Cheddar Tofu
- 500 grams whole milk
- 250 grams aged Cheddar cheese
- 260 grams firm tofu
- 1.5 grams fine sea salt
- 1.3 grams high-acyl gellan (0.2%) (see Sources, page 309)
- 1.3 grams low-acyl gellan (0.2%) (see Sources, page 309)
- Preheat the oven to 200F (95C).
- Set a 9-inch square Pyrex baking dish in the oven to warm.
- (Warming the dish will prevent the hot Cheddar mixture from seizing when it is poured into the dish.)
- Put the milk and the cheese in a heavy-bottomed pot set over medium heat.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let steep for 20 minutes.
- Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth-lined strainer, pressing gently on the solids to extract the milk from the solids.
- Discard the solids.
- Weigh out 385 grams of Cheddar milk.
- Discard any extra.
- Put the Cheddar milk, tofu, and salt in a blender.
- Puree the mixture until it is silky-smooth.
- While the blender is running, sprinkle both gellans into the vortex to evenly disperse the hydrocolloids.
- This will take about 30 seconds.
- Pour the gellan mixture into a heavy-bottomed pot set over medium heat, stirring to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Continue to cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it reaches 194F (90C).
- At this temperature the gellan will be fully hydrated.
- Quickly pour the mixture into the warmed baking dish.
- Pour the liquid as quickly as you can without splashing, keeping the flow as smooth and even as possible because the gellan sets rapidly once removed from the heat.
- Set the baking dish on the counter and let the Cheddar tofu cool in the dish.
- When the tofu is cold, remove it from the dish and trim off any rounded edges.
- Cut it into 1/2-inch (1.25-centimeter) cubes and reserve on a baking sheet in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- It can be kept, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
cheddar cheese, firm tofu, salt, acyl, lowacyl
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/cheddar-tofu-374205 (may not work)