Vanessa Levis
If you’re not convinced about tofu, you’ve been eating it all wrong. Affordable, smooth in texture and nutty in flavour, not to mention, endlessly versatile, tofu earns its place in every cook’s repertoire. Our tofu recipes traverse the Asian continent, and then some. Whether cubed and highlighted in the Sichuanese classic that is mapo tofu (or Sunda’s lamb mapo tofu variation), served crisp and golden or showcased in its silken form, it readily absorbs bold flavours while bringing texture and substance to a dish.
When it comes to choosing your tofu, the delicate texture of the silken variety is best suited for cold dishes, or gently simmered in broths just before serving. If the recipe calls for silken tofu to be deep-fried, treat it gently. Firm tofu, meanwhile, holds its own in braises. Store any unused tofu in an airtight container filled with water, and use within a couple of days.
These recipes highlight tofu’s range, offering everything from healthy weeknight meals to dishes worthy of a leisurely weekend table. Without further adieu, here are our favourite tofu recipes for easy, flavourful meals.
Oven-roasted Thai curry with pumpkin and tofu
Mushroom mapo tofu
Dainty Sichuan’s ma po doufu
Agedashi tofu
Tony Tan’s spicy silken tofu
Salt-and-pepper tofu with braised eggplant
Kimchi jjigae
Kung pao tofu with sesame crumb
Tofu with chilli jam and spring onions
Spicy Sichuan-style soup with pork, lettuce and soft tofu
Hiyayakko
Stir-fried sweet potato noodles with tofu
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Sweet tofu doughnuts with yuzu salted caramel
Neil Perry: Braised tofu, family-style, with black vinegar
Chargrilled broccolini and tofu salad with soy-yuzu dressing
Whipped tofu and zucchini tart with fennel salad
Louis Tikaram’s vegan ma po tofu
Drunken corn and ginger stir-fry with silken tofu
Tofu poke bowl with pickled carrot
Braised tofu and winter melon
Pork and tofu soup
Victor Liong’s masterstock-braised meats and tofu
Pork, prawn and tofu fritters with salted chilli sauce
Peanut-butter tofu buns with burnt chilli mayo
Flower Drum’s pan-fried pei pa tofu with Chinese sausage and prawns (heung jin pei pa doufu)
Deep-fried tofu, caraway, pickled cucumber and bacon sauce
Laksa with tofu, eggs and snake beans
Miso broth with tofu and mushrooms
Deep-fried tofu with stir-fried lettuce and bacon
Cold tofu with vinegar, garlic and soy
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