Cooking with Soy Milk
Is there any secret to cooking with soy milk? While many try to use this liquid in place of cow’s milk, sometimes it just doesn’t work.
Since this type of liquid is made from pressing soy beans and then gathering the juices, not all types of this drink are the same. Many varieties will vary from batch to batch, and the color of the liquid can really alter a recipe if you are not careful. Generally, those types sold in aseptic packages tend to be rather sweet, so use these for desserts only (also, make sure that they are not flavored!). If you intend to use it in a savory dish, make sure that the overall taste of the bean will not conflict with other ingredients. Cooking with soy milk takes a bit of patience… especially if your recipe calls for you to boil or scald the milk.
Be aware that soy tends to curdle when boiled, so skip any recipes that require a high heat. If your recipe uses a bit of an acid, this liquid will be ok when boiled, though it may still produce a slightly altered taste. Though many manufacturers of this drink will state that it can be used in place of regular milk, this is not always the case. Rather than ruining a recipe, simply be aware that it does not usually work if a dish is not textured or lumpy in some manner. If you are tempting to produce a dish that is silk and smooth, you may want to reconsider the use of this beverage.
Cooking with soy milk may, or may not, produce desired results. However, the best way to think about a substitute such as this one is to simply understand that you will be creating an entirely new dish. If an exact replica is what you are after, you may be disappointed. That said, you can create some very tasty meals if you work with this beverage instead of against it.
Mix and add flavors that will compliment the soy rather than detract from it. If you think that your mother’s custard recipe will not work well when you use soy, you may be right. So, include ingredients that will add to the overall flavor of the drink rather than taking away from it – see how this works?
In the end, cooking with soy milk can be a bit tricky, though it doesn’t have to be if you remember that your dish will be slightly different. Of course, different isn’t always bad, so don’t fret if your meal does not come out exactly as you remember.