Tofu, also known as bean curd, has become an indispensable part of vegetarian and vegan cuisine. It originally comes from China and Japan, but is now also used frequently and in a variety of ways in our country. Read is about Everything you need to know about it and what does tofu taste like.
In the meatless diet, tofu is an ideal supplement and an important source of protein. Not only vegetarians and vegans can taste the healthy alternative to meat, because properly marinated and prepared, tofu is in no way inferior to chicken, pork and the like.
What is Tofu Made of / How is Tofu Made?
White soybeans form the basis for tofu. These are first softened in water, then ground and then squeezed out. The resulting soy milk is boiled with nigari, a natural Japanese coagulant, citric acid or calcium sulphate. This coagulation process is the most important step in tofu production. When the soy milk and the coagulant are boiled, soy whey is produced, which is sieved out and squeezed out in order to remove the nigari, citric acid or calcium sulphate. What is left is the finished tofu. Natural, silk and smoked tofu – what’s the difference?
Natural, Silk and Smoked Tofu – What’s the difference?
Natural Tofu
Natural tofu is cut-resistant and has a neutral taste. This means it can be used for both sweet and savoury dishes.
It is often sold pickled in brine.
When baking and preparing fillings and creams, you can also use tofu as a great substitute for eggs. For hearty dishes, you can fry, grill, bread, deep-fry or even fill natural tofu.
Silken Tofu
Silken tofu has relatively high water content and is much softer than natural or smoked tofu because it is no longer pressed after it has coagulated. In terms of consistency, it is more like panna cotta or pudding.
What Does Tofu Taste Like
Its taste is mild and relatively neutral – one reason why it is great for all kinds of desserts. You can use silken tofu, for example, as a quark alternative for baking, or for sweet creams, smoothies or dips. To do this, it is simply mashed into a smooth cream and then processed further. You can also use it to refine soups and sauces.
Smoked Tofu
Smoked tofu is smoked over beech wood, which gives it its mild smoky aroma. This makes it unsuitable for desserts, but it can be used in a variety of ways in hearty cuisine. When smoking, the tofu loses more water and is, therefore, a little firmer than the natural tofu. So it doesn’t fall apart so easily when roasting or grilling.
The hearty smoked tofu is also very popular when sliced thinly as a topping on bread or as an ingredient in hearty stews.
How do I Store Tofu Correctly?
Fresh tofu keeps best in the refrigerator if you soak it in water. You can store fresh tofu for up to four days without any problems.
Simply pat dry briefly before use.
If the tofu smells unpleasant, this is a clear sign that it is no longer edible. Then you’d better stop eating it.
You can also just freeze tofu. The consistency becomes a little softer and more crumbly after thawing, but the taste is still perfect.
Tip: If you marinate thawed tofu again, the spices are really absorbed and the taste becomes even more intense.
Marinate the tofu
Since tofu itself does not have an intense taste of its own, the most important thing is the marinade, which gives the tofu its taste during preparation.
Before you start marinating, you should always squeeze the tofu! Tofu is often sold in brine so that it stays fresh longer. This liquid is also sucked out by the tofu like a small sponge so that it can then no longer absorb any spices or marinade.
Squeeze the tofu
Simply wrap your tofu in kitchen paper and place it between two plates. To weigh it down, you can put a book or other heavy object on it and let it stand for 10-15 minutes.
Then you can cut the tofu into cubes, slices or strips, depending on the recipe. For scrambled tofu or chilli sin carne, you can simply crumble the tofu directly into the pan after pressing.
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Marinades: This is how the tofu gets a taste
What does tofu taste like: Strong spices such as curry, ginger and chilli give the tofu its taste. Simply mix all the ingredients for the marinade together and then place the tofu in it. You can do this either in a bowl or in a freezer bag. The marinade should soak in for at least half an hour, or even better overnight. Packaged airtight, you can store your tofu in the marinade in the refrigerator for several days.
Tip: simply replace the oil with coconut milk, lime juice or rice vinegar! This gives the marinades a completely different taste.
Recipes for marinades
You can add your marinated tofu before frying or deep frying additionally bread, similar to a scavenger. For example, sesame seeds, classic breadcrumbs, desiccated coconut or a mixture of flour and various spices are suitable.
Alternatively, you can simply season the tofu instead of marinating it. You shouldn’t be sparing when it comes to seasoning. There are no limits to the taste either: chilli, garlic, curry, herbs. Combined with ajvar, peanut sauce, tahini or soy sauce, the tofu tastes good even without marinade.
Prepare Tofu Properly
Roast tofu
Frying tofu in the pan is the fastest way to prepare it. Simply heat some olive oil in a pan, toss the marinated tofu in a little flour or starch and sauté with onions and soy sauce, for example. If you then want to add vegetables, you should take the tofu out of the pan beforehand and only add it shortly before serving.
Grilling tofu
Natural or smoked tofu is best for grilling. You should squeeze the tofu thoroughly beforehand, marinate it, and then place it on the grill in slices or strips. Or you can cut it into cubes and stick it alternately with vegetables to make vegan tofu grill skewers. Regardless of the form, you should always rub tofu with a little vegetable oil before grilling, otherwise it will quickly stick to the grate.
Tip: It is better to put it on the edge of the grill, as tofu becomes cooked very quickly and then dries out.
Boil tofu
You can also cook tofu, but it won’t get crispy, but rather stays soft and has a consistency reminiscent of fish. In a coconut cream or a vegan bechamel sauce, however, very tasty.
Of course, we also have a lot of delicious recipes with tofu for you. every other recipe and addition of other ingredients define what does tofu taste like.
