Kinako, traditional Japanese plant-based protein powder
Soybeans are nutty
Tofu is usually considered tasteless or bland. You may think that tofu is just a boring alternative protein source for vegetarians. But it’s not really fair for tofu. Tofu is made of soybeans, so it tastes like soybeans. Soybeans are nutty, so tofu has nutty flavors.
Try kinako powder to fully enjoy soybeans’ nuttiness.
If you want to know the nutty flavors of soybeans, try kinako powder, which is roasted soybean flour. It is not as nutty as other nuts like almond, but you can definitely enjoy its aroma when you open the bag.
Soybean is a great source of protein. And it’s plant-based.
Kinako is a traditional food, so they usually come in pretty old-fashioned package.
The powder is yellow-beige and has nutty flavors.
As it’s made of soybean, kinako shouldn’t be expensive.
How to eat kinako, plant-based protein powder?
Japanese call soybeans “protein made in farm.” Very simply, kinako is a protein-based protein powder product. You don’t really need a recipe to enjoy kinako; you simply add it (and sugar for sweetness) to what you want to eat or drink.
It will make a lot of sense to mix kinako powder with your protein drink or smoothie. As Kinako goes well with dairies, i’s also possible to mix it with yogurt (or ice cream), not just milk.
It’s also a good idea to add kinako to flour when you make cakes, muffins, cookies etc. Kinako will go well with other nuts or maybe bananas. It also goes well with honey.
If you want to go Japanese, kinako mochi is probably the most popular recipe. (Read how to make shiratama dango (kinako mochi))
Again, after you make mochi, you just have to coat them with kinako and sugar.
However, I would say that kinako doesn’t go well with most fruits. It’s not usually used for meals, but you can be creative and try something new, as it’s just protein powder.
Kinako is a pretty basic product, so most Japanese grocery stores should carry it. I would think you can get better prices if you buy it at local stores compared to Amazon.
