31/07/2022
4 Interesting Facts About Tofu
1. Tofu is made like cheese
While tofu is entirely vegan, with no meat or dairy products involved at any stage, the process of making tofu is remarkably similar to cheese making.
When making tofu, you take dried soybeans, soak them in water, crush them, and boil them. The end mixture is then separated into pulp (“okara”) and soy milk. Sodium is then added to the milk to separate the curds and the whey. The curds are pressed into solid white blocks to become what we know as tofu.
2. Tofu is an excellent source of vegan-friendly protein
Once upon a time, most people believed that plant-based protein was inferior to protein from animals. However, tofu is an excellent source of healthy, planet-friendly protein. It’s also naturally low in fat and calories, gluten-free, and is rich in iron and calcium.
3. Tofu originated in China but has a Japanese name
We know that tofu was first made in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), and the oldest evidence of tofu making has been dated back to 25-220 AD (depicted in a Chinese mural).
The word “tofu” is derived from the Mandarin word, “doufu,” which literally translates to “curdled bean.” However, “tofu” is a Japanese word and is closely tied to Buddhism
4. There are many different types of tofu
At the store, you might notice a multitude of different types of tofu on the shelves. Most commonly, these are silken, soft, medium, firm, extra-firm, and super-firm. This tells you how much water was pressed out of the soy curds during processing: the more water is removed, the firmer the tofu becomes. Firmer tofu also contains more fat and protein per gram than soft tofu.
As a general rule, if you’re frying, baking, or otherwise cooking tofu, firm or extra-firm is the way to go, as firmer tofu will hold its shape better in the pan. Silken tofu is great in more creamy foods such as smoothies, desserts, salad dressings, and dips.