Are you looking to add something healthy to your life? Then why not start off by adding tofu to your diet. This food product also goes by the name of bean curd and is one of the most important ingredients in the majority of Chinese and Japanese cuisines. Read this article further to find out more information about what tofu is and the tasty dishes you can make with it.
What Is Tofu?
Tofu is something you’ve definitely must have heard of and wondered what exactly it is made of? Well, it’s a product made of soybean curd. It’s soft, almost like butter but is relatively flavorless.
The process of making tofu starts by taking dried soybeans and soaking them in water, then crushing and boiling them. After that, the mixture of it is separated into two, the solid part and the soy milk part. The next step is to separate the whey from the curd and addition of salt coagulants, for example, calcium chloride. Sometimes, acid coagulants are used as well.
What Nutrients Does Tofu Contain?
Tofu is generally a low calorie meal making it come under products that help you stay healthy. It’s loaded with protein which is why it’s used as the main protein source in China. Along with that, it also contains moderate carbohydrates, fat, fiber, calcium and etc.
Different Types of Tofu
It may sound surprising, but it’s actually true that tofu is found in several different types, including:
- Silken Tofu: If you want your tofu to be delicate in flavor plus texture, then silken tofu should be your go to. The special thing about this tofu Is that it doesn’t need to be in the refrigerator and is kept on shelves or aisles in the supermarket instead. It has more of a squishy feeling and easily blends with food like smoothies, cheesecakes, etc.
- Regular Tofu
The regular type of tofu can be further divided into:
- Firm block: This has a firm consistency and comes with water. It needs to be kept in the fridge and pressed later on when using it to remove all the water from it.
- Medium block: For soups, medium block tofu works the best
- Soft block: This one is very similar to silken tofu in consistency
- Aburaage Tofu
If you love fried things, then aburaage tofu is something you’ll want to try. This type of tofu is made by cutting it into thin slices and then frying it. Once it’s fried, you can add different types of fillings inside it to make it more flavorsome.
Ways to Cook Tofu
Now that you’re aware of what tofu is and the different types of it let’s look at the multiple ways you can incorporate this food item into your dishes. But before that, remember to always press the tofu to remove the water content; otherwise, it’ll be a bit soggy.
You can add tofu to your smoothies, salads and soups! Some other ways you can cook tofu include:
- Marinated Tofu
- Grilled Tofu
- Baked Tofu
- Fried Crispy Tofu