Soy lecithin is a brown-yellow substance extracted from soybean oil during processing. It is a mixture of phospholipids and other phospholipid compounds. Soy lecithin is used in the kitchen for cooking different dishes, desserts, soups, foams, and sauces. Even though it doesn’t bring many health benefits, it’s extensively used for its delicious and pleasant appearance on foods.
Tag along as we tell you how soy lecithin will turn out to be the best ingredient in your kitchen.
Soy Lecithin as an Ingredient for Baking
Using soy lecithin in bread makes it soft and less susceptible to hardening. It acts as an emulsifier in baking because it permits ingredients to mix well, preventing them from sticking together. It makes the dough rise with a lighter and fluffier texture.
Soy lecithin is a healthier alternative for fat instead of egg yolk. Besides that, it is a natural preservative. Use it as a preservative to make the cookies, biscuits, and bread last longer.
Soy Lecithin with Soups and Sauces
Have you used flour and starch to make your soup and sauces thick? It’s time to save them and use soy lecithin instead. Soy lecithin can thicken your homemade soup and condiment and give them a rich and creamy texture.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons of soy lecithin
- 1 cup of hot water
- A bowl of mushroom, chicken, or any soup of your choice
Procedure/Method of Cooking
- Cook the soup or prepare the sauce with all the ingredients until it’s ready
- Dissolve the soy lecithin in hot water
- Measure 1 1/2 teaspoons of soy lecithin per cup of soup/sauce
- Stir to integrate the mixture
- Whisk lecithin into the soup or sauce for about two minutes until it becomes thick
Stabilizing Emulsions
An emulsion is formed by combining ingredients that do not mix easily as oil and water. Soy lecithin is used to unite such components by holding them together. For example, vinaigrette dressing is made up of vinegar and oil (which do not mix naturally). To keep them together, you add soy lecithin to the mixture as a stabilizer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of virgin olive oil or coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon of lecithin powder or granules
- ¼ cup of vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, or red wine).
- 2 tablespoons of dried herbs (Italian or Indian herbs)
- 2 garlic cloves finely cut
- 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon of maple syrup or honey
- A pinch of salt and pepper
Method of Preparation
- In a whisk shaker bottle, put all the ingredients in and whisk them
- Let them rest for 10 minutes to achieve consistency
- Serve as you wish
Keep any remains and leftovers in the refrigerator to preserve them for future use.
Pasta Salad With Soy Lecithin
Adding soy lecithin to pasta makes it delicious and flavorful.
Ingredients
- 50g of pasta
- 5 ripe tomatoes
- Half grilled courgette
- A tablespoon of sweet corn
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of soy granules
- A tablespoon of roast pepper
Method of Preparation
- Pour all the ingredients into a bowl and stir until they blend
- Add garlic and herbs to intensify the taste
- Mix them and let them sit for ten to fifteen minutes before you serve
Soy Lecithin as an Egg Replacement
In baking, an egg is used to bind ingredients together. Soy lecithin is a plant alternative that serves the same purpose. Egg yolk contains 10-20%lecithin. To replace one egg with soy lecithin, you need to:
- Mix 1 1/2 soy granules, 1 1/2 cups water, and one teaspoon of baking powder
- Ensure you shake the mixture well
- Alternatively, you can add 14 grams (1 teaspoon) of lecithin powder to your recipe instead of an egg
Vegetable Disc with Soy Lecithin
Soy lecithin acts as an ingredient in vegetable discs. Vegetable discs look like burgers but do not be mistaken! They are 100% vegetables.
Ingredients
- 100 grams of cooked broccoli
- 2 medium size carrots
- 1 clove of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of virgin olive oil
- 3 scoops of soy lecithin granules
- A scoop of almond flour
- Pepper and salt to taste
Method of Preparation
- Add broccoli and carrots with spices in the blender and blend until the ingredients integrate
- Add a tablespoon of coconut oil and the almond flour to the mix and stir
- Form round balls with the same thickness and sprinkle soy lecithin granules
- Bake for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius
Soy Lecithin and Beverages
Lecithin granule is a superb option to make froths and foams in juices and smoothies.
They give the beverages a fastidious mouthfeel and a pleasant appearance.
How to Prepare
Whisk lecithin into your favorite beverage. For every 100 grams of liquid, add 1 gram of lecithin powder to it and stir well.
Desserts
Soy lecithin can be a nifty emulsifier in making homemade chocolates and ice creams.
To make ice cream, you need milk and cream. Using lecithin holds the cream together and gives it the desired consistency.
Homemade Chocolates
If you love chocolates, these homemade chocolates solve your problem. They are delicious and easy to make.
Ingredients
- 15 grams of coconut butter
- 2 grams of lecithin
- 0.5 of vanilla
- 50 grams of cacao butter
- 10 grams of sugar
- 10 grams of cacao powder
- Salt to taste
Directions on How to Cook
- Melt cacao butter in a smaller pot using relatively low heat
- Add coconut butter, stir, and remove from heat
- Measure cacao powder, sugar, lecithin, and salt and put them in a coffee grinder
- Whisk the dry ingredients into the cacao butter mixture
- Transfer the mixture to a chocolate bar
- Refrigerate for one hour, then serve
Vegan Butter with Soy Lecithin
Use soy lecithin to make your homemade vegan butter. It holds the ingredients together and gives the butter a delicious and original taste.
Ingredients
- A tablespoon of soy milk
- 150 ml of soy milk
- 1 tablespoon of soy granules
- 120ml sunflower or pure olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of yeast
- A pinch of salt to taste
Method of Preparation
- Pour all the ingredients into a blender and blend to integrate
- Add coconut oil bit by bit as you stir the mix to blend well
- Once you achieve the desired blend, pour it into a container and cover it
- Put it in the refrigerator for three to four hours to allow the mixture to gain consistency
- Remove the mixture and serve
Summary
Lecithin for cooking is an excellent ingredient in the kitchen. It makes the dishes consistent, yummy, and enjoyable. It’s also considered a healthy ingredient.