Tofu Types

Healthy Noodle
Naturally rich in soy protein and low in calories and carbohydrates, tofu noodles are a great addition to a low carb diet. A regular two ounce serving of pasta contains a waist-expanding 210 calories and 42 grams of carbohydrates while a four ounce serving of tofu noodles contain a mere 20 calories and only 3 grams of carbohydrates.

You can use tofu noodles just as you would any noodle or pasta but they really work best in their traditional Asian dishes and tofu noodles can be a real treat if you use them in recipes that compliment their texture, such as Lo Mein or served with a spicy peanut or sesame sauce or as an ingredient in soups.

Shirataki tofu Noodles
You also might like to try the shirataki tofu noodles that are making a big stir in diet circles. These noodles are made of tofu and yam flour, from the yam-like konjac plant grown in China and Japan.

High in fiber, and very low in calories, these versatile noodles are very low in calories and carbohydrates and you can use Shirataki noodles in soups, salads, or where ever you’d normally use your favorite noodles. The secret seems to be the water-soluble dietary fiber that fills you up faster and satisfies your hunger longer. Could it be that the shirataki tofu noodle will be the next big diet craze?

Whether you’re looking for a way to shed some extra pounds or just looking for a new adventure for your taste buds, you should definitely give tofu noodles a try. They’re a delicious treat and a wonderful low calorie, low carbohydrate meal.

Tofu Smoothie

If you like smoothie, tofu smoothies would suit you nicely. As unique liquid meals, they can fill the requirement for a healthy yet delicious snack or mean replacement. tofu smoothies can be as varied as the individuals creating them base solely on their taste buds.
Smooth texture of tofu
tofu is bean curd or in essence, a cheese like substance made from soybeans. The soybeans are boiled, mashed and ground extracting the milk, which is coagulated by a curdling agent like salt, lemon or vinegar. The resulting product is a creamy textured substance called tofu that can be substituted as protein in any dish where animal or dairy sustenance would be used. In tofu smoothies, the milk or ice cream is replaced by the bean curd.

tofu has the unique quality of absorbing the flavor of whatever of where ever it is placed. The best quality is that it is low calorie, experts have given it a degree of healthy benefits including lowering cholesterol, and helping got maintain a healthy weight. tofu smoothies can help keep your health goals on track.

Types of Smoothies
The unique trick with tofu smoothies is that you can utilize vegetables, fruits or both in creating them. tofu can be substituted for eggs, flour, milk, or meat in many dishes you create for yourself and your family. When making a tofu smoothies decide first what you are craving in your drink.

A quick refreshing tofu smoothie recipe includes two bananas, three ounces of silken tofu, a cup of berries of your choice including raspberries, strawberries and blue berries, an once of orange juice, a tablespoon of vanilla, half cup of ice, and two tablespoons of honey. Combine these ingredients in your blender until mixed. Give it a taste test for sweetness and add more honey if you desire.

Another simple tofu smoothie recipe is even easier. Simply add tofu to your blender along with a cup of ice and your favorite fruit along with a cup of orange juice and blend. Then enjoy the delicious healthy flavor or your tofu smoothie.

tofu smoothies also work well with other healthy additives such as wheat bran, bee pollen, aloe vera and other ingredients that suit your maintenance regimen. these smoothies can be balanced to add your weight loss, or health support according to the plan you are working on. You will find that a delicious tofu smoothie is easy to make and a wonderful treat that is beneficial too.

Silken Tofu- Healthy Cooking Ingredient

If you aren’t a fan of blocks of tofu, then consider SilkenTofu.

Difference Between Regular tofu and Silken tofu
When you shop for tofu, you will notice that there are many different brands of tofu that you can choose from. There is:

• pre-cooked tofu,
• seasoned, tofu, and
• plain tofu brands.

However, when it comes to categories of tofu, there are two main ones: regular tofu and SilkenTofu.SilkenTofu is also called Japanese-style tofu, or soft tofu. Silken tofu (hence its name) is of a softer consistency than regular tofu. In fact, it is so soft that if it is not handled correctly, then it will fall apart.

Another way you can easily discern between SilkenTofu and regular tofu when shopping for it, is that it often comes in aseptic packages that do not need to be refrigerated. Regular tofu is does require refrigeration, and is packaged in water, so be aware that in grocery stores, silken tofu is often not found near the regular tofu, but rather in a special section.

