My love affair with tofu began some years back though I didn’t eat much of it then–sampling it in tasty Thai dishes, ordering a tofu burger on occasion, torturing my brother with a tofu hot dog (I once snuck him a tofu dog instead of the ‘real’ thing. He was not happy).
When I moved to Taiwan two years ago my little crush became love. Taiwan is Tofu heaven and I’d eat it for lunch at least four times a week. There are days where I literally have tofu withdrawals if I go too long without ingesting beautiful bean curd.
When many people think of tofu they think of small, mushy white squares. They usually make a face. “It has no taste,” they say.
Well I’m here to prove all you tofu-haters wrong!
Low in calories and large in protein, tofu is a wonder food.
There are different types of tofu, and of course variations in how to eat it.
Soft/Silken tofu is undrained tofu that has a custard-like consistency. Chopped green onions and dipping sauces can be added to this tofu for a light treat. This type of tofu can also be used to make smoothies. Add berries, chocolate, or syrup for a dessert.
Medium-firm tofu can be scrambled or used as a cheese substitute. Cut into cubes and add to soups, noodles, or stir-fry.
Firm-extra firm tofu makes the best marinated and grilled tofu. Soak in your favorite grilling sauce, stick on a skewer, toss on the grill, and viola!
How to prepare/cook tofu:
- Option 1: Drain the water from the package and place tofu onto a plate. Place another plate on top of the tofu brick, with a heavier object on top of that plate. Let the tofu sit like this for up to an hour.
- Option 2: Put the tofu on a cutting board or on a plate. Cover with a fresh towel and press down on tofu brick to remove any excess water. Replace towel with two layers of fresh towels and set a heavier object on top of the towels for up to an hour.
Cooking tofu:
Tofu can be eaten cooked or uncooked. To stir-fry tofu, first cook vegetables and then add sauteed tofu. Add sauce last. Tofu can be pan-fried over medium heat for about 10 minutes. It can be baked in sauce to create a meat-like consistency–this takes about one hour. Marinated tofu can be ready on the grill within 20 minutes.
If you’re ever near a traditional Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant and you’re feeling extra bold, be sure to try out stinky tofu for an experience you’ll never forget!
Tasty tofu recipes can be found at:
Enjoy!
Images copyright Rooey202, ToastyKen, bjortklingd