Is your mind intrigued by some exciting questions, such as whether bean curd is called Tofu? How did this bean curd become an authentic cuisine? Who were the first countries to make Tofu?
If you are raising your hands for the above queries, then you are at the right place!
In the rich tapestry culture of Chinese society, bean curd, the so-called “Tofu,” has a unique story of significance regarding health, simplicity, and balance.
Let’s read this in detail: the origin and the history of bean curd, as well as the exciting facts and health benefits of eating bean curd, popularly known as Tofu.
The Origin of Bean Curd (Tofu)
Let's go back over 2,000 years. This bean curd called Tofu was first consumed and prepared in China. Also, some common beliefs are that before the Chinese date trace (206 BCE–9CE), this bean curd was consumed by the Western Han Dynasty.
But this food, bean curd, came into the limelight among people in China when a Chinese prince named Liu An experimented with soya beans; accidentally, it curdled with an invention of a new Chinese authentic cuisine called Tofu—here the journey of “Tofu” or “bean curd” started and became a staple and essential cuisine in China.
Who Were The First Countries To Make Tofu?
Did you know China was the first Tofu maker during the Lunar New Year? The leading Chinese food at their reunion dinner table is bean curd (Tofu) because they think eating it will bring happiness and good fortune to their family.
At the reunion eating table, Chinese family members once murmured, “Tofu, Tofu, a mouthful of ‘Fu' (福 = happiness).”
Later, countries like Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and other Asian countries used this bean curd or Tofu in their dishes.
At the end of the last century, Indians accepted this Tofu, but it was not added to their dish plate for religious reasons. In India, paneer (a fresh cheese) is used as an alternative substitute for Tofu.
This paneer is made of holy cow milk and has high nutritional value. But later, in 1985, when a vegetarian cookbook placed Tofu forward as a healthy substitute for paneer, people started to use Tofu in their dish menus.
Variations of Tofu or Bean Curd
Bean curd (Tofu) is a versatile soya product with wide varieties. Differ from its texture and culinary uses. Some are as follows:
- Extra Firm Tofu: It contains less water content and is great for grilling, stir-frying, and baking.
- Firm Tofu: It contains more water than extra firm Tofu, is solid, and is suitable for stir-fries and scrambles.
- Medium Firm Tofu: It balances firm and soft Tofu well. It is suitable for sauteing, baking, and soups.
- Soft Tofu: It is known as silken Tofu, has more water content, and is very smooth texture-wise. It is best for soups, desserts, smoothies, and dishes.
- Silken Tofu: This is an even softer version of Tofu with extremely high water content. It is perfect for mixing into creamy dressings, sauces, and desserts.
- Sprouted Tofu: If you know about sprouted soybeans, then this Tofu is made with them. It has high nutritional values and can be used in all types of dishes, such as dishes, desserts, and smoothies.
Other varieties are smoked and flavored Tofu, which is used just as an additional seasoning for sandwiches or grilled dishes.
What Is Bean Curd or Tofu Made With?
Bean curd or Tofu is made with soybeans, which are soaked overnight, then ground and pressed into a tender block of protein. Although bean curd is tasteless, additional flavors are added to the soaked soybean water to give it a taste.
The water is then absorbed by the soya chunks that are soaked overnight. Hence, wonderful dishes can be prepared with this favored bean curd or Tofu.
What Are The Nutritional Values of the Bean Curd or Tofu?
When it comes to nutritional values, they are high in protein and less fat, and these are the only reasons why millions of people love this bean curd and are more popular.
When it is concerned with health or the reason for any religious grounds, this bean curd is adopted as their staple food, especially for vegan people and also for those who eat less meat.
| Nutrients | Amount Per 100gm |
| Calories | 76 |
| Total Fat | 4.8g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.7g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2.7g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1.1g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 7mg |
| Potassium | 121mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 1.9g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.3g |
| Protein | 8g |
| Vitamin A | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0% |
| Calcium | 35% |
| Iron | 30% |
| Vitamin D | 0% |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0% |
| Cobalamin | 0% |
| Magnesium | 7% |
What Are The Health Advantages of Eating Bean Curd or Tofu?
