Succulent and snappy soy meals

Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Soybeans are one of the most important and adaptable ingredients in vegetarian dishes, a diet that has been adopted by people from all walks of life.

Among its famous followers were geniuses like Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci, plus modern celebs like Drew Barrymore and Paul McCartney.

In Indonesia, more and more people are becoming vegetarian for a variety of reasons, ranging from religious, ethical (not wanting to hurt other living creatures) to environmental (cattle farms require vast areas of land, and pollution from the animal waste is often unavoidable) or just to maintain their health.

Vegetarians base their diet on four main food groups: starch, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Although they don't consume animal protein, they do enjoy deliciously meaty protein substitutes, namely gluten (protein from flour) and soy-based protein.

Yummy Bean vegetarian restaurant in Jakarta was kind enough to share these simple and quick soy-based dishes with us. The Veggie Burger and Veggie Hotdog use soy-based protein that can be purchased at the restaurant as well as in other vegetarian stores and eateries.

Veggie Burger * 1 burger bun with sesame seeds on top * 1 vegetable hamburger, fried or grilled until brown * Olive oil or vegetarian butter * Cucumber and tomato, sliced * 1 lettuce leaf * 1 tbsp no egg soy-based mayonnaise * 1 tbsp vegetarian tomato and/or chili sauces

1. Slice the burger bun in two and spread the surfaces with a little olive oil or butter and bake in oven for 2 minutes. 2. Remove from oven, arrange the cucumber and tomato on top of the lower bun. Drizzle it with the mayonnaise, tomato sauce ( and chili sauce) and layer with salad leaf before topping it with the other half of the bun.

Veggie Hotdog * 1 hotdog roll * 1 red vegetable sausage, fried or grilled * Vegetarian oyster sauce * Olive oil or vegetarian butter * A dash of powdered cinnamon * Vegetarian spices (available in vegetarian store) * Sliced cucumber and tomato * Sliced cabbage * 1 salad leaf * 1 tbsp no-egg soy-based mayonnaise * 1 tbsp each of vegetarian tomato and chili sauces

1. Cut the hotdog roll, spread olive oil or butter on top. Put it in a medium-heat oven for two minutes. 2. Mix together oyster sauce, cinnamon powder and vegetarian spices and use the mixture to coat the sausage. Roast or deep fry the sausage until it turns brown. 3. Arrange sliced cucumber, tomato and cabbage on top of the hotdog roll and place the sausage in the center. Top it with mayonnaise and tomato sauce. Serve warm.

Soy milk * 1/2 kg soybean * enough water to cover and soak the soybean * 5l mineral water * sugar syrup

1. Clean the soybean and soak in water for seven to eight hours. Rinse the soaked bean with water. 2. Blend the bean until smooth and pour the pureed bean into a sack made from cloth. Pour the mineral water into a cooking pan, put the sack in and let boil at 105 degree Celsius. 3. Sieve the soymilk using a piece of silk cloth. Serve the milk with sugar syrup.

For further information on soy recipes, contact PT Yummy Beananta Lestari Tel. (021) 631-9060 - 631-9061