What tofu cheese is made of: composition, manufacturing features and properties

Tofu cheese is currently gaining popularity. What it is? It is a plant product that is made from soy milk. A distinctive feature of soft cheese is low calorie content and the presence of a large amount of protein. Tofu is very popular in Europe and Asia because of its high content of iron, proteins and calcium. So what is the secret to product popularity? What is tofu cheese made of? About this - in this article.

Tofu cheese - what is it and why is it eaten?

This product is made from soybeans. They are processed into milk, and then, thanks to additional components, it is cured and converted into soft cheese. Tofu can be classified as a dietary product. In bean curd - a minimum of calories, a lot of nutrients and vitamins, proteins and proteins.

Often in sports nutrition it is tofu cheese or bean curd that is used. The composition of the product includes iron, calcium and vegetable fats.

The benefits of soy cheese

Despite the minimum number of calories, tofu has a special unique value. Soya product does not contain cholesterol, but also has antioxidants, which, with constant use, can delicately cleanse the body of harmful substances and toxins. Let’s take a closer look at the composition of tofu cheese and what this unusually useful product is made of:

• First of all, tofu saturates the body with protein, vitamins and iron.
• Calcium, which is found in soy milk and, therefore, in soft cheese, strengthens the body's bone system, hair follicles, nails and teeth.
• Tofu favorably affects the blood vessels and the cardiovascular system.
• Soft cheese does not contain animal fats. But despite this, it has a high nutritional value and helps to get enough of a small amount of food for a sufficiently long time.
• In addition, tofu cheese is quickly absorbed by the body.
• Another advantage of the dairy product is its low calorie content. Not more than 85 kilocalories per 100 grams of cheese.
• Tofu will be a real find for people who suffer from intolerance to animal protein. But it contributes to the strengthening and growth of muscle tissue.
• Also in the description of the benefits of tofu cheese there is information about its usefulness for the female body. Soft cheese contributes to weight loss and contains phytoestrogens. They improve the appearance and rejuvenate the skin, help mitigate a number of unpleasant symptoms during menopause.

Useful substances and microelements

Soy cheese has become a real discovery in cooking. Tofu is very easy to prepare, the product is suitable for many dishes. Soft cheese is made from soybeans, which are leaders among foods containing protein and plant fiber. They also contain vitamins B, A, E, C and D, macro- and microelements sodium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese and amino acids.

Due to the beneficial properties of tofu cheese, it is often used instead of meat and fish.

Harm and contraindications

Tofu cheese is easily absorbed by the body, but it should be consumed in moderation. Otherwise, soft cheese can slow down or worsen digestion. Also, allergy sufferers should be wary of this product. Such people should be checked for soy tolerance and adhere to the instructions of the attending physician in the future. Otherwise, the product may cause allergic reactions, indigestion and other troubles.

In general, experts did not identify the harm that tofu cheese can cause to the body. But still, it is worthwhile to be careful about this product, buy it only in trusted stores and monitor the expiration date.

What tofu cheese is made of

The main ingredient in the preparation of the product are soybeans. Vegetable milk is produced from them. It is it that is taken as the basis of tofu cheese. Next, a special coagulant is added to soy milk. It must be part of the recipe to obtain the necessary porous and solid consistency of the product. To give soy tofu the desired shape, it is heated and kept under pressure for several hours. The last step is to seal the tofu in a sealed container with a special liquid. This is necessary so that in the future the cheese does not absorb the smells of other products and does not dry out.

This recipe for making tofu is used in China and Japan, it can be considered universal. The composition of the ingredients may vary depending on the taste preferences of the manufacturers and the needs of consumers. Most often, various spices or natural flavors are added to tofu.

The composition of soft cheese and the manufacturing process

Like any other product, bean curd has its own chemical composition and secret ingredients. What are tofu cheese made of and what additives does it contain?

The soy product contains:

• vitamins and amino acids;
• potassium, calcium, sodium, zinc and iron;
• protein, amino acids and plant fibers.

