Tofu

Tofu shows up everywhere in Japanese cooking, usually in quiet, everyday ways. A bowl of miso soup with tofu, a simple side dish, or something gently simmered and served alongside rice is how many people grow up eating it. It’s familiar, comforting, and rarely treated as anything flashy.

When tofu takes centre stage

This collection looks at tofu when it’s given a bit more attention. You’ll find vegan Japanese tofu dishes where tofu is the main thing on the plate, whether that’s crispy, glazed, fried, or served hot and silky in broth. Some of these recipes are all about texture and crunch, others are softer and more subtle, but all of them treat tofu as something worth prepping and cooking properly.

Where to start with tofu

If you want to get a sense of how tofu shows up in my cooking, the tofu recipes collection pulls together the dishes I come back to most. It’s a good way to get your bearings and see the different directions tofu can go in.

If you want something straightforward you can make right away, start with sticky tofu or a simple stir-fried noodles with tofu. They’re quick to pull together, full of flavour, and easy to make without much planning.

For something a bit more indulgent, tofu really comes into its own in vegan fried chicken and the tofu katsu burger. Both of these recipes take a little more time and practice, but they’re some of the most fun and satisfying ways to cook tofu. Think homemade Japanese junk food, in the best possible way.

Tofu as part of a larger meal

You’ll also see tofu used as part of bigger dishes, like noodle bowls and soups, including kake udon (with crispy fried tofu) and an easy vegan miso soup. These show how tofu fits into everyday cooking, adding a bit of substance without taking over the whole dish.

Have a look through and see what appeals. Tofu has a habit of picking up flavor and fitting in wherever you put it, and this is a good place to explore what it can do.