Sweet Taiwanese Soy Milk (Dou Jiang) with Gluten-Free You Tiao 'Croutons'

Ingredients

• 1 cup Soybeans
• 6 cups Water
• 2-4 tablespoons Sugar
• 4 Gluten-Free You Tiao
• 2 tablespoons Oil (for frying if making your own)

Instructions

1. 1In a large bowl, combine the 1 cup of soybeans with enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches (5 cm). Let the soybeans soak for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight, until they have visibly expanded.
2. 2Drain the soaked soybeans using a colander, then rinse them thoroughly under cold running water.
3. 3Transfer the rinsed soybeans to a high-speed blender. Add the 6 cups of water and blend on high speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture is completely smooth and appears milky.
4. 4Place a fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with several layers of cheesecloth over a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Pour the blended soy mixture through the sieve/cheesecloth to separate the soy milk from the pulp (okara). Gently press on the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible, then discard the pulp.
5. 5Place the large heavy-bottomed pot containing the strained soy milk over medium heat (around 300-325°F / 150-160°C). Bring the soy milk to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly with a whisk or spoon to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot and scorching.
6. 6Reduce the heat to low (around 200-210°F / 93-99°C) and continue to simmer the soy milk for 15-20 minutes. Stir frequently and use a spoon to skim off any foam that rises to the surface, discarding it. The soy milk should smell fragrant and taste less raw when done.
7. 7Remove the pot from the heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons of sugar until it is fully dissolved. Taste the soy milk and add up to 2 additional tablespoons of sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired sweetness.
8. 8While the soy milk simmers, prepare the you tiao. Cut the 4 Gluten-Free You Tiao into 1-inch (2.5 cm) cubes. In a 10-inch skillet, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat (around 350°F / 175°C). Add the you tiao cubes and fry for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown and crispy. Alternatively, you can bake them on a baking sheet at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, until golden and crisp.
9. 9Carefully ladle the hot sweet soy milk into serving bowls. Serve immediately with the crispy gluten-free you tiao 'croutons' on the side for dipping.

Substitutions

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