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

All you’ll need is a block of tofu, cottage cheese and a few seasonings.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

First, drain the tofu and press it down using a cutting board lined with paper towels and a heavy pan.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

And we share an appreciation for tofu, which he called a “gift from the heavens,” making my vegan heart skip a beat.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

"The weather is not good," Aminat Jimoh told AFP as he fried tofu by a cluttered roadside.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

I reach down and give him a morsel of tofu loaf.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass