Media Contact:
Linda Funk
Executive Director
The Soyfoods Council
515.491.8636
lfunk@thesoyfoodscouncil.com
Photos Available Upon Request
Ankeny, Iowa, January 10, 2022—This Valentine’s Day, enjoy foods you love and people you love while adding a boost of high-quality plant protein to the menu with soyfoods. The Soyfoods Council offers recipes pairing soy with meat for casual gatherings with friends and family, or cozy dinners for two. Silken tofu adds about 8.5 grams of cholesterol-free complete protein per serving. One cup of edamame supplies 18 grams of protein. Both are versatile ingredients with a fresh, neutral taste that marries well with meaty flavors.
Creative twists like tofu tortillas and tofu gnocchi can easily be paired with a variety of meats. Silken tofu also makes creamy salad dressings. The fresh flavor of edamame is ideal for creating salads and side dishes such as the Heartland Harvest Salad that combines edamame, corn and red bell pepper with vinaigrette dressing.
Iowa Chef David Perez’s Birria Beef Tacos with Fresh Tofu Tortillas and Tofu Avocado Crema can feed a crowd. It starts with tri-tip beef roast, braised with carrots, onions, celery and tomatoes, seasoned with poblano and Guajillo chiles and spices.
Make Fresh Tofu Tortillas with a 12-ounce package of soft silken tofu, 2 cups of masa harina (corn flour), a pinch of kosher salt and 1 cup of water. Mix the dough and form it into 24 balls, flatten them into 5-inch tortillas and cook on a griddle or nonstick pan for about one minute on each side.
Tofu Avocado Crema is made in a blender. Combine a package of soft silken tofu, an avocado, fresh cilantro, garlic, lime juice and jalapeño. Chef Perez serves the dish with pickled red onions.
Seared Sirloin Steak with Tofu Gnocchi, Vegetables and Edamame is a dish created by Iowa Chef Scott Stroud. Tofu Gnocchi dough is made in a food processor with 1¼ pounds of drained firm silken tofu, ¼ lb. Parmesan cheese, 2 egg yolks, 1½ cups of flour and a pinch of salt. Shape small portions of the dough into long ropes and cut into ¾-inch pieces. Drop gnocchi into lightly salted boiling water and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until it rises to the top.
Before serving gnocchi, sauté them in a pan with melted butter and edamame, sliced apples and radishes, blanched brussels sprouts and bite-sized pieces of roasted butternut squash.
Don’t forget dessert, either. Raspberry Frozen Soy Yogurt is a light, colorful way to end a Valentine’s Day meal. Make it in a blender with 2 cups of plain soy yogurt, 2 cups of frozen raspberries, ½ cup of granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla. Freeze before serving.
Visit The Soyfoods Council website at www.TheSoyfoodsCouncil.com for details about these Valentine’s Day ideas. You’ll also find information about soyfoods and your health, and two free downloadable digital cookbooks filled with loving-couple recipes. Look for Panko and Soynut Crusted Pork Chops with Edamame, Spicy Cajun Shrimp with Edamame Mango Succotash, Sweet and Sour Chicken and TVP Meatballs, and Edamame Ham Frittatas.
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About soyfoods and sustainability: Sustainability is a soy tradition. U. S. soybean farmers have been practicing sustainable agriculture methods for decades. Currently, 95% of U.S. soy growers are committed to sustainable farming practices and partner with the USDA to implement conservation programs. Soyfoods may play a significant role as a source of protein that minimally contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in comparison to other protein sources.
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.