There are 2 types of tofu: silken or Japanese-style tofu and regular tofu.

Silken tofu is soft and should be handled carefully. It can be used for sauces, dressings, smoothies, or as a substitute for eggs or yogurt.

That’s not what this article is about….

This article is about regular or firm tofu – the kind that can be fried or grilled or cut into cubes or substituted for meat. Obviously, (to me, anyway) it has to be done right or it just won’t cut it.

I have got to buy tofu the next time I’m in the Asian supermarket!

Read on to learn….

How to cook a great tofu?

Tofu is an increasingly popular product in the world due to its versatility. Firm tofu can replace meat or cheese in almost any dish. This is a great solution not only for vegans, but for anyone wanting to reduce or eliminate meat and / or dairy products. Still, there are a few rules to know to make regular or firm tofu delicious.

Drain before cooking. First rinse the tofu thoroughly under running water and dry it. You want to eliminate as much water as possible so the tofu can absorb more flavors. However, pressing tofu could be a tough task. Some people use disposable towels, others press tofu using cutting boards. However, if you want your workplace to stay as tidy as possible and the tofu pressing process not take ages, it is worth buying a tofu press. It is a simple, quick and mess-free way to get tofu extra firm. The drier the tofu is, the crispier it will get when baked or fried.

Add some spices. If you tasted a piece of tofu just removed from a packet, you would find it quite bland or even tasteless. It can be marinated, like meat, to give it a more intense flavor. A marinade is suitable for using any spices, oil, garlic, ginger, honey or anything else that you like. The marinade should match the dish you are preparing. The longer you leave the tofu in the marinade, the more intense the taste will be. For example, for tofu steaks, the recommended marinating time is 7-8 hours.

Bake in a heated pan. Whether you are frying or baking, you should start with a hot pan. You should also use some oil or other fat Only then it will become crispy and simply melt in your mouth. However, it is important not to overdo it. Let’s say, if you put the tofu on a pan that is too hot, it will just stick to the bottom. And after that fixing the dish will not be easy indeed. Baked pieces should be used within a few days.

Tofu for soups and stews. To flavor your soup or stewed tofu, it needs to be marinated and fried beforehand. And add the fried tofu pieces to the prepared soup or stew five minutes before serving. Tofu pieces will lose their crunchiness, but will absorb the broth and will not break. Thus, it will remain fairly firm in consistency and retain its flavor characteristics. If you want to experiment, it is recommended to try the soup according to a Japanese, Korean or Chinese recipe. In this way, you will not only prepare great food, but also get to know the cuisine of another culture.