How to use soy sauce?
To answer this question, you need to know what is soy sauce. Soy sauce is a brown liquid fermented from soy bean and used as a condiment at Asian cuisines. It has an earthy, umami flavor, which makes it an ideal all-purpose seasoning.
There are literally hundreds of soy sauce varieties. Varieties depend on the ingredients used, the method used to create the sauce, and the region in which it is made. Generally, there are a few main varieties that may be encountered in grocery stores or recipes: light, dark, low sodium, and tamari.
Light soy sauce means it’s color is light brown. It is a good all-purpose seasoning and condiment, you can use it to cook potatoes, onions and some normal dishes which do not need dark color.
Dark soy sauce has had molasses or caramel added after the brewing process, which thickens the sauce slightly and produces a sweeter, more complex flavor. This type of soy sauce is often used in meat dishes such as red-cooked pork, braised chicken and so on.
Low sodium soy sauce. Salt is an important component in the production of soy sauce, because it acts as an antimicrobial agent. Most low sodium soy sauces are made from the acid-hydrolyzed vegetable protein method, which does not utilize bacterial and fungal cultures and therefore requires less salt. This type of soy sauce is rich in protein, it can enhance the meat flavor for dishes.
Tamari, this Japanese soy sauce is made with only soybeans and no wheat or other grains. Tamari has a very clean flavor and is favored by those who require a wheat or gluten free diet.
Here are 10 ways to use sauce sauce
1.Meatloaf – omit the salt and add 2T of soy sauce to your standard meatloaf recipe. It will add the salt to season the meat along with a more complex flavor. It also adds a little more moisture to the mix.
2. Breakfast – leftover steamed rice, eggs (fried or scrambled), and a splash of soy sauce makes a tasty breakfast.
3. Salad dressing – use soy in the base of your favorite vinaigrette recipes. A little grated ginger gives a delicious Asian twist to the standard salad.
4. BBQ Sauce – add a few splashes of soy sauce and a tablespoon of brown sugar to your favorite bottled sauce. It adds a nice deep flavor and golden color to your grilled foods.
5. Dips – mix into sour cream or mayonnaise based dip recipes in place of salt.
6. Soup – use in place of salt in just about any soup recipe. Adds just a touch of a smoky flavor and a rich color to broth based soups. Add just a little at a time to ensure your soup is not too salty.
7. Better Burgers – mix a tablespoon of Soy Sauce into the ground meat before creating the patty. Adds nice color to turkey or chicken burgers.
8. Dipping Sauce – use one part soy sauce and part lemon for a universal dipping sauce great for cooked veggies, fish, chicken, or meats.
9. Poultry – brush onto chicken in the last few minutes of roasting to add a nice deep color to the skin.
10. Steak – a great way to add flavor to steak. When grilling steak, splash the soy at the last moment of cooking. This is particularly great when cooking steak on the stove. The heat will evaporate the water leaving flavorful bits behind.
