What is soy asparagus and what does it eat?

Today in many stores and supermarkets you can see not quite the usual product, which we sell under the name of soy asparagus. Probably, because of the name, some mistakenly believe that this is one of the varieties of asparagus - a plant belonging to the family of the same name. But in fact, soy asparagus is a product that is produced artificially, in the process of processing soy milk.

It is believed that for the first time soya asparagus was produced in China. This product was served to the imperial table as an elixir of youth. The Chinese version of the product name is "yuba".

To be precise, the yuba is nothing more than a foam, removed from the surface of soy milk during its boiling. The removed foam is dried and a semi-finished product is obtained, which must be soaked in water or boiled before consumption. Soy asparagus is mainly prepared salads, but it can be used both as a side dish and as an additive to soup. It should be noted that soy asparagus is a low-calorie product, so that it can be advised to include in your diet to those who want to lose weight. Thus the yuba is nutritious enough and has a pleasant taste. In soya asparagus contains a lot of vegetable protein, which in its value is almost inferior to the animal, and digested much better than the latter. Soy asparagus is used not only in cooking, but also in folk medicine. It is used as an anti-inflammatory agent with an easy diuretic effect. The use of decoction of soy asparagus helps to normalize the pressure and improve the work of the heart. In addition, if you use this decoction for washing, you can get rid of acne.

So, soy asparagus is a useful, and besides quite inexpensive product. But how to cook soya asparagus ?

Here is one of the simplest salad recipes from soya asparagus in Korean. First of all, you need to soak the semi-finished product in water. If there is time, it is better to do it in advance, that is, soak asparagus for the night or for a day, using cold water. But if you need to cook a salad quickly, then the yuba is poured with boiling water for 30-40 minutes or boils for 10-15 minutes. Asparagus sticks after such treatment should swell and become soft. Take the asparagus from the water and cut into pieces 2-3 cm long, add it to a bowl.

The taste of salad from asparagus gives spices. Therefore, in this salad necessarily add red pepper and ground coriander. Often, Chinese salad "Lotus" is added to this salad, which consists mainly of the taste enhancer - sodium glutamate. And you can go the easier way, and fill the salad with a ready seasoning for Korean carrots. In addition to spices, in the salad you need to add 1-2 spoons of soy sauce (per 100 grams of dry asparagus), two to three chopped cloves of garlic and a spoonful of table vinegar. It is best, of course, to use rice vinegar, but you can do the usual.

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan and fry it on a large chopped onion until brown. Onions are taken out and thrown away, and the hot oil is poured into a bowl with asparagus, everything is thoroughly mixed. Now we need to let the salad brew and marinate, so after cooling the oil, let the salad be put in the refrigerator and let it stand for at least a couple of hours.

Such a salad can be prepared with the addition of vegetables - carrots, fresh cucumbers, which need to be cut into thin straws (easiest way, grate vegetables on a special grater).

And as a main course or garnish can be made fried asparagus soy. Preparation of this dish also begins with soaking or boiling dry semi-finished product.

For 100 grams of dry asparagus we take one carrot and onion, about fifty grams of vegetable oil, a couple cloves of garlic (lovers of this vegetable can take more), a spoonful of soy sauce, salt, red pepper, greens. If desired, you can add a string bean to this dish, about 200 grams (you can take fresh-frozen).

We soak asparagus and chop the onions and carrots. In the frying pan, we heat the oil, lay the onions, after 5 minutes - carrots and string beans. Fry all together for another five minutes, pour asparagus into the pan, salt, mix, reduce heat and stew, covered with a lid, 5-7 minutes. Now we start filling our dish, add to the vegetables soy sauce, spices, garlic and greens. We mix everything, turn off the heat, and leave the dish under the lid for another five minutes, so that it absorbs the aroma of spices.

Fried asparagus can be served as a main dish, then you can add garnish from brown or ordinary rice to it. And as a side dish fried asparagus perfectly complement the dishes of meat or fish.