How to Cook with Tofu

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How to Cook with TofuHow to Cook with Tofu

Source: The Daily Dish

 

Tofu is made from curdled soy milk, a liquid extracted from ground, cooked

soybeans. Tofu is a versatile ingredient that can be either the blandest or

the tastiest part of a dish, depending on how it's used. Its numerous

varieties make it an ideal replacement for animal products in both savory

and sweet dishes.

 

Tofu comes in two types-silken and normal. Silken tofu tends to be more

slimy because it's not as pressed as normal tofu and, therefore, contains

more moisture. Silken tofu is ideal for baking, smoothies, or for other

times when you would desire a smoother consistency. Normal tofu is the kind

that you would typically buy in the grocery store.

 

Both silken and normal tofu come in varying levels of firmness: soft, firm,

and extra firm. The firmer the tofu, the less moisture it contains and the

more marinade it will be able to absorb. Even so, since tofu comes packaged

in water, it's always a good idea to remove excess moisture before use by

pressing your tofu. To do this, cut the block into four slices, wrap with

paper towels, and lay them under a heavy object (like a cutting board).

Leave it for thirty minutes and the paper towels will absorb the excess

water. Don't bother pressing soft tofu, as it will just fall apart.

 

The kind of tofu you use depends on what you plan to cook. Both soft and

silken tofus are good blended into baked goods or fruit smoothies. Firm and

extra-firm tofu can be used as a meat replacement in any dish, from a

stir-fry to cacciatore. You can fry tofu in oil or broil it in the oven to

create a crunchy, golden-brown skin; you can scramble tofu to make an

omelet; and you can even use tofu to make cheesecake. Whatever you choose to

do, don't be afraid to experiment.