivalent.
Check out the ice cream section of your local supermarket for ice creams featuring dairy alternatives made with soymilk. Among the choices are Tofutti, So Delicious, and Soy Creamy Cherry Chocolate Chip from Trader Joe’s. Meanwhile, chill out with one of the following recipes from The Soyfoods Council, featuring tofu, soy yogurt, soymilk and soy creamer.
The Soyfoods Council offers a variety of cool recipes for hot weather. Raspberry Frozen Soy Yogurt is made in a food processor, using equal amounts of plain soy yogurt and frozen raspberries, sweetened with granulated sugar and flavored with a splash of vanilla extract. If desired, add mini dark chocolate chips before placing the mixture in the freezer.
If you have an ice cream maker, try Chocolate Tofu Ice Cream. The recipe adds soy protein to your splurge occasion with the addition of chocolate soymilk and soft silken tofu. The only other ingredients you’ll need are chocolate syrup, an envelope of unflavored gelatin, sugar and vanilla extract.
Frozen custard may remind you of your childhood, but The Soyfoods Council provides spin on that classic with its recipe for Soy Pumpkin Custard. The difference between ice cream and frozen custard is that the latter contains ¼ percent egg yolk solids. You can make a batch of Soy Pumpkin Custard in an ice cream maker. The combination of pumpkin, egg yolks, and soy creamer is flavored with sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.
It’s easy to develop your own ice cream specialties by adding in other ingredients such as crushed cookies, chopped chocolate mints, mandarin oranges, peaches or strawberries. The Soyfoods Council offers a recipe for Cookies and Cream Ice Cream that starts with a base of silken firm tofu, half-and-half, sugar, vanilla and frozen whipped topping. Crushed cookies are the highlight of this treat.
For more recipes from The Soyfoods Council, visit www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com. You’ll In addition to offering more recipes on its website, The Soyfoods Council provides cooking tips, research updates on soyfoods and health, and resource information about ways to incorporate more plant protein into your diet.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
This recipe is adapted from Cooking Light magazine. It’s as easy to make as it is good to eat. Be sure to use the silken vacuum packed tofu.
Ingredients 1 (12.3-ounce) package silken firm tofu
½ cup sugar
½ cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
2 cups frozen whipped topping
10 Oreo cookies
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Instructions Combine the first 5 ingredients in a food processor or blender; process until smooth.
Place tofu mixture in a large bowl.
Fold in whipped topping. Pour mixture into the freezer can of an ice cream freezer; freeze according to manufacturers instructions.
Stir in crushed cookies during last 5minutes of freezing.
Yield: 8
Optional: 1/4 cup soy milk or dark chocolate
Raspberry Frozen Soy YogurtIngredients:
2 cups of plain soy yogurt
2 cups of raspberries, frozen
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Optional: 1/4 cup soy milk or dark chocolate
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Instructions:
Put the first four ingredients into a food processor and process until smooth
Strain the mixture to remove raspberry seeds
Mix in chocolate if desired
Place into a stainless steel bowl and place in the freezer. Remove every 30 minutes and stir.
Repeat this until the mixture is completely frozen.
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Fire Up the Grill With These Burger-Enhancing Tips
Ankeny, Iowa, May 14, 2021—Americans eat more than 50 billion burgers each year, with grilled burgers being a summertime staple at picnics, parties and backyard barbecues. The Soyfoods Council reminds burger fans everywhere that Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) granules can enhance the burgers you grill this season with high-quality plant protein. The shelf-stable plant protein (also known as Textured Soy Protein or TSP) is a fiber-rich, zero-fat food. TVP has a naturally mild flavor that takes on the flavor of ingredients it is mixed with, such as ground beef, turkey or plant protein ground beef alternatives.
TVP typically supplies approximately 8.75 grams of high-quality plant protein per ¼ cup serving. In addition, other soyfoods such as miso and silken tofu can help you create memorable meals when grilling.
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• Create your own burger blends using TVP. Do-it-yourself protein blends add plant-based protein and can help stretch your food budget. To make ground beef or turkey burger blends, use equal amounts of meat and TVP. You can also stretch plant-based burgers. For example, mix a package of two quarter-pound plant-based patties with ½ cup TVP, one egg, onion powder and garlic powder and 2 Tablespoons soybean oil. Chill the blend in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before forming into patties.
