I've heard about it for years, but I have no idea what it is. Is it made out of soybeans or something?
Daily Kitten Chat Forum » TDK Cafe
WWM and JF, what is tofu?
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I had to go to wikipedia to find out too, Leeny.
Tofu, also Tōfu (豆腐?) (the Japanese Romaji spelling), doufu (the Chinese Pinyin spelling often used in Chinese recipes) or bean curd (the literal translation), is a food of Chinese origin,[1] made by coagulating soy milk, and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu that has been processed in some way. Tofu has very little flavor or smell on its own, so it can be used either in savory or sweet dishes, and is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish.
The production of tofu from soy milk is similar to the production of cheese from milk, although some tofu is made by processing non-soy products, such as almonds or black beans. The byproduct of the process is soy pulp (also called okara in Japanese).
Tofu originated in ancient China,[1] but little else is known about the origins of tofu and its method of production. Tofu and its production technique were subsequently introduced into Korea, then Japan during the Nara period (late eighth century). It also spread into other parts of East Asia as well. This spread likely coincided with the spread of Buddhism as it is an important source of proteins in the religion's vegetarian diet.[2]
Tofu is low in calories, contains beneficial amounts of iron (especially important for women of child-bearing age) and has no saturated fat or cholesterol. Depending on the coagulant used in manufacturing, the tofu may also be high in calcium (important for bone development and maintenance), and magnesium (especially important for athletes). Tofu also contains soy isoflavones, which can mimic natural human estrogens and may have a variety of harmful or beneficial effects when eaten in sufficient quantities
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Tofu is an excellent source of protein. It can be used in many ways. My daughter was a vegetarian for a while during her teen years. (It took an authentic Philly Cheesesteak sandwich to end that phase!) We used a lot of tofu to help her get her protein. :)
Posted 9 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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Tofu is my essential diet ingredient. Since I'm vegetarian, it is in everything I eat. But I can tell you Boca is the best and tastiest tofu products.
Posted 9 months ago by artistabobbi TX 1/17 #
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The firm tofu comes as a one pound block and is packed in water. You can cut it into bite-sized chunks and marinate them in teriyaki sauce or some other marinade to give it some flavor. It can then be stir-fried with vegies and noodles. You can scramble the soft tofu with eggs, cheese and spices. Yummy!
Posted 9 months ago by Kitten Whisperer #
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It's basically soy bean curd! and comes in many different textures! Great source of protein, and takes on the flavors of whatever it's cooked in.... great for vegans and those on a high protein diet! It can be made to taste just like ground beef for spagetti, like cream cheese for cheese cake, and like poultry for "toufurkins"! at Thanksgiving (tho that's a stretch for me!)... most often, it's paired with Asian flavors, as it lends itself well to those seasonings!
Posted 9 months ago by AbbigaleViolet #
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It is indeed soy bean curd! And it comes in different consistencies. Tonight I had the firm tofu, I drained it well, rolled it in cornstarch, deep fat fried it (I know... so not healthy!) , drained it and then put it over rice and poured my sauce over it. The tofu had a wonderful crust from the cornstarch and absorbed the sauce. It has no taste of its own and so you can pretty much do whatever sauces you would like!
As Rachel Ray would say, "Enjoy"!
Posted 9 months ago by WillowandWindismom #
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lol you all Tofu is good and good for you :) it does not really have much flavor on its own .....it takes on what it is cooked in ......
Posted 9 months ago by jinxedfairy #
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OMG the three chefs echo!!!
Posted 9 months ago by AbbigaleViolet #
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Who ever thought that TDK had so many foodies??? I love it!
Posted 9 months ago by WillowandWindismom #
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