Tofu is a soft, bland, white cheese-like food made from curdled soybean milk. It is called ‘awara’ or ‘wara soya in Nigeria.
Tofu is a good source of plant-based protein, that can be eaten by everyone including vegetarians and vegans. Tofu offers several health benefits.
It’s moderately low in calories, making it a healthy addition to a variety of diets.
Tofu is relatively low in calories and can be a useful addition to weight management diets.
It also provides essential nutrients like iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Tofu is a dairy-free alternative for individuals who are lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies.
Preparing tofu can be quite simple, and it’s a versatile ingredient that can be used in
various dishes.
These are the steps involved in tofu preparation;
Soybean Preparation:
• Start by soaking dried soybeans in water for several hours or overnight to rehydrate them.
• Remove the soybean coat and drain after soaking.
Blending:
• Blend the soaked soybeans with water and filter it to create smooth soy milk.
Cooking:
• Heat the soy milk in a large pot, bringing it to a gentle boil. Stir continuously to prevent sticking.
• Reduce the heat and simmer for a few minutes.
Coagulation
• In a separate container, prepare a coagulant. This can be either calcium sulfate (gypsum) or magnesium chloride (nigari) dissolved in water. You can also use lime or lemon juice. Some people even use raw pap water.
• Slowly add the coagulant to the hot soy milk while stirring gently. The soy milk will curdle and form curds (solids).
Curds (solid) and Whey (liquid) Separation:
• Let the mixture sit undisturbed for a while, allowing the curds to separate from the whey.
Draining:
• Line a tofu mold or a container with cheesecloth or muslin.
• Carefully ladle or pour the curds and whey into the mold, allowing the whey to drain away.
Pressing:
• Place a weight on top of the curds in the mold to press out excess whey and shape the tofu. The weight can be a heavy object or a tofu press.
Cooling:
• Let the tofu cool and firm up for at least 1-2 hours.
• Cutting and Serving:
• Once the tofu is firm, carefully remove it from the mold.
• Cut the tofu into the desired shape and size.
These are the basic steps for making tofu. After cutting as desired, you can fry it and spice with pepper and vegetables of choice.
For practice at home, you may use this;
Ingredients
6 cups soybeans
150ml freshly Squeezed lime or lemon juice.
Water
Salt
Spice
Oil
Pepper
Vegetables
Written by: Janet Modupe Odusote