Grilled soy protein with a strong marinade and smoky flavor. You can cook it on a grill plate or over charcoal. The original stovetop method also uses a small piece of hot charcoal to give the soy protein a grilled aroma.
Ingredients
- 2 cups large soy-protein pieces, soaked in vegetable broth, or in water with 1 carrot, 1 onion, 4 bay leaves, 5 cloves, a pinch of fenugreek and a pinch of salt
- 1 large onion, or small onions suitable for grilling
- 7 tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp grill seasoning
- 1 tbsp vegan Maggi-style seasoning, preferably without MSG if available
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- A pinch of black pepper
- Salt to taste
- 1 piece of charcoal + 1 tbsp oil for the smoky flavor
Method
- Soak the soy-protein pieces in vegetable broth for about 20 minutes, then drain and discard the liquid.
- Season the soy pieces with the spices, soy sauce, 5 tablespoons of olive oil and salt. Leave them to marinate for several hours or overnight.
- Place them in a container with a tight-fitting lid.
- Heat a piece of charcoal until red-hot. Shape a small piece of aluminum foil into a little dish, add 1 tablespoon of oil and place it among the soy pieces.
- Place the hot charcoal on the oil and immediately close the container tightly. Leave for 15 minutes so the soy pieces absorb the smoky flavor.
- Heat a grill plate and brush it with oil. Add the soy pieces with the onion cut into slices.
- Once browned underneath, turn them and continue cooking until browned on all sides. You can cut the pieces with a knife on the grill plate and add more oil if you want.
- You can also grill the pieces on skewers over charcoal. In that case, you do not need the separate charcoal-smoking step.
Serve with salad and vegan mayonnaise, hummus with tahini, crispy roasted potatoes, and grilled vegetables. Enjoy 🙂
Why grilled soy protein is a strong vegan option
The strongest point here is not a long nutrient list. Soy protein gives us a complete protein without dietary cholesterol and without needing meat to make a filling grilled dish.
Human trials give us an even stronger reason: a recent analysis of randomized trials found that soy protein modestly lowered LDL and total cholesterol. Source.
The fiber, fat and omega-3 content varies depending on the particular soy-protein product and how it is processed, so it is better to check the package than to generalize one set of numbers to every product.
If the concern about soy comes from isoflavones, reviews of clinical trials do not show the hormone effect suggested by the phrase “plant estrogen.” See the review of trials in women and the analysis in men.
Try our soy-protein kebab or soy-protein shawarma with tahini.