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• Flavor your foods with miso. Add umami (savory taste) to your burgers and sides by adding miso paste—white, yellow or red. This traditional Japanese ingredient is soybean paste fermented with rice, barley or other grains and adds approximately two grams of protein per 2 Tablespoon to your recipes. Miso is widely available in the refrigerated section at many supermarkets.
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For meaty mixes and burgers, discover how miso creates great accompaniments. For Mushrooms and Miso Burger Topping, sauté chopped mushrooms of choice with chopped onion in a bit of soybean oil. At the end of cooking, stir in one or two teaspoons of white or red miso. White miso offers a milder flavor, while red miso complements robust meats. Create Miso Mayonnaise for a condiment by adding 2 Tablespoons of white miso to one cup of mayonnaise. Serve grilled corn on the cob with White Miso Butter. Simply stir white miso paste into softened butter. Add fresh herbs such as basil or parsley if desired.
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• Update burger side dishes with soyfoods. Tweak baked beans by making Calico Beans that combine a can of baked beans, a can of black soybeans and a package of frozen shelled edamame. Bake with maple syrup or barbecue sauce; add bacon or turkey bacon, if desired. Miso Meets Zaatar Potato Salad is a another contemporary side dish, made with cubed redskin potatoes in a dressing featuring rice vinegar, soybean oil, white miso, zaatar seasoning, fresh parsley, minced shallots, a teaspoon of honey and ½ tsp. toasted sesame oil. Alternately, for a closer-to-classic Tofu Potato Salad, stir soft silken tofu into mayonnaise.
If you’re looking for ways to incorporate more soyfoods and high-quality plant protein into your diet, The Soyfoods Council can help with its new digital cookbook, Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good: Plant-based recipes made with shelf-stable soyfoods. Visit The Soyfoods Council website to download your free copy: https://www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com/cook-book.
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The Soyfoods Council website also provides more recipes, tips for cooking with soyfoods, research updates on soyfoods and health, and resource information about ways to incorporate more plant protein into your diet.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
Calico Beans Recipes
1 (16-oz.) can baked beans
2 (15-oz.) can black soybeans, rinsed and drained
1 (12-oz.) package frozen shelled edamame
1 cup maple syrup or barbecue sauce
1/4 cup cooked pork or turkey bacon, broken into small pieces
Combine baked beans, black soybeans, edamame, syrup or barbecue sauce and turkey bacon pieces in 4- to 5 1/2-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours (HIGH 3 to 4 hours). If necessary, stir in 1/2 cup water to desired consistency.
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IF doing in oven, combine ingredients and put into oven safe pan in at 250 F.
Stir every 20 minutes and continue to cook until heated though and ingredients are blended well.
Silky Lemon Tofu Pudding
1-10 ounce jar Lemon curd
1-12 ounce silken firm tofu box
Garnish with raspberries (or fruit of choice)
In a blender, add lemon curd and tofu. Blend until smooth.
When ready to serve-
Add lemon mixture to individual graham cracker crust shells
Or
Layer in parfait glass with whipping cream or soy whip
Garnish with raspberries or fruit of choice and small mint leaf.
Yield: 8-10 servings
If You’re Confused About Endocrine Disruptors, Here’s Why Soy Isn’t One
Media Contact:
Linda Funk
Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
Ankeny, Iowa, April 21, 2021—Although soyfoods have been an important part of traditional Asian diets for centuries, many U.S. consumers have misconceptions about them. Most notable is the myth that soyfoods are endocrine disruptors—a term that refers to natural or man-made chemicals that may interfere with or mimic the body’s hormones. However, according to a comprehensive technical review authored by an international team of experts, overwhelming evidence shows that this is not the case. This technical review, which was recently published in the journal Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, examined hundreds of human studies.
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Concerns about the safety of soyfoods have arisen in part because soy is a uniquely rich source of isoflavones, naturally occurring plant compounds classified as phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. Speculation arose that these phytoestrogens could function as endocrine disruptors. Among the numerous adverse effects that have been linked with endocrine disruptors are an increased risk for infertility, hormone sensitive cancers and thyroid disruption.
