There's no question that soy sauce is great for stir-fries, marinades and dipping sauces, but its uses are far more wide ranging.

Did you know that it can also help create a butterscotch flavour in ice-cream or bring out the sweetness in a blueberry muffin? Naturally brewed soy sauce adds that delicious fifth taste, "umami", which enhances flavour and adds balance and complexity to food. Here are some clever ways to add soy sauce to harness food's true potential.

1) Easy poaching

For a low-fat meal, poach chicken in a mixture of soy sauce and water 1 cup soy sauce per litre of water. Add ginger, kaffir lime and lemongrass.

2) Top roast

Use soy sauce as a baste for ribs or a beef roast - it adds a rich taste and a deep mahogany colour. Brush onto a chicken before and during roasting to add flavour and for even browning.

3) Japanese style

Combine soy sauce, honey and miso paste to make a sticky glaze for salmon fillets. Miso glaze also works well with eggplant, pork and tofu.

4) Take stock

Use soy sauce in stock instead of salt - it's a great way to create more depth of flavour in soups, stews and casseroles.

5) Pump it up

For a tasty side, glaze wedges of pumpkin with a mixture of soy sauce and sweet chilli sauce. Bake until golden.

6) Great gravy

If you're looking for a fast way to add rich flavour to your gravy, try stirring in a little soy sauce. Simply add 1/4 tsp soy sauce for every 1/4 cup of water.

7) Golden idea

Pineapple is fabulous with savoury flavours. Drizzle pineapple slices with a mixture of soy sauce and honey. Chargrill until golden and just warm.

8) Go nuts

For a tasty snack, toss unsalted cashew nuts with soy sauce and chilli powder. Roast until golden.

9) Cool treat

To bring out the butterscotch flavour in bought vanilla ice-cream, add 1 tsp soy sauce to 1L softened vanilla ice-cream and mix well, pour back into the container and freeze until firm enough to scoop.

10) Go for dough

Soy sauce complements the yeasty flavour of dough. Brush it on rolled pizza dough or bought pizza bases before topping and baking.

11) Saucy stuff

Add a splash of soy sauce when making a bechamel. Just a small amount lifts the nuttiness and creaminess of this classic white sauce.

12) Citrus burst

Combine marmalade and soy sauce and brush the mixture over chicken or lamb. Roast, basting with the mixture, until cooked through.

13) Choc star

Add 2 tsp soy sauce to a chocolate brownie mixture before baking to intensify the flavours.

14) Burger bonus

Boost the flavour of burger patties by adding 1 tsp soy sauce for every 100g of beef mince.

15) Sweet boost

Enhance the sweet flavour of blueberry muffins, cakes and other desserts by adding 2-3 tsp soy sauce to the mixture.

Source

Taste.com.au - November 2011 , Page 36

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