What is Tofu?

What is tofu?

Tofu is fast becoming recognised across the globe as an extremely versatile food, an excellent source of protein and a provider of many different health benefits. In this guide, we give you the low-down on:

Where tofu comes from
What tofu is made from
Some of the many health benefits associated with eating tofu

We’ve also given you some quick and easy recipe ideas for how you can best use tofu to soak up lots of exciting flavours with some of our favourite Asian-inspired dishes.

6 mins read

Where does tofu come from?

Tofu is a simple-to-prepare, versatile and nourishing soya food, used as a key ingredient in a wide number of tasty recipes.

The origins of tofu date back to China over a thousand years ago – it’s been a major component in East Asian and South East Asian cuisine ever since. The English word “tofu” actually comes directly from the Japanese term, itself borrowed from the original Mandarin word “doufu”, which literally means “bean” plus “curdled” or “fermented”.

How is tofu made?

Tofu is made by soaking soybeans and extracting their milk. The fresh soya milk is then curdled, pressed into a solid block and cooled – a very similar method to producing dairy cheese. The tofu is then cut into smaller blocks and packaged along with water. Once it has been sealed, weighed and dated, it’s ready for the supermarket.

Health benefits of tofu

Cauldron tofu is an excellent source of protein, calcium and iron, all of which are key to living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Our Authentic Tofu Block is also low in saturated fat, making it ideal for foodies, vegetarians and vegans alike. The great thing about tofu is it contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. What more could you ask for?

Top tips for prepping and cooking with tofu

Check out this How to cook tofu blog – our starter guide to cooking tasty tofu.

Tofu Recipes

Now you know a little bit more about tofu, it’s time to start experimenting! Tofu is the ideal jumping off point for several of Asia’s finest cuisines, so here are two of our favourite Asian-inspired tofu recipes for you to get started with.

Sizzling Black Pepper Tofu

Made with our no fuss Extra Firm Tofu, which needs no pressing, this Sizzling Black Pepper Tofu recipe, is one to remember. Tuck into your new tofu go-to and get your pan sizzling with this flavour-packed recipe for a mid-week meal in minutes.

Hoisin Tofu Noodles

Ready in 13 minutes, our Hoisin Tofu Noodles are super simple and super tasty. Made with our ready marinated and ready-to-eat Hoisin Tofu pieces, fruity plums and of course, noodles. This might be your new midweek favourite!

For even more inspiration, find all our tofu recipes here.