[dogfood]

what do we really think of tofu?

ive experienced it in curries and i wouldnt say im a convert.

[MtlMom]

Tofu is an edible sponge. It takes on whatever flavor you put with it, so it's not so much the flavor of the the tofu, but the flavors surrounding it that you are tasting. Your curry is a perfect example. I'm guessing that it didn't marinate long enough or that it wasn't crumbled properly. What many people don't like about tofu is the texture, which is a problem with the cook, not the tofu.

[PontiusPirate]

Indeed. Alot of people/restaurants serve plain firm tofu in LARGE chunks...and I'm not a big fan.
If it's crumbled, I like it.
I ADORE baked tofu or tempura battered tofu. Mmmmm...
ESPECIALLY in curry.

[H.M. Murdock]

Crumble it, bake it, marinade it, sear it, then pop it in a soup. That's pretty amazing stuff.
I usually shy away from tofu, simply because it seems like I can get more bang for my buck from other foods. *shrug*

[magical spatula]

I picked "yum"; I don't know about "delight of the gods".

However, I'd look into it, Jason: tofu is extremely diverse and there are lots of different ways you can use it. Silken tofu in smoothies, desserts, or to thicken a soup; firm tofu crumbled and used as a meat substitute in soups/stews (mmm, chili), cut into slabs for sandwiches (with proper draining, seasoning and cooking), lasagna; cubed tofu in stir frys and/or fried...

The list goes on. And it's a perfect/complete protein.

I'm a fan, and I second the sentiment that it is all dependent upon how it's prepared as to whether it's received well or not. I made a chocolate pie with only a crust, chocolate, and tofu (recipe) and it was delicious; my brother and his girlfriend loved it, as did my mom - they all said they wouldn't have known tofu was in it if I didn't tell them.

*shrug*

[Rainer.]

I've never understood tofu as a meat substitute in Western cuisine. It doesn't seem like it would work very well.

In my Vietnamese family's food, tofu is never served as the main component in a dish, but is almost always paired with a meat, such as beef or pork. Tofu is also often deep fried or cooked very firm, so it has a distinct texture from the average soft packaged tofu (and probably a higher fat content).

Tofu was never considered a "health food" in Vietnam, but as a textural component to add to savory stir fries and soups.