bean curd
Pressed soy milk
Bean curd is tofu—a soft, pale block of coagulated soy milk, widely used in East Asian cuisines.
The term is a direct translation of the Chinese and appears most often in restaurant menus and recipe titles: bean curd with vegetables, spicy bean curd.
In grocery stores and everyday conversation, tofu is more common.
Folded amino chain
- veganAvoids all animal products
- plant-basedSourced from flora
- meatlessWithout animal flesh
- soyProtein-rich Asian bean
calcium · iron · amino acids · low-calorie · cholesterol-free · lactose-free · isoflavones · meat substitute
Smooth and lustrous
- firmSolid or resolute
- softYielding to touch
- pressedPushed or smoothed flat
- smoothWithout roughness or difficulty
creamy · jiggly · velvety · tender · slippery · wobbly · delicate · dense
Quick-cook in hot oil
- braisedBrowned and simmered slowly
- deep-friedCooked submerged in fat
- pan-friedCooked in shallow fat
- grilledCooked on metal bars
steamed · marinated · scrambled · seared · baked · simmered · stuffed · crispy
Smooth and lustrous
- firmSolid or resolute
- smokedExposed to wood fumes
- fermentedTransformed by microbial action
- stinky tofuFermented bean curd dish
tofu skin · tofu pudding · pressed · five-spice · tofu puffs · freeze-dried
protein
Folded amino chain
- veganAvoids all animal products
- plant-basedSourced from flora
- meatlessWithout animal flesh
soy · calcium · iron · amino acids · low-calorie · cholesterol-free · lactose-free · isoflavones · meat substitute · dairy-free
silken
Smooth and lustrous
smooth · creamy · jiggly · velvety · tender · slippery · wobbly · delicate · dense · crumbly
stir-fry
Quick-cook in hot oil
- braisedBrowned and simmered slowly
- deep-friedCooked submerged in fat
- pan-friedCooked in shallow fat
grilled · steamed · marinated · scrambled · seared · baked · simmered · stuffed · crispy · mapo tofu
silken
Smooth and lustrous
stinky tofu · tofu skin · tofu pudding · pressed · five-spice · tofu puffs · freeze-dried
mapo tofu
Spicy Sichuan bean curd
- miso soupFermented soybean-based broth
- hot potSimmering communal broth dish
- pad thaiSoutheast Asian stir-fried noodles
banh mi · congee · dim sum · tom yum · pho · banchan · nabe · shabu-shabu · sukiyaki
- hot potshabu-shabu, sukiyaki, broth, tofu, napa cabbage
- plant-based foodstofu, miso, tempeh, seitan, edamame
- Chinese foodsoup dumplings, kung pao chicken, chow mein, baozi, orange chicken
- legumespea, peas, lentils, lentil, chickpeas
- curds
bean curdblue cheese
Veined, tangy cultured dairy
kimchi · fermented fish · anchovies · stinky tofu · durian
bean, beans, curd, curdle, soybeans, soybean, curdling, beany