Tofu, a nutrient-rich substitute for meat, is most often
seen in vegetarian and vegan dishes. Because of its high protein, low calorie,
and low fat content, tofu is often characterized as a genuine "health food". In
addition, because tofu is a plant-based food, it is also naturally
cholesterol-free.
Tofu provides other health benefits, too. Eating a half-cup
of this health food gives you 22% of
your recommended daily amount of calcium and about 1.82 mg of iron. Just for
reference, women are supposed to consume 18 mg of iron. For men, this amount is
8 mg.
Types of Tofu
If you walk into the supermarket, you'll see three main
types of tofu. There is firm tofu, soft tofu, and silken tofu. Firm tofu is
very dense and used mainly for stir-fry dishes, the grill, or for any other dish
that needs to maintain its shape. Firm tofu is the highest in protein, calcium,
and fat.. The soft and silken tofus are used in dishes where the shape can be
compromised.
Tofu may be tasteless, but it has a superb ability to absorb
flavors. Moreover, tofu is easy to incorporate without changing the overall
flavor of a dish. Adding tofu to a soup or stir-fry is an easy way to add nutrients
to your daily diet. Tofu is also easy to digest, and can be used in both snacks
and meals.
My Take on Tofu
I have tried tofu in soups and as a main dish. It is very
good as an additional ingredient, but I didn't like it as well as the main
course. Tofu can be cut into small bits and added to meals since the texture
and taste will blend with the overall flavor of the meal. As for using tofu as
the main ingredient, I didn't like it so much. First of all, cutting into small
bits wouldn't disguise the overall texture of tofu when it is the main
component. I also remember thinking that adding chicken would have made the
dish so much better.
Resources:
http://soyfoods.com/soyfoodsdescriptions/tofu.html
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/healthnutrition/p/tofunutrition.htm
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