27 Tofu Recipes That Will Change The Way You Think About Vegan Food (2024)

FAQs

How do you make tofu more interesting? ›

Use a steak marinade, grill with onions and barbecue sauce, and serve on a toasted bun at your next BBQ. Cube it, coat with cornstarch, pan fry, and serve with honey mustard and sweet potato fries for super-easy "chicken" nuggets.

Tofu is vegetarian because it is derived from soy proteins. These proteins are made from pressed soybean curds in a process similar to cheesemaking. This also means that, because only plant-based products are used in its creation, tofu is vegan.

Tofu is generally considered completely vegan-friendly because it is made entirely from soybeans, which are a plant-based source of protein. It is free from any animal products or byproducts. But it's important to be aware that some manufacturers may add non-vegan ingredients to their tofu.

Tofu is commonly used as a source of protein in vegetarian dishes. While making stir fry one can easily exchange the beef or chicken with tofu. There are many more uses for tofu. Vegetarian and vegan cooks are frequently using tofu to replace eggs and dairy.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Tofu is a cholesterol-free, low-calorie, high-protein food that's also rich in bone-boosting calcium and manganese. Tofu may help you to lose weight by keeping you fuller for longer on fewer calories than meat. It may reduce the risk of heart disease, especially when swapped for saturated fat-heavy animal proteins.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, half a cup of firm tofu offers 21.8 grams of protein with 181 calories and 11 grams of fat. Most of that fat is of the healthy polyunsaturated kind. The high level of protein makes tofu a good alternative to animal-derived meat.

Tofu is low in calories.

3.5 oz of firm tofu has 78 calories, and silken tofu has 55 calories. Soft soy tofu with lecithin is ranked second with 61 Calories, but all of those are less than many animal protein options, which usually clock in at 140-200 calories for 3.5-oz servings.

As one other answer said, there are many different types of tofu and many ways to cook it, so it's worth researching. But no, you don't need to eat tofu at all. Nor do you need to eat any soy products if you don't want to. There are many other sources of protein, notably nuts and other beans.

As a general rule of thumb, though, it's okay to eat tofu every day. "The Food and Drug Administration has recognized that 25 grams of soy protein per day may help reduce cholesterol levels," says Manaker. "Some experts recommend eating four soy servings a day for heart health, which can include tofu.

Can I eat too much tofu? ›

Because the glucide in tofu is mainly composed of fiber and multi-sugar, the starch content is low, when the bacteria in the intestines break down these glucids, they will produce a lot of gas. So eating a lot of tofu can easily cause bloating and flatulence.

Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that is similar in function to human estrogen but with much weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity.

When it comes to nutrition, both tofu and tempeh are good protein sources, but tempeh is the winner. There are around 19 grams of protein in 100 grams of tempeh, while tofu contains less than half of this, at around 8 grams per 100 grams.

Silken tofu contains only about half the calories and fat, while firm tofu contains over twice the protein. The reason for this is water content.

Tofu is rich in nutrients, contains all essential amino acids and is low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Its adaptability allows for use in diverse dishes, whether as a meat substitute in vegetarian meals, blended into smoothies, or grilled, baked or stir-fried for added protein in a range of recipes.

Coat it in a lot of dry seasonings.

You can also use your favourite potent seasoning mix and coat your tofu in it. Pre-season it, then let it soak in a sauce to soak up flavours. My Slow Cooker Tofu Butter Chicken wasn't even pre-seasoned, but it was well pressed, and so it truly soaked up the flavours of that sauce.

The wonderful thing about tofu is that is a blank canvas. Tofu truly takes on the flavor of whatever seasonings you put on it or whatever you marinate it in. My go-to everyday tofu seasonings are garlic powder, onion powder, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and smoked paprika.

Rice or Noodles.

We usually serve our tofu stir fry with brown rice (I cook it in the Instant Pot right along with the rest of the meal), but if you prefer tofu stir fry noodles, these are a tasty option, and they cook more quickly too!

You can add raw tofu to things like smoothies, purées, and blended sauces, or use it as a base in homemade ice cream. Eating tofu raw also minimizes any added oils or fats that may be used during common cooking methods.