Recipe request: entrees using soy yogurt
Posted by volacious.r on Dec 10, 2006 · Member since Sep 2005 · 313 posts
So I bought some plain So Nice soy yogurt yesterday hoping it would fulfill my cravings for plain, sweetened yogurt... but I tried it today and hate it! Does anyone have any suggestions for dishes (preferably not deserts) I could use the stuff in so it doesn't go to waste? Please and thank you!
It is not an entree, but you could use it in smoothies. Combined with other flavors and textures, it is very easy to disguise yogurt. I have used yogurt, and even tofu, in smoothies and it blends in really well. Perhaps try it with a bit of soymilk, honey, ice, strawberries and a banana.
You could also try freezing it for a couple of hours until it takes on a frozen yogurt consistency. It might be more enjoyable to eat in this state. Another idea might be eating it with cereal or granola instead of using some form of milk. I often eat a trail mix type combo (oats, raisins, etc) sprinkled on top of yogurt. If you try all of those, you will probably get to the bottom of the container!
I have used cultured soy ('soy yogurt') as sort of a creamy cooking ingredient, for instance, with vegetables (celery?) and something like tofu and curry powder to make a nice curry sauce dish.
It does have a weirdly 'sweet/off' flavor; what brand did you get? I usually get Nancy's but some other kind I have gotten wasn't as good.
Mixing it with frozen fruit in a smoothie is nice, or stirring a LOT of granola (and cinnamon? nuts? raisins? apples bits?) into it. Mostly I don't think of it as yogurt (which has a sour taste that I enjoy) and think of it as more some kind of very soft tofu.
It also sort of separates in the fridge over time in a way that I haven't found to change the taste but it can look sort of nasty. I really like it dolled up for my 'creamy dairy' monthly cravings (which honestly are probably really calcium cravings, and I take calcium pills too) but eating it plain seems kind of challenging to me.
Indian dishes often use yogurt; there are several lentil, chickpea, or vegetable dishes available on this site that often use a few spoons of the stuff. Just try anything in the Indian section; even if it isn't in the ingredients, it could probably benefit from a dollop of the stuff.
... Unless it happens to be the sugary sweetened type of yogurt. If it's super sweet, ignore what I just said. Use it in a smoothie, or top it with cereal, as was previously suggested.
I really loved the brand of Soy yogurt I tried; it was totally unsweetened, and therefore, incredibly strong. But it had a very authentic yogurt taste. I believe it was Wildwoods, or something of that nature? I dunno, I'd recognize if I saw it; it was Whole Foods. Mmmm... *makes mental note to buy more soy yogurt next Whole Foods visit*
I like to use plain soy yogurt in this recipe. Bake 3 medium baking potatoes in the oven. While they're cooking, saute up a chopped onion, garlic to taste (maybe 3 cloves?), 1tsp. fresh chopped ginger, and turmeric and cumin to taste. Wash and chop about 1/2 cup of cilantro. When the potatoes are done, scoop out the insides and mash them with the saute mixture, the whole carton (6 oz) of soy yogurt, and the chopped cilantro. Add salt and pepper. Refill the potato shells and garnish with more cilantro and soy yogurt if desired.
Yummy! My non-vegan husband loves these and will happily eat the soy yogurt in this recipe.
Look for my breakfast recipe, "Couscous for Breakfast" on this site...the fruit, cinnamon and brown sugar may help disguise what you don't like. OK, so it's useable as a dessert but it also makes a good hearty breakfast which is what I use it for.
Muffins or biscuits would be my vote-- you will lose the heat-sensitive enzymes, but it's a great way to use up un-dairy products you turn out to dislike!
How about some sort of dip? Artichoke or avacado. Yum.
Thank you all so much for your help! It almost makes me wish I had bought a giant tub of soy-gurt to try instead of a small one!
The stuff I bought was plain So Nice... the only stuff available at the local supermarket so it looks like I'm out of luck on the yogurt replacements just for eating plain. :'(
After all your inspiring comment though I've decided to use it to make a dipping sauce for perogies. I'm always looking for new things to put on them, and I think that with a little lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper it'll be perfect. I'll let you all know how it goes!
mdvegan - I would love to have your recipe for seitan with balsamic cream sauce. Sounds really yummy!
Sounds yummy.
On pierogis, I usually pile sauteed, caramelized onions! Mmm. :)
Someone suggested Indian food above, and I agree! Yogurt is used in lots of Indian dishes. Next time you buy soy yogurt give this recipe a try, it's a favorite of mine:
Baigan Bhartha
Ingredients:
Eggplant (medium size) 1
Cooked green peas 1/2 cup
Finely chopped onions 1
Finely chopped tomatoes 1
Finely chopped green chilli 1(can use canned)
Red chilli powder 1/2 tsp.
Garam Masala Powder 1/2 tsp.
Turmeric Powder 1/4 tsp.
Vegetable oil 3 tbsp.
Plain soy yogurt 6-8 oz
Salt to taste
Chopped green coriander leaves for garnishing
Method:
1.Brush eggplant with oil and roast it on a gas burner over medium heat. Or put oiled eggplant in oven at 400 degrees and roast for 30-40 minutes.
2. Frequently turn the eggplant upside down, until fully roasted.
3. Once done, hold it under cold running water or in a bowl full of water. Cool it and peel off the blackened skin.
4. Mash the flesh.
5. Heat oil in a pan / kadhai . Add green chilli and onion and fry over medium heat until light golden brown.
6. Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and salt and stir. Add tomatoes and cook until tender.
7. Add green peas and mashed eggplant. Stir well. Fry for 5-7 minutes over medium heat.
8. Stir in yogurt just before serving and gently heat through.
Garnish with green coriander leaves and serve hot
The perogy dipping sauce was fantastic and I fully recommend it! I will def be buying some more soygurt in the future though in order to try out some of the other things people have suggested. ;D Thanks so much! I was super disappointed when I first tried the sogurt (silly me expecting it to taste exactly like yogurt :P ) but now the experience is turning out to be a positive one.
I wanted to second someone else's recommendation of Wildwood, I have seen that brand in two stores here and it is MUCH better than either Nancy's or whatever other cultured soy I had had before. Their 'plain' has that nice sour yogurt taste, it's really nice. They also have pre-packaged smoothies that are really satisfying.
Also they have an interesting history (which I found trying to find an address to write to to request them at your local health food store):
http://www.pmo.com/