If you've been afraid of cooking with soy, try this easy combination of phytoestrogen-rich ingredients including tofu, soy flour and linseeds, in a loaf.
- B Breakfast
- DF Dairy free
- Ve Vegan
- VG Vegetarian
- S Sweet
- S/S Sides/Snacks
- MP Menopause
- Prep time 10 mins
- Cook Time 60 mins
- Serves 5
- Difficulty easy
Method
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Combine all dry ingredients together.
- Blend tofu in food processor with dried apricots.
- Gradually add soy milk until smooth, then lemon juice. Stir in lemon zest and mix through, then add your chosen flour and seeds.
- Place into a loaf tin lined with baking paper and press down with wet hands.
- Sprinkle extra seeds on top.
- Bake for 1 hour.
Serving suggestion
Spread with a low-fat cottage cheese, ricotta, yoghurt or goat's cheese, mixed with a little cinnamon and topped with sliced apple or blueberries makes a sustaining breakfast with a good source of protein, calcium and fibre.
Variation
For a sweeter loaf add up to 1 cup mixture of any combination of sultanas, dates, figs, apricots. Add fresh orange juice and orange rind instead of lemon. Add cinnamon or mixed spice to the mixture.
View recipe for Savoury phytoestrogen bread.
Nutritional information
By Jean Hailes naturopath and herbalist Sandra Villella
Phytoestrogens (plant oestrogens) are substances that occur naturally in plants. Eating phytoestrogens can produce either some of the same effects as human oestrogen (oestrogenic effects) or opposed effects (anti-oestrogenic effects). Which effects are triggered depends on existing levels of oestrogen in the body, and how the phytoestrogens bind to oestrogen receptors in the body.
For some women going through menopause, a diet containing phytoestrogens may help to relieve some symptoms of menopause, such as hot flushes. Read more about phytoestrogens.
