Tofu is a staple Asian food that has a soft, cheese-like consistency. It is made by curdling soy milk with a coagulating agent and is available in water-filled packaging to keep the tofu moist. Since tofu is a high-protein, low-calorie food item, it is appealing to many health enthusiasts and vegetarians. Several foods contain tofu, which span many cuisines and dishes.
Miso Soup
Miso soup is a well-known Japanese dish that is made from miso, or soybean paste. It usually contains wakame seaweed, onions and cubed raw tofu. Depending on your preference, you can add either firm or extra-firm tofu with the onions and seaweed during the cooking process, or you can add it at the end, right before your serve it. Miso itself is a source of probiotics, essential amino acids, vitamin B12 and trace minerals, according to the article "Japanese Foods" by John and Jan Belleme published in the "Vegetarian Times." The addition of tofu, the Bellemes say, provides an excellent source of protein for a well-balanced dish. The authors suggest purchasing natural and organic miso and tofu to ensure a heady aroma and deep taste without any additives or preservatives that could compromise the health benefits.
Tofu-based Desserts
Tofu-based desserts are plentiful, according to William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi in their book "The Book of Tofu." Shurtleff and Aoyagi attribute tofu's silky texture and versatile consistency as an ideal dessert ingredient. They suggest using the silk tofu variety as it breaks down quickly. Common tofu dessert items include tofu whipped cream, tofu milkshake, tofu icing and tofu cheesecake. Tofu replaces the dairy products in these recipes like milk, cheese or cream, Shurtleff and Aoyagi say. In some cases, you may need a mixture of soy milk and tofu.
Tofu-based "Meats"
There are many tofu-based meat products that are vegetarian and vegan friendly due to their meatless composition. John Paino and Lisa Messinger in their book "The Tofu Book," suggest using the extra-firm tofu variety when using tofu in place of meat to give the dish a hearty, substantive bite. Paino and Messinger also say that you can use tofu pound for pound in place of meat. Common tofu-based meat items include tofu "chicken" nuggets, tofu burgers, tofu fish sticks and tofu "chicken" patties. Tofu-based meat items generally require an extensive mixture of added spices and vegetables to fill out the item and provide a distinct taste, Paino and Messinger say.
References
- "Vegetarian Times"; Japanese Foods; John and Jan Belleme; April; 1986
- "The Book of Tofu"; William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi; 1998
- "The Tofu Book"; John Paino and Lisa Messinger; 1991