Bean curd or Tofu are excellent sources of protein and less fat. Let's see here what its health benefits are:
- Hot Flashes: People who suddenly feel hot flashes on their upper body, especially on the face, neck, and chest, then eating Tofu (and other soy-based foods) reduces this sensation as it is full of estrogen. Basically, during menopause, women get hot flashes, so taking bean curd is best at that time to cut down on hot feelings.
- Coronary Heart Disease: Tofu and bean curd are plant-based estrogens that help improve the tissue that lines the blood vessels connected inside the heart, reducing coronary heart disease.
- Cholesterol Levels: If you eat 10 ounces of Tofu every alternative day, it can reduce your LDL or bad cholesterol by 5%
- Osteoporosis: At the age of 50, when menopause stops in women, that may lead to loss of bone mass and can cause osteoporosis. So, to avoid these situations before you age, start eating Tofu daily in your diet because it is high in calcium and vitamin D, which is very good for bone health.
- Prostate Cancer: If you have prostate disease, then taking Tofu can keep your specific antigen (PSA) levels very low. Taking bean curd daily in a diet can suppress the growth of cancer tissues.
- Colorectal Cancer: Tofu is rich in fiber, and adding high fiber to the diet keeps the colon healthy and reduces the risk of cancer.
- Memory and Brain Health: Also, eating Tofu boosts your memory and prevents you from losing it when you are older.
- Weight Loss: Those women who have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and want to lose weight can take Tofu as their full-fledged meal because it has no fat content.
- Better Skin: It is said that eating soya keeps skin glowing and makes it look younger with no fine wrinkles on the face. So, add Tofu to your diet if you want a healthier and radiant face.
What Is the Health Risk of Taking Bean Curd?
If you take medicine like MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors), avoid eating Tofu. Mostly, this medicine is taken by patients who have mood disorders and who have Parkinson's disease.
Tofu or bean curd has tyramine, an amino acid that helps to balance blood pressure. MAOIs restrict or hinder the path of enzymes and break down the tyramine.
When one eats Tofu alone, he takes MAOIs, and then there is a chance of raising blood pressure, which can be dangerous.
How To Make Tofu?
The best cuisines always appetize the mood and taste of the food lover, and the savory, delicious, and tasty foods always urge the temptation to have a bite of it!
If you are thinking about how I can prepare this bean curd, then there are many options to make it more delicious.
Some of the dishes are:
- It is the perfect menu for your dinner table. You can prepare lasagna or manicotti dishes garnished with bean curd, and when this hot recipe is served in a bowl on your dinner table, it will give you an incredible feeling.
- You can make salads with Tofu. Gently salute, fry it, and mix it with green veggies. Just put two drops of olive oil and boiled yellow egg yolk. This can be a full-fledged breakfast meal for you.
- When you think of healthy food for a wealthy mood at noon, here is a recipe for you to slice and cut small pieces of your tofu or bean curd, make it salute-fry, and then add it to your rice. Add some spices to this Tofu fried rice; it is ready to eat!
Conclusion
Hopefully, this blog might have given you detailed information about bean curd that you must be searching for either in a book or in YouTube videos.
This bean curd is perfect for health because of its nutrient value, and it is also a home-cooked dish. You can get all the information about bean curd in one page at your fingertips.
FAQs
1. Does eating bean curd risk us?
Ans: No, it won't risk us! However, those who are taking medicines like MAOIs (monoamine oxidase inhibitors) should not eat bean curd because it can raise their blood pressure as it breaks down the tyramine, which is present in this bean curd and blocks the flow of blood in our arteries.
2. Can we overcook the bean curd?
Ans: No, we can't overcook the bean curd or Tofu. If it is overcooked, it toughens up and becomes rubbery.
3. Does bean curd contain milk?
Ans: Bean curd is also called Tofu, and it is highly rich in protein and made from coagulated soy milk. Available in varied types, it can be fried, grilled, or baked.
4. Is bean curd processed food?
Ans: Bean curd or Tofu is considered to be a minimally processed product. It is made from soy milk, so it has no health effects compared to other processed foods like meat and cakes.
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