What Exactly is Tofu?

I use tofu in many of my vegan recipes. It is extremely versatile and tastes great, depending on how it is prepared. One of my non-vegan friends asked me, "What exactly is tofu, anyway?" So I decided to dedicate this post to my friend. I guess this is Tofu 101. It has been a staple in Asia for over 2,000 years. Tofu is made from soy. It is made by curdling soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. Tofu really doesn't have a taste, so it easily absorbs the flavors of the other ingredients. 

I used tofu to make some amazing burritos!

It also works well in my chick'n salad. Delicious!

This fruit medley salad is truly one of my favorite recipes with tofu! 

Health benefits

I always non-GMO tofu and tofu products. Tofu has some pretty impressive health benefits. It's high in protein, calcium, and B-vitamins. Tofu also reduces heart disease by lowering the level of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and maintaining the level of "good" HDL cholesterol. 

Varieties

The most common varieties are firm tofu, soft tofu, and silken tofu. Firm tofu has a dense texture and can be cubed and stir-fried, grilled, and served in soups. Soft tofu is great for desserts and smoothie recipes, and silken tofu is great for sauces, dressings and soups. It is very delicate. You cannot stir-fry it, as it will disintegrate, but it becomes firmer as it is pressed. 

Tofu brought my pizza recipe to life! Yum!

What are some of your favorite tofu dishes or recipes?