The invention is directed to a method of forming a gel, a gel obtainable by said method, a heat treated native potato protease inhibitor, the use of said protease inhibitor, and a foodstuff comprising said gel or said protease inhibitor. The method comprises the subsequent steps of: providing a solution of native potato protease inhibitor isolate having an isoelectric point of more than 6.0 and a molecular weight of less than 35 kDa； subjecting the native potato protease inhibitor solution to a heat treatment to a temperature of 65-121° C. for at least 10 minutes, or an UHT treatment at temperatures above 121° C., at an ionic strength of less than 60 mM and a pH of less than 4.5 yielding a heat treated native potato protease inhibitor solution； and setting the ionic strength of the native potato protease inhibitor solution to more than 60 mM.