However, a similarity that both SilkenTofu and regular tofu have, is that they can be found in the same consistencies:

• extra firm,
• medium,
• soft, and
• firm.

Both categories of tofu are made from the same ingredients. However, they cannot be interchanged in a recipe, because each category of tofu is processed differently.Now, because regular and silken tofu cannot be interchanged in a recipe, then it is important for people to realize that if the former is needed for a recipe, then it will be specifically noted. Although the two main categories of tofu cannot be interchanged, do not worry if your local grocery store only carries one brand of the tofu you need, because each category can be interchanged within itself.

So, when it comes to the kinds of recipes that do use SilkenTofu, they generally involve desserts, salad dressings, or sauces, since that kind of tofu gives such things a creamy consistency. Remember that this kind of tofu is good for up to a year if the package has not yet been opened, and good for a week (if submerged in water, securely covered, and placed in a refrigerator). Once you get used to SilkenTofu, no doubt you will be using it in the many different recipes that can use it.

Try Shirataki Tofu If You Like Noodles

Shirataki tofu is a new food product that is gaining popularity. Already familiar in the Asian markets, Shirataki tofu is a Japanese noodle product made from a yam like root that is combined with tofu.

This plant called devil’s tongue has been used in Japan and China for about two thousands years. It is called konnyaku in Japanese. This fibrous root is cleaned, cooked, mashed and pounded. The resulting mixture is blended with lime to coagulate in a method similar to making tofu. The outcome is a pasty brick that is turned into many food products. The flour or starch from this yam like root is used to make the Japanese noodles called Shirataki.

Shirataki actually means ‘white waterfall‘, which describes the noodles when they are cooked. Shirataki tofu adds bean curd to the yam flour in the noodles. The yam flour alone has little nutritional value. The tofu gives the noodles the benefit of a small amount of carbohydrates and a few calories. Shirataki tofu is a healthy food product that provides glucomannan which some say has an effect on controlling blood sugar levels. It also can contribute to good cholesterol and a balanced weight.

The cooked noodles are flavorless themselves and like tofu absorb the essence of whatever dish they are set in. The noodles are often sold packed in bags of water. Sometimes there is a subtle odor when the bag is opened which is removed when rinsed and cooked. The taste and textured of Shirataki tofu may be a little chewy or rubbery but it is a good substitute for traditional pasta in many dishes providing far less calories.

How to Use the Noodles
It is easy and convenient to use Shirataki tofu. The noodles can be put into soups, quick casseroles, stews and dishes where you would normally use traditional pasta. The taste is only subtly different and the result is that Shirataki tofu has far less calories than many wheat-based products.

Shirataki tofu can be used in salads, main dishes, appetizers and other favored recipes. Many new recipes are sure to come up when you try this unique food product. Try getting a can of chicken stock and adding a can of cooked chicken with some herbs. Bring it to a boil and put in some rinsed Shirataku tofu noodles. This is a quick and healthy alternative to traditional chicken noodle soup. You will soon find that it is easy to adapt to the healthy alternative of Shirataki tofu.

Deep Fried Tofu

Vegetarianism has been in the limelight in recent years as more people are in the search for the ”perfect” diet. Vegetarians, with the absence of meat, need to make up the minerals and complete protein content required for health in other foods. And so the basis of the Vegetarian diet is made of beans, lentils, rice, tofu and related meat alternatives.

In this, it has generally been hard for a Vegetarian to be unhealthy. That is, until the introduction of popular foods of late such as deep fried tofu. Is this a bit of fun or a cause for concern?

What Is Deep Fried tofu?
Deep fried tofu is basically as it reads. Similar to a dagwood dog or chips, it is tofu deep fried in a vat of oil at a high temperature so as to produce an oily, crunchy textured food, usually served with a sauce of your choice.

tofu is one of many to join the line of other deep fried foods once thought un-deep friable, such as deep fried coca-cola, deep fried chocolate and deep fried ice-cream. The scary thing is that these types of foods are more often being selected as a daily meal choice, as opposed to being the occasional treat.

Health Issues
Obesity is the most common health issue affecting Western society today. Our foods are getting fattier, our meals bigger, and children more and more over-weight. And it’s no wonder this is so when the example that we are giving them is confusing them as to what a healthy food choice is. They listen and learn that words like Vegetarianism equal healthy, then turn around and see foods such as deep fried tofu on the menu. This confusion is one of the reasons that Western society is the biggest and unhealthiest in the world.

