How To Cook Tofu:
Preparation Tips And Recipes
How to cook tofu? Well, there are a lot of options. Tofu is extremely versatile and lends itself to a huge variety of healthy recipes. Tofu can be fried, baked or served in a salad or pie. It can be served in a smoothie or scrambled like eggs. There are so many recipe possibilities. I've included instructions on how to cook tofu in many of these ways below. But before you start cooking tofu, here's some background on this nutritious food that is such a staple in Asian cooking and as part of the vegetarian or vegan diet.
What Is Tofu?
Made from soy milk, tofu or bean curd is a truly multi-purpose ingredient that works well in a wide range of dishes so the options really are endless.
Tofu is a soy based food that looks rather like a soft cheese. In fact, it is made by curdling soy milk in much the same way as cheese is made from cows milk. The result is a lot blander than cheese of course, but this is perhaps what makes tofu so adaptable to so many cuisines. It was first made in China and remains most widely used in Asian cooking. It's very nutritious and is a great source of protein and iron. It's also low fat and contains no cholesterol.
Tofu comes in a number of forms but the most common types are firm or soft (silken). Firm tofu is most commonly used in savoury dishes like stir fries while the silken variety has a smooth creamy texture which is useful is sauces, dressings and desserts.
If you want to know more about how to cook tofu, take a look at the tofu recipe ideas below but first let's look at how to prepare tofu prior to cooking.
How To Prepare Tofu
If you really want to know how to cook tofu well, the secret is in the preparation! Tofu is packed in water and tends to hold a lot of moisture. To cook it successfully, it's best to drain it as well as possible and pat it dry with paper towels. Silken tofu can be used pretty much as it is after draining the excess water. Firm tofu will benefit from pressing and/or freezing. These techniques mean that the tofu will really absorb any sauces or marinades that you use with it which is good because tofu itself is quite flavourless. You can press and/or freeze the tofu for any of the easy tofu recipes below that use firm tofu.
How To Cook Tofu: Pressing Tofu
Depending on the tofu you are using, it is not always absolutely essential to press tofu before cooking it but it does improve the texture and helps it to hold its shape so it is worthwhile. I almost always recommend pressing unless you can find tofu that is labelled "extra firm" or which has already been pressed.
To press tofu, wrap it in 2-3 layers of heavy paper towels and place it on a chopping board. Cover the wrapped tofu with a heavy weight - a saucepan or pot weighted with a couple of cans of tomatoes or beans works well. Leave the tofu to press for 20 to 30 minutes. Pat dry with more paper towels and slice or cube as you wish.
Now the method I just described is exactly how I press my tofu and it works very well though I admit I have my eye on this little gadget
Freezing Tofu
Freezing is not essential either but it's a great technique with tofu. Freezing tofu dramatically changes the texture, giving it a lot more bite, something which in its regular state, it can lack.
To freeze tofu, remove it from its original packaging and drain it well. You can freeze it as a whole block or cut it into slices or chunks first. Wrap the tofu in cling film or place it in a freezer bag and place in the freezer. Freeze for at least 24 hours.
Tofu After Freezing
When you want to use the tofu, allow it to defrost at room temperature for at least 12 hours for a block. Obviously the defrosting time will be less if you have cut the tofu in slices. When defrosted, the tofu will look "spongy". It will also be pretty water-logged so drain it well, cover it with paper towels and press down on the tofu gently but firmly using the palms of your hands to squeeze out all of the excess moisture.
The photo above shows what tofu looks like once it has been frozen and defrosted. The tofu in this picture has been cut to show you what it looks like inside. The outside of your tofu will still look smooth.Many people like to press tofu first, then freeze. This works very well too and means that the defrosted tofu is less wet. The texture is slightly different.
Personally I like to freeze without pressing but it's worth experimenting to see which you prefer. You will find that if you press tofu prior to freezing, it will make the tofu more compact and it won't have the characteristic holes in the texture that I quite like.
Here are the main ways of cooking with tofu.How To Cook Tofu - Fried Tofu
Frying is probably the most common way to cook tofu. Fried tofu is good served just as it is with a dipping sauce or it can be added to a vegetable stir fry. Pre-frying the tofu and adding it at the last minute to a stir fry is the best way to do this because tofu tends to be delicate and is likely to break up in the pan if you stir fry it with the rest of your ingredients.
