How to Cook Tofu

Tofu, prepared through curdling of soy milk, is one of the staple food in some Asian countries. Nowadays, this soy product is very popular across the globe. However, very few are aware of the right methods for cooking tofu. In order to cook this soy product in the proper manner, you must have a basic idea about the different tofu types and which is the right type for your tofu recipe.

Tofu Cooking Tips

As mentioned above, tofu is available in different types. Generally, tofu is sold in three versions - silken, soft and firm. Silken tofu has a creamy, mushy texture and is mostly used in soups and salads. Its texture is not suitable for cooking methods such as stir frying. Soft tofu is little bit firmer than the silken version. It can be easily crumbled into small pieces and can be substituted for scrambled eggs. Even sandwich filling can be made with this type of tofu. As the name rightly suggests, firm tofu, is firm in texture and is available in three types - firm, medium firm and extra firm. This type of tofu can be easily cut and used for easy tofu recipes, like stir fry or as a replacement in meat dishes.

Soft tofu can be made firmer, by draining the extra water and pressing it with a heavy object. So, choosing the right type of tofu for your recipe is one of the main factors as far as tofu cooking is concerned. Tofu can be baked, fried, roasted, steamed, broiled, ground, mashed, whipped, deep-fried and barbecued. But, eating raw tofu is not advisable and you can steam it for at least five minutes, before consumption. You must also try to buy fresh tofu, for best results.

Tofu Stir Fry
In order to prepare tofu stir fry, get fresh firm tofu and drain the water in it. Cut it into half inch cubes and place the pieces on a soft cloth, that can absorb moisture. Now take a wok and add a teaspoon of cooking oil. You may also cook tofu in a pan, but, make sure to use a high sided one. It is better to use groundnut oil for preparing tofu stir fry. As the oil gets warm, add the tofu pieces and cook them over medium heat. You have to turn the pieces, in between, so that the pieces get fried evenly. Make sure to turn the pieces gently, so as to avoid crumbling. Once the tofu pieces are done, remove them from the wok. Now, add frozen stir fry vegetables to the hot wok and cook for four to five minutes. The next step is to add the fried tofu pieces into the wok and cook with the vegetables for another five minutes. Your tofu stir fry is ready.

Steamed Tofu
Apart from stir fry, there are many other methods to cook tofu. You may also steam this soy product. For this purpose, you need firm tofu, soy sauce, sesame oil and sesame seeds, green chillies and green onion. Drain the tofu and cut it into half inch cubes. Now, use a steamer to steam the tofu pieces for around ten minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the soy sauce mixture, by combining two tablespoons of soy sauce, one teaspoon each of sesame oil and sesame seeds, chopped green onion (one) and two green chillies (chopped). Once the tofu is ready, remove it from the steamer and serve hot with this soy sauce mixture.

Cook Tofu for Babies
Tofu is usually not given to babies below the age of ten months. It should be avoided in babies with allergies. Others may prepare tofu for babies, as per the following ways. Always make sure to buy fresh tofu for babies and it will be better to use it soon, rather than storing for future use. One of the methods to prepare tofu for babies is to cube it and saute in olive oil. You may also add seasonings. Steam and crumble tofu, before mixing it with fruits, like, bananas, apples, etc. You may also add tofu to soups and broth meant for babies. There are many other methods to prepare tofu baby meals. But, it is always better to seek the opinion of your pediatrician, regarding the use of tofu as baby food.

In order to bake tofu, you have to drain and cut it into pieces that have to be placed on greased cookie sheets and baked in an oven preheated to 400 °F, till they become golden in color. You may also crumble firm tofu and add it to stews and cook for 15 minutes. In order to broil firm tofu, cut it into slices and apply flour along with spices. Place them on an oiled broiler pan and broil in the oven (on high), until the pieces develop a golden brown crust. In short, the cooking method varies with each tofu recipe, and you have to choose the right type of tofu for that recipe.