Tofu
Tofu originates from China but has been a staple part of the Japanese diet for many years now. High in protein while low in both fat and cholesterol, it is eaten at all times of day and in many different ways. When I first arrived in Tokyo I thought it was a rather bland dish. Now I love the subtlety of cooking with tofu. It absorbs the flavours of whatever your main ingredient is which means it can be used in almost any Japanese recipe.
How Tofu is Made
Tofu making is an age old process and one that is a regular feature in Tokyo local communities. Every area I have lived in has at least one tofu shop and trust me these guys work hard. If you are an early bird and like a morning stroll, this is the best time to see this process in motion. The earlier the better.
Tofu is made from soybeans. The beans need to be left to soak in water overnight until they have doubled, or sometimes tripled, in size. The water is poured off leaving just enough to cover the beans and they are then pulverized into a smooth mash. Liquid is added back to this mix and brought to the boil.
Next comes the stage that turns the liquid (soybean milk), into the tofu that ends up on your plate. The milk that comes from the soybeans needs to be curdled. This is done by adding a substance called 'nigari' - a by-product of saltwater. It causes the milk to thicken and coagulate - clump together.
The procedure is not quite as simple as it sounds and is literally back-breaking work if you are personally producing the quantities required by local businesses. Many of the older people that you see walking round local areas with hunched backs have spent their lives preparing tofu in this way.
Tofu Nutrition and Dishes
As I said earlier, tofu is eaten in a myriad of different ways and at all times of day. One of the most well-known dishes is miso soup where you will usually find it in it's fried or soft form mixed up with other goodies in the broth. Another popular dish is silk tofu, in Japanese 'kinugoshi tofu'. This type is creamy and silky as the name suggests. It is eaten very simply with soy sauce, ginger and spring onions. I really recommend trying this version.
Tofu is also fried and served with sauce or blended in to stir fries. It is sometimes mixed with other foods such as edomame to form a fusion dish or served as dessert with coconut, peanut or mango. Basically - anything goes as long as it tastes good.
Health Benefits
If you are looking to reduce your fat intake whilst maintaining a healthy diet, tofu is a food you should consider. It is high in protein so is also an excellent option for vegetarians looking to supplement the protein normally found in meat dishes.
Last but not least, tofu is known to contain high concentrates of isoflavones. What does that mean? Eating tofu can help to reduce the likelihood of developing osteoporosis, breast cancer and prostate cancer. So as well as tasting good, it is also a real friend to your body.
