What is tofu and how to cook it at home, recipes

Good afternoon, dear friends and guests of the site “I am a villager”! Today we’ll talk about how to make tofu cheese at home, it turns out it’s easy and simple. In the previous article, we took a closer look at tofu cheese and learned about its beneficial qualities.

From your comments I realized that this cheese is not sold everywhere, let’s make it ourselves, with our own hands. You will always have fresh and healthy tofu in your refrigerator. In order to prepare soy cheese, we need soy milk; if you are too lazy to prepare milk, use soy flour.

Composition of tofu cheese

First you need to understand how tofu cheese differs from all other ordinary, well-known varieties, like Parmesan, Gouda, etc.

• First of all, of course, the difference in composition. Tofu is a soy-based product. In other words, instead of regular cow's milk, soy milk is used to prepare it.
• Another ingredient is a sourdough coagulant. In Asian countries, calcium sulfate or sea salts can be used as a coagulant, however, ordinary lemon juice is also quite suitable for making homemade tofu cheese with your own hands.

Cream soup with tofu

8 recipes with tofu cheese

For this recipe, it is better to use soft tofu cheese. You can add any seasonal vegetables to the potatoes.

Ingredients:

• soft tofu – 200 g,
• potatoes – 500 g,
• vegetable broth – 1 l,
• onion – 1 pc.,
• cream 10% – 200 ml,
• nori sheet – 1 pc.,
• vegetable oil,
• salt, pepper to taste,
• curry – 0.5 tsp,
• croutons for serving.

How to cook:

Chop the onion finely and sauté in vegetable oil in a thick-bottomed pan. Peel the potatoes and cut them into large cubes, place them in a saucepan with the onions, pour in the broth and cook until the potatoes are ready. Once the potatoes are cooked, blend the contents of the pan with an immersion blender until smooth. Add tofu and warm cream to the soup and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste, add curry and heat over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Rub the finished soup through a sieve. Break the nori sheet into small pieces with your hands. Pour the cream soup into bowls and sprinkle with pieces of nori. Serve with croutons.

Soy cheese tofu: benefits, harm, calories

Tofu is a great helper for people who want to eat healthy.

• This is not surprising, because this Asian cheese is a storehouse of iron, calcium, fiber, as well as a huge amount of amino acids, minerals and B vitamins necessary for the body.
• Anyone who has decided to switch to vegetarianism should include this product in their diet, because tofu soy cheese is one of the best sources of high-quality protein of non-animal origin (about 10 g of protein per 100 g).
• In addition, this cheese is a great find for people suffering from heart and intestinal diseases. It is easily absorbed by the body, so it is suitable for weak stomachs, and also does not contain cholesterol, which will be a gift for patients with cardiovascular systems.
• Well, representatives of the fair sex who watch their figure should also pay attention to this product. The calorie content of tofu cheese is only 76 kcal per 100 g. Most of this comes from high-quality protein, and the rest from healthy fats. It contains virtually no carbohydrates at all.

But, despite all the positive qualities of this product, as with any other, it is important to know when to stop. Excessive consumption may weaken sperm concentration in men and may also adversely affect the health of infants and pregnant women. In addition, an excess of this delicacy can have a bad effect on the endocrine system, especially for people who already have health problems in this area. Be smart in your use and this product will not harm you.

Tofu fried in batter

8 recipes with tofu cheese

You can use any batter you like for this recipe. The main thing is not to forget to add bright spices to it.

Ingredients:

• tofu – 200 g,
• egg – 1 pc.,
• water – 50 ml,
• flour – 3-4 tbsp. spoons,
• salt, pepper, spices to taste,
• vegetable oil for frying.

How to cook:

Break the egg into a bowl, add water and beat with a fork. Add enough flour to form a dough similar in consistency to pancake batter. Salt and pepper, add spices or seasoning. Cut the tofu into cubes, dip each piece in batter and fry in vegetable oil. Serve with vegetables and herbs.

How to eat tofu?

Since this product may seem specific to many, it is worth mentioning separately how best to eat it.

