Can You Eat Tofu Raw And Cold?

Tofu is a perennial favorite in vegan and vegetarian diets and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Are you wondering whether tofu can also be eaten raw and cold? We’ll tell you!

What is tofu?

Tofu is a type of curd made from soybeans. The name comes from Asia, where the first part of the word means “bean” and the second is “fermentation”. Tofu has been a staple here for centuries.

Note: With us, you will find more detailed information about what tofu really consists of and what types of tofu there are!

Tofu is rich in proteins and is therefore widely used as a meat substitute, especially among vegetarians and vegans. You can buy it in 3 variants:

• fresh tofu: available as hard natural tofu or soft and especially tender silken tofu.
• Processed tofu: you can get smoked tofu, already marinated or fried.
• Frozen tofu: also called thousand-layer tofu. Ice crystals create bubbles and holes. Before further processing, it must be thawed and squeezed out. You’re more likely to find this in Asian supermarkets.

How does tofu taste?

The protein-rich natural tofu has a rather neutral taste. Therefore, it can be perfectly used for both sweet and savory dishes. Pure and without ingredients, on the other hand, it tastes bland. Therefore, the right preparation is particularly important. You can boil, grill, roast, or steam, but also eat the tofu raw and cold without hesitation.

Note: The term “raw” is actually incorrect because tofu consists of heated soy milk. In this case, “eat raw” simply means that you use it without heating it, i.e. cold.

Which tofu is best eaten raw?

In principle, any tofu can be eaten cold and raw. Depending on the use, some varieties are more suitable than others. They are distinguished by their different moisture content. The more water the tofu contains, the softer it is. If you want it to be quick and without cooking, the following tofu variants are particularly good if you want to eat tofu raw:

Eat natural tofu raw

Pure tofu without any further processing can be used in many different ways. It is pressed into small blocks and is cut-resistant. It only tastes good to a limited extent raw, so you should prepare it with strong spices. The best way to get flavor into bland natural tofu is to marinate it. This is how you do it:

1. Drain the liquid from the tofu
2. Wrap tofu in a kitchen roll
3. place between 2 plates and weigh them down to squeeze out the tofu
4. Then cut the tofu into cubes, strips, or slices
5. Place in the marinade for at least half an hour or better overnight

You can also use the protein-rich natural tofu for a smoothie. Add it to the blender with the other ingredients and conjure up a creamy and filling smoothie.

Tip: You can even make vegan feta cheese yourself from natural tofu! Simply put it in oil, herbs, and spices.

Eat smoked tofu raw

Smoked tofu is firm and doesn’t fall apart easily. Plus, it already has a delicious, smoky flavor. How to use smoked tofu raw:

• mixed with other ingredients as a spread
• diced in salads and soups
• sliced on the bread

Eat silken tofu raw

Silken tofu is super creamy and breaks down easily. Due to its high water content, it resembles solid yogurt or quark. The best way to eat silken tofu is raw:

• pureed for dressings, dips, and sauces
• as a substitute for cream and crème fraîche in sweet and savory dishes
• doused with soy sauce as an Asian appetizer

Tip: You can also use silken tofu as an egg substitute. This is how 75 g pureed silken tofu replaces 1 egg when baking.

If you don’t feel like raw tofu, you can bread tofu in a crispy breadcrumb or marinate tofu in an Asian style!