There is that one bottle of soy sauce that sits around the pantry, ready to be poured into a stir-fry or some noodles. You don't know it is much beyond seasoning your Chinese dishes with just its salty, umami flavour. Soy sauce can be used in so many dishes.
You don't have to limit soy sauce to only Asian-inspired dishes. Use its deep richness and versatility to elevate sauces across cuisines. Its very ability to add depth to a sauce or balance the sweetness in a dish may just be the ingredient you need.
Let's dive into five fun, tasty ideas for using soy sauce that go way beyond Chinese food and open it up to its full potential in your kitchen.
Marinate Meats and Vegetables
Soy sauce is another magical base for marinades. The saltiness of soy sauce penetrates deep inside the meat and vegetables for tenderising and flavouring them. With a little oil, garlic, ginger, and squeeze of lemon juice, the result would be a perfectly balanced marinade for chicken, fish, or even tofu.
Another way to give an Indian touch is to marinate paneer or vegetables like cauliflower in a mix of soy sauce, turmeric, and chilli powder before roasting or grilling. Soy sauce will add the deep umami taste of soy sauce, which would be well balanced with the Indian spices. It can also be used as a marinade for barbecue meat, with a caramelised, savoury finish.
Deepen the soups and stews
Soy sauce is fabulous for adding flavour to soups and stews, perhaps if you want a more intense, savoury flavour to come through. Use it to add umami flavour to anything from a vegetable broth to a simple meat-based broth for all sorts of lentil soup, dal, or hearty vegetable stews.
Just a splash of soy sauce can transform an otherwise uninspired tomato-based stew into a rich, meaty broth. Try adding some to your slow-cooked dishes-a Indian-style mutton curry, for instance, or a chickpea stew. The soy sauce adds such layers of flavour which deepen over time that the final dish will be more satisfying without ever overpowering the spice.
In Salad Dressings
Soy sauce is a great source of savoury flavour in salad dressings. Salty, umami, and offering the perfect contrast to acidity in vinegars and citrus juices, soy sauce is an excellent base for all sorts of different dressings. Try whisking soy sauce together with olive oil, lime juice, and a spot of honey for a sweet-savoury dressing that will make its way into home with green salads, grain bowls, or roasted vegetables.
For an extra shot of flavours, add sesame seeds or toasted cumin to the dressing. The same ordinary salad can turn into a colourful, tasty entity perfect for using as an addition to unique ideas for your daily meals, from this mix of soy sauce and fresh ingredients.
Flavour Rice and Grain Dishes
Use soy sauce to elevate plain steamed rice and grain dishes to a new level. Forget the salt and dress a little over steamed rice, quinoa, or couscous with soy sauce for nutty and earthy depth. For another flavourful, savoury side dish, mix soy sauce with melted butter or ghee and fold it into warm rice.
Add soy sauce to the fried rice with vegetables, eggs, and spices for an Indian twist. It gives it an inherent umami quality that makes the taste altogether rich, transforming what would otherwise be a simple preparation of rice.
Prepare Awesome Dips and Sauces
Soy sauce serves as an excellent base for making dips and sauces, filling the entire landscape with a sweet and savoury flavour. Mix it with yoghurt or tahini or even mayonnaise to make an excellent savoury dip to go well with vegetables or chips. A splash of soy sauce can also modify the flavours of chutneys, creating an umami flavour that helps to regulate the sweetness of tamarind or the heat of green chilli.
You mix soy sauce with mustard and honey, add some garlic to it, and you have a versatile sauce. It can be used like a glaze for roasted vegetables or as a dipping sauce for snacks. The salty, umami flavour of the soy sauce balances the other ingredients perfectly so the blend of flavours is suited for countless dishes.