For fried tofu, cut the tofu into slices or cubes and pat dry with paper towels. If you want a crispy exterior, a good tip is to dust the tofu pieces with cornstarch, cornflour or fine cornmeal before frying. You only need a thin coating so shake off any excess before placing it in the oil.
It is best to use peanut oil or another flavourless oil with a relatively high smoking point like canola or soy oil. Olive oil isn't a good choice generally. Use a wok, large frying pan or skillet and cover the base with a thin layer of oil. Make sure the oil is very hot before dropping in the tofu pieces. The tofu pieces should be placed in a single layer and you'll also need to leave enough room for turning so you may need to cook the tofu in a couple of batches. Fry the tofu for a couple of minutes on each side until golden. Tofu can be a little fragile so take care when turning it. Using a metal tongs
How To Cook Tofu - Deep Fried Tofu
Deep frying tofu results in tofu with a very light, crisp and golden texture. Prepare the tofu as you would for regular fried tofu but it is best to keep the pieces relative large - a couple of inches in length at least.
Use a deep fryer or a wok and fill the oil to a depth of about two inches. The ideal temperature for the oil is 350F or 180C. Drop in the tofu and cook for about 2 minutes or until golden and beginning to float to the top of the cooking oil. Again, don't overload the pan - you might need to cook the tofu in batches. Flip over the tofu pieces using a tongs (or chopsticks if you are feeling confident and authentic!) and deep fry for about 2 minutes more. Remove the tofu from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on a rack or on paper towels.
Baked Tofu
Recipes aside, as a way to cook tofu, I think this has to be my favourite. Baking tofu radically improves its flavour and texture. Baked with a sauce or marinade, the flavours become locked into the tofu while the texture becomes firmer and more "meaty". Baked tofu pieces keep well for a few days in the fridge and are good added to salads or sandwiches or served with cooked vegetables dishes. Here's how to cook tofu using my baking method.
Cut the tofu into cubes of an inch or so (or any size you like). Place the tofu pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush with a little oil. You can use spray oil here if you wish. Bake at 400F/200C for about 30 minutes, turning halfway through the cooking. The tofu pieces can also be brushed with a sauce prior to baking. Barbecue sauce, soy sauce or teriyaki are some of my favourites. Tossing the tofu pieces with a little Chinese Five Spice powder is also good.
is sweetened Indonesian soy sauce and is particularly delicious on baked tofu. It also adds a lovely sticky sheen to the tofu.
How To Cook Tofu: Some Tofu Recipe Ideas
Black Pepper Tofu Stir Fry
This is an amazing recipe from Yotam Ottolenghi's book Plenty
Green Bean & Tofu Salad With Spicy Peanut Sauce
A tasty vegan tofu salad made with green beans, fried tofu and a spicy peanut Asian dressing.
Teriyaki Tofu
Thick slices of tofu and vegetables in a rich Japanese style broth.
Smoked Tofu, Spinach and Tomato Tart
Here's how to cook tofu in a way that's a little different to the norm. This tofu quiche is both unusual and delicious. It is also really quick and simple to rustle up.
A Deliciously Light and Easy Vegetarian Pad Thai
This vegetarian Pad Thai recipe is wonderfully reminiscent of the amazing street food of Bangkok.
Sesame Tofu Marinade
If you've just learned how to cook tofu, this sesame tofu is one of the best recipes to try. It's super easy and the intense sesame flavours of the sauce are a perfect partner for tofu.
Malaysian Satay
A vegetarian satay recipe full of the exotic spices of South East Asia.
Tofu Burger Recipe. Quick And Tasty Tofu Burgers
Here's how to cook tofu as a burger. This tofu burger recipe is incredibly easy but the results are fantastic. Even kids love them.
Sweet And Sour Tofu, Yummy Fried Tofu Recipe
Crispy tofu in a sweet and sticky sauce, this sweet and sour tofu is one of the nicest and easiest ways to cook tofu.
Baked Tofu Recipe With Sweet Chilli
Learn how to cook tofu in the oven. This easy baked tofu recipe uses sweet chilli sauce to create scrumptious tofu pieces that will really add something special to your stir fries, salads or sandwiches.
Want To Know More About How To Cook Tofu?
If you want to learn more about tofu, I would recommend taking a look at The Book of Tofu
The Book of Tofu
You can also find it on The Book Depository. This is a site I like because it ships internationally for free.
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