Also called the Soya bean, it originated in Asia. Soybeans can be picked immature while still green and eaten directly from the pod, this is called edamame. Once at full maturity, they can be eaten fresh, sprouted, or dried and cooked in soups, stews, and main dishes. The Whole Soy Cookbook will give you a chock full of recipes and ideas on how to use every form of nature's healthiest bean. The forms of soy that most people are familiar with is soy milk and tofu.
Soy milk is extracted after the soybeans are cooked and crushed.
Tofu is made by coagulating soy milk into a curd that has a custard like consistency. All products made from soy are wonderfully versatile, and can be cooked a variety of ways. Soy absorbs the flavors of the ingredients it is cooked with, is inexpensive, and easy to work with. The soyfoods industry is exploding. Today one can find, soy versions of meat, sausage, frankfurters, burgers, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and chocolate.