Tofu - The Wonder Food

By Frank Woods


It seems that with each passing year, people have become more health conscious. Constantly flooding the market are fad diets, weight loss pills, and home gyms. However, eating healthy has always been the best way to achieve good health. But because of the high fat and cholesterol contend found in red and white meats, eating healthy can be difficult. However, tofu has been embraced by both vegetarians and eastern culture alike.

Tofu can be used in many recipes and methods of cooking and is made from soybean curd that's pressed into blocks. Different kinds of recipes use different varieties of tofu. The form of tofu that contains the highest moisture content is soft tofu or fresh tofu, and it's produced directly from soy milk. This form of tofu can be conducive to use as a dessert because it has a custard-like texture.

Another form of tofu is firm tofu, and its moisture content is slightly less than soft tofu. Firm and soft tofu are both soft in texture, but firm tofu is still able to hold its shape. The form of fresh tofu which is has the firmest texture is dried tofu. This type of tofu is known to have the firmness of cooked meat and it also contains the lowest moisture content. With this tofu, you can slice them, crumble them, or press them into forms like noodles.

To chefs and diners, tofu's appeal is two fold. Because it has very little natural flavor it can be used in many dishes and sauces. Its lack of flavor doesn't overpower the dish. The versatility of tofu is evident in the preparation methods. When served, it can be grilled, stewed, raw, in soups, or even as a stuffing or filling. Tofu's appeal, however, can be extended beyond being versatile. Because of its nutritional benefits, tofu is considered a good choice of food for health conscious people. Not only is it low in calories, it is high in protein and has no cholesterol. The FDA states that you may reduce the risk of heart disease by having a daily intake of 25gms of soy protein which is found in tofu.

Tofu, having the ability to act as a canvas for flavors and provide health benefits, is literally a wonder food. This is also a reason why it's become a popular food choice for food lovers and health conscious people.




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