Due to its composition, tofu cheese is so healthy. Of course, additional components may vary, but high-quality cheese in the chemical composition will necessarily have these elements.

For many culinary experts, the question often arises of how to make tofu cheese at home. Initially, it seems that to prepare such a unique product, you need to acquire professional equipment, have special knowledge, experience. In fact, the classic recipe for a soy product is so simple that anyone can do it.

Experienced chefs grind fresh beans into flour on their own before making tofu cheese. At home, you can not stick to this point. Immediately buy high-quality soy flour or milk in a specialized store.

The process of making soft cheese is as follows:

1. Grind soybeans, cook flour.
2. Add thickener or citric acid.
3. Pour the mixture with salt water, mix thoroughly until a homogeneous consistency.
4. Put the mass in a pre-prepared form.
5. Put a press on top for several hours.

As you can see, cooking tofu yourself at home is not so difficult. It is only necessary to observe the proportions and the order of actions.

Tofu Cheese Recipes at Home

Cooking a soy product at home has many advantages. Firstly, homemade tofu will be made only from natural ingredients, without GMO soy, which can often be found on store shelves if you buy finished products. Secondly, additional ingredients and spices can be added at your discretion, that is, soft cheese will have exactly the taste that you need and like. Tofu at home can be made from fresh beans, soy flour or milk.

Classic recipe

It is worth paying attention to the fact that home-made soft cheese has a very short shelf life - no more than two days. And you need to store it in the refrigerator, after having wrapped it with cling film.

Ingredients

• Fresh soybeans - 1 kg.
• Lemon juice - 80 ml.
• Cold water - 2 l.

Cooking order

1. Rinse soybeans under running water, place in a deep bowl.
2. Pour cold water for a day. During this time, change the water every six hours.
3. After the soybeans swell, grind them with a meat grinder and pour one liter of cold filtered water.
4. Leave the resulting mass in a cool place for three hours, stirring constantly.
5. Strain the resulting soy milk through cheesecloth, leaving only liquid.
6. Boil it over medium heat until boiling, remove from stove.
7. After ten minutes, add citric acid to the milk, stirring constantly, until the mass is curdled.
8. Remove excess liquid from the resulting soy cheese, put in a mold and leave under pressure for several hours.
9. Store tofu in the refrigerator for no more than a day.

A simple recipe for soy milk cheese

Another advantage of tofu is its neutral taste and smell. Therefore, it can be added to various dishes, fried and baked. Cheese is great as a dessert.

Components

• Soy milk - 500 ml.
• Lemon or orange juice - 50 ml.

Step cooking

1. Pour soy milk into a deep saucepan and cook over low heat until it boils.
2. Remove from heat and let cool for ten minutes.
3. After that, slowly pour orange or lemon juice into the milk, stirring constantly.
4. When the mass is curdled, it must be filtered through a fine sieve or cheesecloth, folded twice.
5. Put the bean curd into the mold and leave it under the press for two hours.
6. Store in a cool place for no more than two days.

Soy flour tofu cheese

To make the finished product softer and more porous in structure, you can not keep it under the press, but just let it brew in the form for several hours.

Components

• Quality soy flour - 300 g.
• Lemon juice - 80 ml.
• Cold water - 300 ml.
• Boiled hot water - 500 ml.

Cooking process

1. Pour soy flour into a deep bowl.
2. Pour cold water into it, mix thoroughly until a homogeneous consistency.
3. Then add a liter of hot water and cook over medium heat for 10 - 15 minutes.
4. Then remove soy milk from the stove, let it cool slightly and add lemon juice.
5. Stir the mass thoroughly, strain through cheesecloth, folded twice.
6. After all excess moisture is removed from bean curd, it must be placed in the prepared form and left under the press in a cool place for three hours.

So, tofu cheese - what is it? It is a plant derived product made from soybeans. It includes many useful substances, vitamins and minerals. Thanks to which soya product is very popular in many countries around the world. Now you know what tofu cheese is made of and what useful properties this unique product has.