How To Make Tofu
- 2 cups soybeans (daizu)
- 1/2 teaspoon nigari (coagulant)
- Utensils: 1.
- A square box (a plastic tofu container with holes poked through the bottom will do).
- Line the container with a piece of gauze about four times the size of the box.
- 2.
- Wooden long-handled spoon.
- 3.
- Two-foot-square cotton cloth for straining the "milk" from the mash.
- 4.
- Blender 5.
- Large strainer 6.
- Large mixing bowl 7.
- Large cooking pot - Soak the soybeans in three times the amount of water overnight.
- The beans should triple in size.
- - When soft, drain off the water through a strainer, and pulverize in a blender on high speed for 3 to 4 minutes, until beans are completely pulverized.
- - Add 8 ounces of this mixture to 4 quarts boiling water.
- - Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
- When it starts to boil up again, do not turn down the heat but add 2 or 3 drops of vegetable oil - this will keep it from boiling over.
- Continue to cook another 7 to 10 minutes.
- - Place a wire mesh strainer lined with cotton cloth in another bowl and pour slowly through the lined strainer.
- This separates the soybean milk from the mash.
- Pick up the corners of the cloth and gather and twist tight.
- The mixture is still hot, so using the long-handled spoon, force the remaining liquid into the bowl by pressing repeatedly on the twisted cloth.
- Be careful to keep a tight hold on the ends of the cloth gathered in your hand as you twist and push with the spoon.
- If you drop a corner, very hot liquid can spill on you and the okara (soybean mash) will escape.
- (The leftover mash is called "okara".
- The soybean milk is called "tonyu" and can be refrigerated and drunk for a few days if you wish).
- - Place the tonyu in a large cooking pot and keep at about 140 degree F over low heat.
- In a separate bowl, mix 5 times the amount of water as the tonyu with a two-finger pinch of nigari until dissolved.
- Slowly add 1/2 to the tonyu, stirring constantly.
- - After 5 minutes, add the other half of the nigari and water slowly and stir.
- Cover and reduce to lowest possible heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes as the mixture begins to coagulate.
- - After coagulation, scoop the coagulated tofu out with your wooden spoon and evenly fill you lined container.
- Wrap the gauze over the top and let the container sit for 5 minutes to allow extra liquid to drain.
- - Immerse the container in a large mixing bowl filled with cold water, turn it over, gently pull off the container, and remove the gauze.
- Making tofu can be an interesting challange, but be careful not to burn yourself.
- The price of soybeans and nigari is negligible, but making tofu does take time and is painstaking.
- This process has been done by hand for centuries, beginning early each morning.
- Only someone who has made their own tofu knows how delicious the rewards can be.
soybeans, nigari
Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/how-to-make-tofu-1728 (may not work)