Tofu: what is this?

For many people, tofu is a specific food. But very few people know exactly how tofu is eaten and what it is at all. In this article, we will consider what isthemselves tofu, how and from what tofu is made, and with what it is eaten. Also, the article tells about the varieties of this product, the importance in the diet and the requirements for storing tofu.

What is tofu

Some believe that tofu is a cheese withhigh content of soy. However, in fact tofu is a bean curd. Tofu is a source of protein, which is an analogue of the animal. In 100 grams of this cottage cheese contains no more than 100 kcal. At the same time, there is practically no fat in this product. In addition, tofu is rich in calcium and iron. Plus, tofu contains many minerals.

What is tofu made from?

As a rule, tofu is produced byprotein coagulation of soy milk. Clotting is due to heating and subsequent filtration. In the production of tofu, different coagulants are used. The role of the coagulant can be performed by citric acid, sea water, calcium sulfate. After the coagulation is completed, the tofu is compressed. The result is a white product. As you can see, cooking tofu is like cooking cheese. Therefore, it is so often confused with this product.

Spreading and storing tofu

Tofu is currently widely distributedworldwide. It is very popular in vegetarian cuisine. The origin of tofu is attributed to Japan. It is believed that it first appeared in the eighth century BC. However, the Chinese claim that they were the first to come up with this product. According to their historical records, tofu was obtained in the second century BC. By the way, tofu is a purely Chinese name, but this product is popular in Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand. And in these countries tofu has its own unique name.

Crude tofu is usually stored for one week. Keep it in the refrigerator in a vacuum box. You can freeze.

Varieties of tofu

At the moment there are many subspecies of tofu. However, in cooking it is considered that tofu is divided into two main types, namely hard tofu and soft tofu, also called silk.

Solid tofu differs not only in itsdensity, but also a feature of cooking. According to its consistency, it resembles mozzarella, and in this connection it is well suited for smoking. It should be noted that solid tofu is divided into western and Asian. And the latter contains a lot of water.

Soft tofu also contains a lot of water, about 80 percent. It has a very specific smell.

The use and impact on health

Tofu is a universal product thatcan be used in various soups and in the preparation of sauces. Tofu can be the basis for dessert, as well as for dishes that are roasted and smoked. As already noted above, tofu is very popular with vegetarians and vegans. Separately, tofu is rarely used for food, it usually serves as an additive or ingredient.

The utility of tofu has been known since ancient times. Scientists have proved that tofu is rich in protein and contains all the essential amino acids. Tofu is not only a low-calorie product, but also contains no cholesterol.

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