Vegetarians and those interested in healthy eating are very familiar with a product called tofu. What it is? This is cheese, or rather, cottage cheese, which is exclusively of vegetable origin and does not contain animal products. It is prepared from soybeans and used to prepare a variety of dishes from salty and spicy to sweet. What is it good for and why you should include it in your diet, you will learn from this article.
Useful properties of soy cheese
Tofu bean curd is quite popular in the cuisine of Asian countries, in China and Japan. Today it is no less used in Europe, citing the usefulness and low calorie content of this product. Tofu can safely be added to the list of leaders in the content of easily digestible vegetable protein. In a serving (about 100-115 grams) of this cheese, 12 grams of protein is about the same as in an egg. But at the same time, there is no harmful cholesterol, which in the last is about 350 milligrams. But that is not all. We can say about tofu that this is one of the most useful products for humans. It contains 8 essential amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals necessary for normal functioning and health of the body: calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, folic and linoleic acids, choline, vitamins E and B. It is not surprising that the Japanese, in whose diet tofu present in large quantities, are long-livers and look healthy, fit and full of energy before old age.
What tofu tastes and color?
In appearance, this cheese is very similar to feta - the same white and creamy in consistency. What about the taste? You can often hear about tofu neutrality. What does it mean? By itself, this soy product does not have a pronounced taste, but it is able to shade and convey the tastes of other ingredients. Therefore, it is used in sweets, and in spicy, and in salty dishes. Tofu can be fried, baked, cooked with soups and sauces, salads and pastas, vegetable side dishes, as well as tender puddings and other desserts. However, first you need to choose the right kind of cheese. There are two of them.
Varieties of Tofu Cheese
There are cotton and silk tofu. What kind of varieties are these? They differ in the method of preparation and, accordingly, in consistency. In the first case, the substrate is wrapped in cotton towels during the preparation process, which makes its texture dense and has a rough surface. In the second, part of the liquid is not removed, but remains in the soybean mass, so it turns out to be smoother, more gentle and soft. Cotton tofu is well suited for frying and cooking dishes in which it is important to maintain the shape of the cheese. Silk is often used for desserts, fillings due to its creamy consistency and more delicate taste. Also in the supermarket you can find pickled tofu, which is sold in glass jars. In addition to soy cheese itself, it contains vinegar, wine and red fermented rice. This product is good for cooking spaghetti, vegetables and legumes.
Spicy Tofu and Spinach Soup
Want to try something with tofu? It is very simple. For example, with it you get a tasty and fragrant soup. Rinse and finely chop two bunches of spinach, divide 400 grams of tofu into small cubes. Prepare the vegetable broth in advance and boil it. Add a spoonful of soy sauce, tofu cheese and cook for 3 minutes. Then pour the spinach and cook for another minute. Season with salt and pepper before serving. Here is such a simple but very interesting recipe. Enjoy your meal!