tofu

noun

to·​fu ˈtō-(ˌ)fü 

: a soft food product prepared by treating soybean milk with coagulants (such as magnesium chloride or diluted acids) : bean curd

… tofu is our most versatile form of nonanimal concentrated protein, as well as the least processed and the most traditional.

—Mark Bittman

The tofu … was sliced uniformly and stacked neatly in the bowl of clear, seafood-flavored broth.

—Karen Hayes

Vegetarian cooking has never been so simple. Supermarkets carry packaged convenience foods like tofu hot dogs …

—Norine Dworkin

Examples of tofu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inspectors found containers of potatoes on the floor during preparation, as well as raw eggs and raw salmon stored over ready-to-eat food and raw beef stored over tofu. —Camila Pedrosa, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025

Add fried tofu, celery, ginger, chile, green onion, soy sauce, crunchy garlic and sesame oil to pan. —Gretchen McKay, Boston Herald, 15 Jan. 2025

That's about the amount found in an eight-ounce glass of milk, although the study also revealed that the effects of the mineral on lowering cancer risk existed whether the calcium came from dairy sources or non-dairy sources such as leafy green vegetables or tofu. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 10 Jan. 2025

The bright citrus and acidity helps cut through some of the meats’ richness and the tofu’s creaminess. —Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese tōfu

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tofu

noun

to·​fu ˈtō-fü 

: a soft food product prepared by coagulating soybean milk

called also bean curd