Soya was originally served to me in the form of “Bean Feast”, a dried soya mince product available in the 1980s. My mother seeking to reduce her cholesterol had honed in on this product and served it up a hell of a lot. What’s for dinner? Bean feast. Again? Yes. It was a good job I liked it.
I don’t think Batchelors Bean Feast graces our shelves any more which is a pity. We have so many more choices how to integrate soya into our diets these days – from tofu, to endemame beans and soya “dairy” products.
Step in Alpro who have long been a familiar label in our house. I am especially fond of their chocolate soya desserts, I’ve bought their nut milks but never really taken much notice of the yogurts. As you can imagine, a lot of what food bloggers get offered to try out is nutritionally suspect so it’s always a pleasure when you’re asked to try out something that’s not loaded with fats and sugar. (Seriously you wouldn’t believe the junky stuff I get offered in the guise of being a parent-ish blogger that I ignore or turn down).
So, happily armed with four flavours of Alpro; strawberry and rhubarb, lemon and lime, vanilla, plain…
…and a dozen pots of toppings including various nuts, seeds and dried fruits, the gauntlet was laid down to whip up different easy soya yogurt recipes for breakfast every day for a week and post these on Instagram. If you already follow Maison Cupcake on Instagram you may have seen these already.
Here’s what we’ve been eating for breakfast this week:
1. Strawberry and rhubarb soya yogurt with granola, fresh strawberries and dried mulberries.
Have you ever eaten mulberries? I hadn’t and they’re kind of a cross between a raisin and a blackberry. Or at least the dried ones are. I need to find myself a mulberry bush to dance around now.
2. Plain soya yogurt blended in the Vitamix with a frozen banana, apricots (in syrup, not dried) and topped with pistachio, chia seeds and a whole apricot.
There’s nothing plain about this flavour once you’ve powder blended apricot into it. The texture of soya yogurt in a milk shake style is thick and creamy. And if you make double and leave it in the fridge overnight, it’s actually even better the next morning!
3. Lemon and lime soya yogurt blended with frozen banana and topped with coconut, dried mango and pear slices.
Also made in the Vitamix, a tropical smoothie with citrus flavours. (I think lemon and lime is my favourite flavour soya yogurt)
4. Vanilla soya yogurt with granola, chocolate flakes, pecans and salt caramel sauce.
Getting naughtier now as the week goes on.
5. Dried cranberries, apple compote and speculoos biscuit crumbs over vanilla soya yogurt.
And finally, since it’s Friday, this is more like a dessert. Actually I fed this to Nick and Ted for dessert tonight.
So which is your favourite? Have I made you look at soya yogurt in a new light?
Post commissioned by Alpro as part of their Alprotops campaign.
Jan @GlugofOil says
Lovely recipes here Sarah!
laura_howtocookl says
I could happily enjoy any one of your ideas for breakfast but agree that the yoghurt pots with chocolatey bits and biscuits crumbled up would also make delicious desserts. Great ideas here Sarah!
Sally says
It’s made me look at ALL yoghurt in a new light Sarah – beautiful garnishes and combinations.
Katie Bryson (@cookingkt) says
Loving the little pots you got sent… i’m a big granola fan and since I made a big batch have been scattering on my Greek yogurt most days. I’m curious as to what the soya yogurt tastes like as i’m not a huge fan of the milk which Matthew often drinks. Maybe i’ll get some in and give it a whirl. Is that the new Vitamix I’ve spotted in your pix? I’m loving mine!!!!!
Kate Veggie Desserts (@veggie_desserts) says
These ideas all look and sound amazing! I love granola and sprinkly bits on my yogurt. Blending it with apricots in syrup sounds delish! 🙂
Kavey says
I’m very boring with natural yoghurt, I nearly always top only with honey, or occasionally jam. That’s it!
Choclette says
Interesting, I’ve not tried soy yogurt before. I’d be happy to try all of these though – enticing photos.
HedgeComber says
Ha! I used to live on Beanfeasts too & you’re right, they tasted good (mind you, I wonder if they’s still taste good now I’m not 14?!)
Janie x
Janice (@FarmersgirlCook) says
oh lordy I remember that Bean Feast! My introduction to soya was TVP, disgusting stuff that my husband to be used to take on hill walking trips. Then I found real soya beans and made some lovely recipes with them using Gail Duff’s Vegetarian Cook Book. These recipes are so different from these and look really sophisticated.
Heidi Roberts says
A great selection of recipes, makes breakfast sound exotic!
Fiver Feeds says
I’ve never tried soya yogurt before but after reading this post and seeing all these lovely pictures…I’ll have it in mind 🙂