This appetizer is almost tasteless, so eating it just like regular cheese is unlikely to give you pleasure. But there are many dishes in which this soy curd, when added, acquires a wide variety of gastronomic shades, while emphasizing the tastes of other ingredients.

It goes well with almost all foods: vegetables, fruits, meat, sweet, salty, sour... You can prepare different salads with it, you can fry and bake it with spices, add it to soups...

It’s good to have this cheese on the shelf in the refrigerator if you like Asian dishes: it is a component for many of them. For example, it can be used for miso soup or ramen, recipes for which have already been described on this site, as well as for many other Eastern dishes.

Varieties of tofu

• soft tofu (silken) is considered the most tender and delicate type, it is most often used in desserts, smoothies, and sauces;
• firm tofu is the most common type; it is added to many dishes; if desired, it can also be mashed with a fork or chopped with a knife;
• Extra-firm tofu is the firmest type, has little liquid, and is more suitable for grilling. This species is rarely found in stores and is mainly sold only in specialized vegetarian stores.

At the moment, tofu is actively used all over the world, this cheese contains 9 essential amino acids, it has no cholesterol, so tofu is becoming increasingly popular. Above is information on how to cook tofu, where you can find a lot of interesting and simple recipes. You don't need to spend a lot of time preparing dishes with tofu - this cheese is quickly baked and fried, so it's great for those who don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Homemade tofu cheese

To be honest, it is easier to buy tofu at the store than to make it yourself. The cooking process, although challenging, is quite cumbersome, and in large supermarkets 1 kg of soy cheese can be purchased for only 300 rubles.

However, if you always want to have homemade tofu cheese on hand, prepared with love, with your own hands, then, of course, you should definitely read the instructions for preparing this product and make it yourself.

There are two recipes for tofu cheese. The first option will make your life much easier, because it only requires soy milk and citric acid. In this case, cooking will not be difficult for you. However, if for some reason you cannot buy soy milk, or you simply decide to take a more complete recipe for the product in order to make the cheese absolutely homemade, which is called “from scratch,” then you will need to prepare soy milk yourself. This is exactly the version of the tofu cheese recipe that we bring to your attention.

Preparing soy milk for tofu cheese

Ingredients for making soy milk:

• Soybeans – 1 kg;
• Soda – 2 pinches;
• Water – 2.5 l.

Step-by-step diagram for preparing soy milk:

1. Fill a kilogram of soybeans with water so that it completely covers the grain, and leave to brew for a day.
2. Add a couple of pinches of soda to the water to get rid of the herbal taste;
3. Change the water to fresh water a couple of times;
4. After a day, rinse the swollen beans and pass through a meat grinder;
5. Pour the resulting slurry with 2.5 liters of water and let it brew for 3-4 hours;
6. All that remains is to strain the mixture using a colander and several layers of cheesecloth, and you will get excellent, healthy, vegetarian soy milk, which we need to make tofu.

Cooking tofu cheese

Required ingredients for tofu:

• Soy milk – 1 l;
• Lemon juice – 2 tbsp. l.

Step-by-step instructions for making tofu cheese at home:

1. Pour soy milk into a saucepan and bring to a boil;
2. As soon as the milk boils, immediately turn it off and let it simmer under the lid for about 5 minutes. Ideally, it should be 80-85oC;
3. Add 2 large spoons of lemon juice to the prepared milk and stir the mass until it completely curdles;
4. Leave the mixture to sit under the lid for another 5-10 minutes;
5. Strain the resulting mass through gauze folded several times;
6. Place the remaining curd into a bowl, depending on the shape of your future “dish.” Place a press on top of the mixture. Its weight will determine what kind of cheese you get: denser or softer;
7. After an hour, your soy milk cheese is ready to eat!

Try making delicious, healthy, vegetarian, low-calorie soy cheese from Asia. Such an unusual addition to familiar dishes will undoubtedly diversify your diet and delight your household.

