Tofu
A block of raw Japanese-style silken tofu | |
| Alternative names | Bean curd |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | China |
| Associated cuisine |
|
| Main ingredients | Soy milk |
Tofu (Japanese: 豆腐, Hepburn: Tōfu; Korean: 두부; RR: dubu, Chinese: 豆腐; pinyin: dòufu) or bean curd is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness: silken, soft, firm, and extra (or super) firm. It originated in China and has been consumed for over 2,000 years.[1][2] Tofu is a traditional component of many East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines;[3] in modern Western cooking, it is often used as a meat substitute.
Nutritionally, tofu is low in calories, while containing a relatively large amount of protein. It is a high and reliable source of iron, and can have a high calcium or magnesium content depending on the coagulants (e.g. calcium chloride, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate) used in manufacturing. Cultivation of tofu, as a protein-rich food source, has one of the lowest needs for land use (1.3 m²/ 1000 kcal)[4] and emits some of the lowest amount of greenhouse gas emissions (1.6 kg CO2/ 100 g protein).[5][6]
- ^ "History of tofu". Soya.be. 29 November 2015. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- ^ "What is Tofu? What's the Best Way to Cook It?". devour.asia. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- ^ Du Bois (2008), pp. 13–14.
- ^ "Land use of foods per 1000 kilocalories". Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ "Environmental Impacts of Food Data Explorer". Our World in Data. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
- ^ Ritchie, Hannah; Roser, Max (18 March 2024). "Less meat is nearly always better than sustainable meat, to reduce your carbon footprint". Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 October 2024.