Why Tofu Can Be Every Food’s Best Friend
Tofu is one of the most polarizing food ingredients out there. People are often quick to pronounce either their hate or love for the ingredient. However, maybe there is a way to bring more people on its side.
On its own, it’s easy to understand why people might hate tofu. It doesn’t taste like anything, which can be quite an offensive characteristic for a food to have. What is the point of eating it if it tastes like nothing? But that’s precisely why tofu can be your best friend in the kitchen. Setting aside the fact that tofu can be enjoyable on its own, tofu as an ingredient is so much better.
It tastes neutral, making it a perfect conveyor for flavor. There are tons of beginner-friendly ways to enhance tofu itself or use tofu to take your dish to the next level. There are different types and textures of tofu, ranging from soft, medium, to firm, each with the potential to add more bite and excitement to your dish. Because it tastes neutral, there’s no reason why it should affect the taste of your dish.
Here’s why tofu can be every food’s best friend:
Tofu is Highly Versatile
No matter what your food preferences are — vegan, vegetarian, meat-eater — you can eat tofu. You can break it down, cut it up, or cook it whole, and with the proper seasoning, you can create a flavor bomb of goodness with it.
Soft tofu is perfect for desserts and stews, while medium and firm tofu packs a bit more bite, making it an excellent addition in meat dishes or food that mimics meat. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro in the kitchen, there’s no limit to the creativity you can explore with an ingredient like tofu.
Tofu is Affordable
For an ingredient that can do so much, tofu is not at all expensive. You can even create it on your own if you want. You can find tofu in almost every supermarket, grocery store, and all Asian stores. It’s an excellent ingredient for big recipes that need to feed a lot of people.
Tofu is Nutritious
According to the USDA, just a quarter cup of firm tofu contains 117 calories, 7 grams of fat, 11 milligrams of sodium, 2.2 grams of carbohydrates, 1.9 grams of fiber, and 14 grams of protein. It comes with a lot of micronutrients and is an excellent source of calcium and iron. A quarter block of tofu contains enough calcium to fulfill your daily need, with 553 milligrams of calcium. It also has 2.5 mg of your daily iron allotment and 237 mg of your daily value serving of potassium.
Tofu is a great diet food if that’s something you’re interested in. You won’t have to sacrifice flavor because tofu is lightweight enough that you can cook it however you want. It’s highly nutritious and filling.
The Bottom Line
Disliking tofu on its own is no problem at all. People have their preferences, and they want flavor in their food. However, tofu as an ingredient is something every cook or food lover must explore. There is a world of possibilities when it comes to cooking with tofu.
You can get so creative with desserts, appetizers, main dishes, snacks, and anything else you can think of. It’s truly a food that everyone can enjoy somehow, someway. There is a tofu recipe for everyone out there.
If you’re a fan of Chinese food, you can start your journey to loving tofu here. At Ocean Palace Restaurant, we offer some of the most fantastic tofu you’ll ever have among various Chinese dishes. Opened in 1999, we guarantee only the best Chinese food and service in Houston.