Fried tofu with vegetables recipe

Cooking time : 40-50 minutes. Number of servings : 2-3. Kitchen equipment : cutting board, knife, deep frying pan (ideally a wok), small saucepan, slotted spoon, several plates.

Ingredients

Choosing the ingredients

This dish can be prepared from any seasonal vegetables. There is no need to strictly follow the recipe. If you don’t have any of the vegetables listed, you can exclude it or replace it with another. Instead of zucchini, for example, you can use eggplant. The only requirement: all vegetables must be fresh, elastic, without an unpleasant odor.

There are also no strict requirements for the amount of vegetables; you can change it based on your preferences. Rice vinegar can be replaced with regular table vinegar. You can use sugar instead of honey. Use vegetable oil at your discretion - some people like olive oil, but I prefer good old sunflower oil, refined and odorless.

Step-by-step preparation

Preparing the ingredients

1. Wash all prepared vegetables in running water.

2. Boil 100-150 g of green beans for about 10 minutes after boiling in salted water. Then take it out and let it cool. Then cut into small pieces 1.5-2 cm long.
3. Cut 250 g of tofu cheese into cubes approximately 1.5 by 1.5 cm. You should not cut larger ones, because during frying the cubes will increase in volume.

4. Cut one young zucchini and 2-3 tomatoes into cubes of the same size.

5. Remove seeds from one bell pepper and cut into small squares.

6. Chop half the onion into half rings.
7. Cut two small chili peppers into small pieces without removing seeds. Crush two cloves of garlic with the flat side of a knife and chop.

8. Before cooking, sprinkle the zucchini with one tablespoon of starch and stir.

9. Dissolve another tablespoon of starch in a glass of water - we will use this mixture to finish the dish; it will serve as a kind of sauce.

Preparing the dish

1. Place a deep frying pan (or wok) on the fire, pour in 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil and let it heat well until a slight smoke appears. Immediately dip the tofu into it and fry, stirring, on all sides until golden brown, then remove the cheese and place it on a plate.

2. We wait until the oil reaches the temperature again and add the zucchini to the frying pan. Fry them, stirring, on all sides until half cooked. This will take 2-3 minutes.

3. While the zucchini is roasting, you can add your favorite seasonings. For me it’s basil, coriander, ginger - I put them in almost all dishes. You can also add a pinch of anise and cumin seeds.

4. As soon as a golden brown crust begins to appear on the zucchini, move them to the side in the wok pan, lifting them slightly along the sloping side. If you are using a regular frying pan, you can place them on a plate, just like tofu.
5. Place the onion in the oil and fry it lightly. Add a couple of tablespoons of honey there. As soon as the sweet and buttery caramel starts to foam, add the chopped tomatoes.

6. We wait until the juice released by the tomatoes boils and put the zucchini and tofu back into the pan. Next we send green beans, bell peppers, chili and garlic. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of soy sauce, one tablespoon of vinegar. Mix all the vegetables well and let them simmer together for 2-3 minutes.

7. After the specified time, pour the mixture of water and starch into the frying pan and mix well. Now we just have to wait until the liquid in the pan thickens. At this stage, I recommend testing the dish for salt. We didn't salt it because it contains salty soy sauce. But if you feel that there is not enough salt in the dish, add salt to your taste.

8. Once the sauce has thickened, the dish is ready. It can be served immediately. It goes very well with a side dish of rice.

Video recipe

I suggest watching a video that shows and explains in great detail all the simple stages of preparing this delicious lean dish.

If you liked the idea of ​​fried tofu, then I recommend that you also take an interest in recipes for fried cheese or tender and fluffy cheese sticks.

Now I want to offer you a recipe for a healthy breakfast of cheesecakes made from tofu.

Several options on how to cook Tofu

Culinary experts distinguish various options for preparing a popular product:

• Soft or silk. The finished dish has maximum moisture. The consistency is similar to pudding or thick cream. The Chinese season it with spices, herbs and chopped seafood - it makes an excellent snack.
• Solid or linen. Some of the liquid is squeezed out in linen bags until the consistency begins to resemble meat. Widely used in the preparation of various imitations.
• Dry . The product is pressed until maximum liquid is removed. The structure is reminiscent of mid-ripe cheeses, but crumbles when cut.

