Tofu

Tofu or bean curd is a widely used ingredient in many Asian cuisines, but it’s high protein content, mild taste, and versatility in use made it a popular ingredient in the Western world as well, most notably as part of vegetarian/vegan diets. It comes in many shapes and forms from soft to extra firm and can be cooked, baked, fried ( inari ), fermented, dried… Japanese even use it for ice cream, not to mention the delicious dishes made using yuba (tofu skin).

The sky’s the limit to what you can do with tofu, and a good example for that is Hannari Tofu, a cute character line from Passport that features smiling tofu blocks as plushies, pillows, pouches and the like. If you feel like trying out making tofu Japanese style yourself, however, you are sure to find some recipes and ideas in our selection of cookbooks!