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In most instances, endocrine disruptors have earned that classification based on the results of animal research, as conducting human research is not feasible. However, as was laid out in the above-referenced review, soy has been the subject of hundreds of clinical studies that attest to the safety of consuming soyfoods. Health agencies around the world have reached this conclusion. For example, in 2017, after extensively reviewing the scientific literature, the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) rejected all safety concerns about soyfoods. Similarly, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Permanent Senate Commission on Food Safety of the German Research Foundation (SKLM) concluded that the isoflavones in soybeans don’t adversely affect the three organs they evaluated, the breast, thyroid and endometrium.
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Breast cancer and soy: The position of the American Cancer Society, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the Canadian Cancer Society and the World Cancer Research Fund International is that breast cancer patients can safely consume soyfoods. Population studies actually show that consuming soy after a diagnosis of breast cancer reduces recurrence and improves survival.
Male feminization: The estrogen-like effects of soybean isoflavones have led to concerns that soy feminizes men. However, a statistical analysis of clinical studies involving nearly 2,000 men, found that even large amounts of soy have no effect on testosterone or estrogen levels in men. And, as was evaluated in the technical review, studies show soy has no effect on sperm or semen metrics.
Thyroid function and soy: A 2019 statistical analysis of clinical studies found that soy has no effect on the two main thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). In 2015, the EFSA concluded that isoflavones don’t affect the thyroid in pre- or postmenopausal women (men were not evaluated). A similar conclusion was reached by the SKLM three years later.
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The technical review focused entirely on safety concerns, research published over the past 30 years attests to the nutritional and health attributes of soyfoods. Soyfoods provide high-quality protein and healthy fat and have been linked with reduced risks of several chronic diseases including breast cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.
If you’re looking for ways to incorporate more soyfoods and high-quality plant protein into your diet, The Soyfoods Council can help. Its new digital cookbook, Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good: Plant-based recipes made with shelf-stable soyfoods contains ideas such as Party Time Roasted Black Soybeans, Pasta Primavera with Edamame, Silky Lemon Tofu Pudding and Pomegranate-Cherry Vanilla Soy Smoothies. Visit The Soyfoods Council website to download your free copy: https://www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com/cook-book.
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The Soyfoods Council website also provides cooking tips, research updates on soyfoods and health, and resource information about ways to incorporate more plant protein into your diet.
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
Kathy Gunst, Food Journalist and Chef of NPR’s “Here and Now,” Shares a Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce Recipe
Kathy Gunst, Food Journalist and Resident Chef of NPR’s “Here and Now,” Shares a Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce Recipe
Ankeny, Iowa, November 24, 2020—If you’ve been looking for homemade holiday food gift ideas this year, look no further. Food journalist Kathy Gunst, Resident Chef of NPR’s Here and Now, shares her homemade recipe for a specialty caramel sauce, and you’ll note that miso makes it merrier. “I give a lot of food gifts,” she says, “I love spending time in the kitchen thinking about food gifts for people.” Examples of past gifts she’s given include simple salad dressings, jellies, chutneys and tomato sauces made with ingredients from her garden. This year, Gunst will be giving jars of Miso Caramel Sauce. Even better, she is sharing a spicy variation of her recipe with The Soyfoods Council. Miso is soybean paste fermented with rice, barley or other grains. It comes in white, yellow or red varieties and adds a blast of flavor, along with approximately 2 grams of protein, to sweet and savory recipes.
“In a given year, I develop hundreds of recipes between my radio work, newspapers and magazines and cookbooks. When I developed Miso Caramel Sauce, I said ‘Okay, this is my favorite of the year.’ Then I started experimenting with different flavors,” Gunst says.
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She recommends presenting the gift in a Mason-style jar, tied with a piece of ribbon or raffia. She usually prints out the recipe and pastes it onto a card with a hole punched in it so that it can be tied to the jar. Miso Caramel Sauce, she says, is a simple recipe to make, and will keep for at least a week in the refrigerator. “When you provide the recipe, you are giving something concrete as well as a gift that keeps on giving—saying ‘If you like this, you can make it yourself.’”
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Gunst says there is no end to the flavor variations you can add to Miso Caramel Sauce.