In regions and countries where Tofu is popular, recipes vary. The ingredients and main stages of the process remain common.

Bodymaster.ru recommends Fitness Trainers:

To obtain a solid consistency, you need to transfer the mass into gauze and place under slight pressure. Exposure time – 2-3 hours. For a variety of taste sensations, it is recommended to add spices or herbs to the mixture.

Dry consistency is achieved by keeping under pressure for about 4-6 hours.

The shelf life of tofu cheese in the refrigerator is no more than 5 days.

Soy Flour Tofu Recipe

Recipe No. 2
If soybean grains are not available in supermarkets, the ingredient is replaced with soybean flour.

Cooking method:

• Dilute flour with a glass of cold water until smooth.
• Dilute the mixture with 2 cups of hot water and stir thoroughly.
• Bring to a boil, cook for 10-15 minutes.
• After the specified time, add the juice of one lemon and stir.
• After the flakes fall out, filter the curdled mass through several layers of gauze and squeeze out.

Ingredients: - soy flour - 1 cup; — lemon – 1 pc.; - water - 3 glasses.

How to get tofu

Ingredients

• 1 liter soy milk,
• 30 ml lemon juice.

Preparation

Heat the soy milk over medium heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. At the very beginning of boiling, until foam forms, remove the pan from the heat, add lemon juice to the milk and leave until completely curdled. Then place the resulting mixture in a colander lined with gauze folded in two layers and leave until the whey drains.

Once most of the whey has drained, wrap the tofu in cheesecloth and squeeze out the remaining liquid. Then wrap the tofu in another gauze, put a press weighing 1 kg on top, leave for 30 minutes; During this time, the cheese will take shape and become denser. Remove the press and remove the finished cheese from the gauze.

The benefits and harms of tofu

Residents of Japan and China consume plant-based cheese on a regular basis as one of their main sources of protein. Product advantages:

• low calorie content;
• lack of cholesterol, with systematic use it reduces the level of “bad” cholesterol;
• suitable for athletes;
• vegetable protein contains essential amino acids;
• prevention of cancer, osteoporosis;
• facilitates the processes of change during menopause;
• normalizes hemoglobin synthesis;
• Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

It is considered a harmless product. The recommended daily portion is up to 200 grams. Excessive consumption contributes to:

• decreased sperm concentration;
• in women – an excess of phytoestrogens;
• exacerbation of chronic endocrine diseases;
• phytic acid makes it difficult to absorb minerals.

Composition and calorie content of the product

The product contains a group of vitamins B and C, vegetable protein with a high degree of absorption. Does not contain cholesterol, unlike cheeses of animal origin.

Energy value per 100 g:

There are several types of tofu: soft varieties contain 70 kcal, medium - 80 kcal, extra-hard - 100 kcal. If you've never eaten tofu, the appearance of this cheese may surprise you. Almost all types of tofu float in a special brine that prevents the cheese from drying out. Therefore, before you start cooking the cheese, drain the water from it.

Low indicators of KBZHU allow you to include a dietary product in a healthy and wholesome diet menu when losing weight.

Cheese shapes

Tofu is like a sponge, and if you want it to become completely water-free, gently squeeze out the cheese. Now comes the fun part - cutting the tofu. Luckily, some manufacturers offer pre-sliced ​​cheese.

And if you took the tofu in one piece, then cut it depending on which tofu recipe you use. For stewing or baking, give preference to thinner slices - this will allow them to cook faster. Use your imagination and cut the cheese into curly slices.

Tofu recipes are suitable for both the daily diet of each of us and for the holiday table. Fried cheese recipes will be appreciated by lovers of spicy foods, and miso soup recipes will appeal to fans of Japanese cuisine.

Even if you are on a diet, do not deny yourself this delicacy. This is a versatile vegetarian food that will give you energy and fight hunger.