Protein
Tofu
Also called bean curd, soft tofu, silken tofu
What it is
Coagulated soy milk pressed into blocks. Texture from silken to extra-firm.
Origin
China; now East and Southeast Asian staple.
Flavour
Mild, slightly beany; a carrier for sauce.
How to use it
Soft or medium for mapo tofu so it wobbles in the sauce. Do not aggressively stir or it shatters.
Storage
Fridge, submerged in fresh water if the pack is open. Change the water daily.
Can you recognise Tofu?
Ingredient challengeQuestions about Tofu
From this ingredient's notes in the catalogue — not a chatbot.
What is Tofu?
Coagulated soy milk pressed into blocks. Texture from silken to extra-firm.
How do I use Tofu?
Soft or medium for mapo tofu so it wobbles in the sauce. Do not aggressively stir or it shatters.
How do I store Tofu?
Fridge, submerged in fresh water if the pack is open. Change the water daily.
What does it taste like?
Mild, slightly beany; a carrier for sauce.
What allergens should I watch?
Soy. Check the packet in your kitchen.
Nutrition
Per 100g · estimate · USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables. Values are typical, not lab tests of your shopping bag.
Allergens: Soy
Recipes using it
Kimchi jjigae
김치찌개
A bubbling kimchi stew with tofu and pork — the Korean answer to 'what is in the fridge and why is it sour'.
50 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️
Pad thai
ผัดไทย
Stir-fried rice noodles with tamarind, fish sauce, palm sugar, egg and peanuts — a national dish with a 20th-century origin story.
40 minMedium🌶️
Mapo tofu
麻婆豆腐
Sichuan tofu in a chilli-bean sauce with minced pork, Sichuan pepper, and enough oil to carry the mala.
35 minMedium🌶️🌶️🌶️
Sundubu jjigae
순두부찌개
A raging bowl of soft tofu, chilli broth and a cracked egg — the stew you eat before the spoon melts.
35 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️
Doenjang jjigae
된장찌개
The everyday soybean-paste stew: zucchini, tofu, a little chilli, and a broth that tastes like someone's house.
30 minEasy🌶️
Budae jjigae
부대찌개
Army-base stew: kimchi, spam, sausages and ramyeon in a gochujang broth that refuses to be precious.
40 minEasy🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mandu
만두
Korean dumplings — pork, tofu and chives in a thin wrapper, steamed, fried, or floated in soup.
1 hrMediumNo chilli
Dubu-kimchi
두부김치
Warm tofu with stir-fried kimchi and pork — a drinking-table plate that is also a real dinner with rice.
25 minEasy🌶️🌶️
Miso soup
味噌汁
The everyday bowl: dashi, dissolved miso, tofu and spring onion — breakfast, not a starter you ignore.
15 minVery easyNo chilli
Hiyayakko
冷奴
Cold tofu, summer logic — silken, chilled, and finished with ginger, spring onion and soy.
10 minVery easyNo chilli
Agedashi tofu
揚げ出し豆腐
Lightly fried tofu in a hot dashi-soy broth — crisp for a minute, then silky, which is the point.
25 minEasyNo chilli
Kitsune udon
きつねうどん
Fat wheat noodles in a hot dashi broth with a sweet fried-tofu pillow — the fox's favourite bowl.
25 minEasyNo chilli
Hot and Sour Soup
Hot and Sour Soup from China. Times are typical for this kind of dish.
35 minA bit of workNo chilli
Ma Po Tofu
Ma Po Tofu from China. Times were inferred from the source steps.
55 minA bit of workNo chilli
Mee goreng mamak
Mee goreng mamak from Malaysia. Times were inferred from the source steps.
31 minA bit of work🌶️
Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce
Silken Tofu with Sesame Soy Sauce from China. Times were inferred from the source steps.
48 hr 10 minEasyNo chilli
Tofu, greens & cashew stir-fry
Tofu, greens & cashew stir-fry from Vietnam. Times were inferred from the source steps.
19 minMedium🌶️