To create Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce, she adds a chile pepper in a piece of cheesecloth tied with kitchen string. You can also make the sauce using fresh ginger or a cinnamon stick. For Ginger Miso Caramel Sauce, for example, tie a one-inch piece of peeled fresh ginger in cheesecloth and let it simmer in the pan along with the caramel ingredients. After cooking, remove the ginger.
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Gunst explains that she adds the miso to her recipe at the end of cooking. Miso adds to caramel what it always adds to foods—umami or meaty depth of flavor. “Miso’s earthiness is unexpected in caramel sauce, but not weird at all. It is a seamless fusion that just ups all the other flavors without lessening the sweetness. Miso balances the caramel sauce with its savory flavor. With Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce, you have the flavors of sweet, savory, umami and chile pepper heat. ”
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When Gunst first started experimenting with the role that miso plays in sweet foods, she added a teaspoon of very light miso paste to the filling for an apple and pear pie. “That pie was incredible,” she says. She keeps four or five different miso types in her refrigerator. “When I don’t want a dish to be overwhelmed by miso, I go with lighter or white miso, such as in salad dressings. I use darker or red miso —it is more aged—when I am making heartier dishes where there is nothing delicate.”
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Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce is simple to make. Kathy Gunst starts with her basic caramel recipe and adds the flavor of chile pepper. For this recipe, you will need cheesecloth; look for cheesecloth made for cooking at your local supermarket, Target, Walmart or online at Amazon.
Here’s how to make one cup of Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce:
¾ cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
¾ cup white sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 chile pepper tied in a piece of cheesecloth
2 tablespoons of white or light miso paste
¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
In a medium saucepan, heat cream and butter over moderate heat until just bubbling.
In another medium saucepan mix sugar and water with a soft spatula. Place over medium heat and cook without stirring for 5 minutes. Swirl the pan from side to side occasionally to keep caramel moving and prevent clumping up. Once the mixture turns amber color, remove it from the heat.
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Carefully add warm butter and cream mixture. It will bubble up: No fear. Whisk cream into the sugar caramel over a low heat; whisk until smooth. The heat will lift up any caramel sticking to the bottom or sides of the pan. Whisk miso and vanilla into the caramel until smooth and cook for a minute or two to make sure sauce is smooth and warmed through. Serve warm, at room temperature, or chilled.
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“I like giving food gifts every year, but this year even more so. As we go into winter lockdown and the pandemic numbers rise even higher, the idea of comfort food takes on a whole new meaning,” Gunst says. “We are almost at the one-year mark of the pandemic and it is really hard on so many levels spending this much time at home, in quarantine. We need to give ourselves a break. These are unprecedented times, so if you feel like eating miso caramel on toast for breakfast, don't judge yourself and just enjoy.”
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She suggests various other ways of enjoying Spicy Miso Caramel Sauce: Drizzle the sauce over apple or pear slices, enjoy it on pancakes and French toast, or serve it as an accompaniment to pumpkin pie or a topping for vanilla ice cream. Try adding a bit of it to roasted butternut squash or sweet potatoes.
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In addition to creating memorable recipes, Kathy Gunst is a James Beard Award-winning magazine and newspaper food journalist, and the author of 16 cookbooks. The latest one is Rage Baking: The Transformative Power of Flour, Fury and Women’s Voices (Tiller Press/ Simon and Schuster, 2020) by Katherine Alford and Kathy Gunst.
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The Soyfoods Council website offers other soyfoods ideas that make great holiday gifts. You can also download a free copy of the digital cookbook, Really Fast, Really Easy, Really Good with gift- worthy recipes such as Honeyed Soynuts, D.I.Y. Granola and Wonderful Sour Cream Cookies. Visit www.thesoyfoodscouncil.com to access the cookbook collection of recipes. The Soyfoods Council website also offers resource information and research about soyfoods and health
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About the Soyfoods Council: The Soyfoods Council is a non-profit organization, created and funded by Iowa soybean farmers, providing a complete resource to increase awareness of soyfoods, educate and inform media, healthcare professionals, consumers and the retail and foodservice markets about the many benefits of soyfoods. Iowa is the country’s number one grower of soybeans and is the Soyfoods Capital of the world.
