How do I use soya mince?

Barneysmom

Hey that's a great idea, think it will be ok if I did that? can't taste any worse than it does now? :T

kethry

soya mince is pretty disgusting isn't it? however, hold off on giving it to the dog!!!

soya mince in my view has two main problems: taste and texture. for taste, at this point, you might try stirring in a spoonful of marmite or bovril. that'll help to give the meaty taste. i would also add another oxo cube. If you want to use it again, the way i use it is to put the soya mince into a jug with some boullion (marigold's, you can find it on the same shelf as oxo cubes in the supermarket, its a stock powder), some mixed herbs, marmite and lots of pepper, and enough boiling water to make the mince wet - not swimming in it, just wet, as opposed to bone dry. i then use as i would mince, at the same point and in the same way.

For the texture: nothing will rescue the sloppy texture of it, i think the key if you want to cook with it is to provide plenty of *other* things to give the texture, like vegetables or even lentils, small green lentils hold their shape pretty well, just tip into boiling water and boil for 10 minutes (and drain) before using as you'd use mince. in terms of veg, try adding more onions, peppers, courgettes and aubergines, carrots is another possibility. you could add olives too if you like those. all those will help to give more texture to the dish.

good luck!!

keth
xx

p.s. just saw the points about adding beef mince. thought you were vegetarian which is why i didn't suggest this! i usually use soya mince as described above as an addition to beef mince (along with green lentils) to bulk out the beef, so it would certainly work. however, i would brown the mince first, i'd also saute any extra veg you add before adding them to the pot. xx

Barneysmom

Ah so many thanks! :T
I wish I'd asked you guys before I cooked it what I should do with it

Greatgimp

Sorry, can't come for lunch, I've got to ....... comb the dog!

Rikki

Barneysmom wrote: »

Ah so many thanks! :T
I wish I'd asked you guys before I cooked it what I should do with it

Wouldn't have been very money saving. I'd have just said bin it.

The texture to me is like lumps of chewed up cardboard :eek: and reminds me of the meals I've shared with my vegetarian friend.

Mags_cat

I haven't used the dried stuff, but one thing i have found with the frozen soya mince (Quorn or other similar brands) is that it doesn't like to be cooked for too long.

So I don't treat it like *proper* mince - if I'm making chilli or spag bol I will make up the sauce with onions, veggies, beans, spices etc. and then cook it until almost ready and only add the frozen veggie mince about 20 minutes before the end. That way it doesn't cook for too long and keeps a bit of texture.

Not sure if that helps - but I hope you can rescue your panful

Barneysmom

Thanks Mags_cat xx

aurorahelios

I just use it as a bulk to real mince as well, so far DH hasn't noticed its in there amongst the mince, oats and lentils. He knows about the other stuff because he caught me putting them in one day.

It's used this way in cheap ready meals too, I wonder how many people who say they would never eat this stuff are happily consuming it in their tv dinners.

belfastgirl23

You have to soak soya mince in something flavoured before you use it - eg stock, tomato juice etc...still horrible texture no matter what you do though

angelavdavis

Definitely brown some meat mince and add some of the soya mix to some of it. Taste again, but don't put good money after bad if it tastes awful!