tofu

American  

[toh-foo] / ˈtoʊ fu /

noun

1. a soft, bland, white cheeselike food, high in protein content, made from curdled soymilk: used in Asian and vegetarian cooking.

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tofu British  

/ ˈtəʊˌfuː /

noun

1. unfermented soya-bean curd, a food with a soft cheeselike consistency made from soya-bean milk

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Etymology

Origin of tofu

First recorded in 1875–80; from Japanese tōfu, from Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese dòufu ( dòu “bean” + fǔ “turn sour, ferment”)

Explanation

Tofu is a spongy cake made from the curds of mashed soybeans. Tofu isn't very flavorful unless you cook it with other ingredients and seasonings. Tofu can be described as a kind of cheese made from soy milk, and it often shows up on menus as "bean curd." Many East and Southeast Asian cuisines include tofu cooked in various ways, including deep fried, stir fried, curried, and grilled. Tofu is considered a healthy food, since it's high in protein and relatively low in calories. The word tofu is Japanese, from the Chinese doufu, a combination of dou, "beans," and fu, "rotten."

Example Sentences

“I can’t suddenly switch things up and make something different. I know how to make tofu dishes. Fried tofu. Tofu dumplings. I couldn’t make pork cutlet.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Day attended the show shortly after the release of her debut album “Lover Tofu Fruit.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Tofu is a truly versatile protein, making it equally capable of being a crispy, saucy centerpiece or a subtle side.

From Salon • May 21, 2025

Tofu can sometimes be a tricky beast, but fear not!

From Seattle Times • May 14, 2024

Tao-foo or Tofu China, Japan, the Orient Soybean curd or cheese made from the "milk" of soybeans.

From The Complete Book of Cheese by Brown, Robert Carlton