Healthier Alternatives
Rather than sitting down to a meal of deep fried tofu, a much healthier option would be to stir fry tofu with a little oil with crisp, fresh vegetables and serve it with a scoop of brown rice. Grill, boil and poach rather than fry or deep fry, and use oil sparingly. It does not require a huge effort to learn a little about what is good for you and put it into practice to gain a huge result.

Respect your body and try to serve you and your family the best. And also to keep portions under control – only put in what you put out. If you’re not about to run a marathon, try not to eat like it!

Spice Up Your Cooking With Chilli Tofu

tofu is so versatile that it can be put into a lot of recipes that you never thought possible. From salad dressings to desserts, tofu can be added to any meal of the day. But one of the most interesting tofu recipe is the chilli tofu.

If you love hot and spicy tofu, this is for you.

tofu Recipe: Vegetarian Chili tofu For this tofu chili recipe, you will need several ingredients.

These ingredients include: 2 cups of kidney beans that should be dried and cooked, 2 pounds of sliced mushrooms, 1 cup of mashed, thawed, and squeeze-dried frozen tofu, 3 coarsely chopped small onions, ½ cup of minced mild chilies, ½ cup of tamari, an optional ½ cup of red wine, 4 large minced garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of chili powder (this can be adjusted if necessary), 1 teaspoon of basil, 1 teaspoon of cumin, 1 cup of minced celery, 1 cup of minced green pepper, and 1 cup of minced carrots.

Once the ingredients for this tofu chili recipe have been assembled, mix the chili powder, tamari, tofu, wine, basil, and cumin together. Let this mixture marinade for an hour at room temperature. While that mixture is marinating, sauté the onion until it is browned, but not limp. Place the oil into a large soup pot and heat it. Add the green pepper, carrots, and celery, and sauté this mixture for 2 minutes. Then, add the garlic and the mushrooms, and sauté this mixture until the onions become moist. This should happen (at high heat) after around 5 minutes.

Along with the tofu marinade that was prepared at the beginning, add all the remaining ingredients to the mixture. Once, this has been done, bring the mixture to a boil. At this point, the heat should be now be lowered, and let the mixture simmer for a bout an hour. You will know when the chili is ready, because the seasonings are well-blended, and the chili is fragrant and thick. Now, remember that additional seasonings can be added, once the chili is served, according to each person’s taste.

If you enjoy spicy tofu dishes like this, you can always check out cookbooks or the internet, as there are a variety of different recipes that people submit to many different websites. With practice and research, you will, no doubt, have a chili tofu recipe that will be enjoyed by loved ones for years to come!

What Is Tofu and Why Is It a Hot Favorite amongst Vegetarians?

You must have heard about tofu from your vegan or health conscious friends and you must have sometime or other wondered what this food is all about. Well, tofu is plain and simple processed soybean. tofu is normally of two types, i.e. (i) silken tofu and (ii) normal tofu. The process of making this food is very much similar to the processing of cheese. First soymilk is extracted, then it curdled and lastly the curds are pressed to remove the water out of it; the result is tofu.

The Harder the tofu, the Better It Is for Cooking

Between the two types of tofu, the harder version is better for cooking because it has less water content. This hard variety is often considered better because it is easy to cut, mix and fry while the silken one would crumble if handled too much. The soft tofu is also useful for soups, desserts and the like where its softness is an advantage.

When you cook the hard type, you should always try to remove as much water from it as possible. This is because the more water removed the more absorbent it will become and hence, more tastier when cooked in any gravy. When you are working with the hard type, keep in mind that each brand may have a different type and texture. It is a good idea to research a little before settling down to a particular brand. The research will help you identify which brand is good for what type of food.

Some tofu is excellent for hard fry, some for blending and yet some strictly for desserts. This is why you will need some time to orient yourself and learn the properties of some of the varieties available. Once you know which is what, it will be extremely easy to cook this unusual, yet highly healthy food.

This food is often called the meat of the vegans because it is indeed full of protein and other good things that human beings who do not eat meat should have. Normally, the standard size of 8 oz tofu has about 465mg calcium, 36g protein, 330 calories and 20g fat. As you can see, you can get all that you need from this wonder of nature. However, it take time to like it genuinely. You can consume this type of food at least once in a week for any real health benefit.