Silken tofu is also known as soft or Japanese-style tofu. Unlike its firm counterpart, it is unpressed or only slightly pressed, resulting in a very soft, smooth, wobbly texture. This makes it ideal for blending into sauces, desserts, or soups, but it can also be used unblended, cut into cubes in soups or stews, or lightly poached with a highly flavored sauce. In the West, we’re used to thinking of tofu as a vegan meat replacement product, but in Asia, it’s highly valued as an ingredient in its own right. Let’s find out all the exciting things you can do with it.
1. Miso Soup
A classic Japanese dish, it’s hard to believe that so much umami flavor can be contained in a vegan dish with so few ingredients. But it can, and silken tofu is an important part of the pleasure.
Recipe by: Happy Kitchen
2. Lemon Tofu Cheesecake Bites
One of the first silken tofu recipes I ever made. These were a revelation to me at the time. Absolutely stunning – the hardest part is waiting four hours for them to set…
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
3. Tofu Mac n Cheese
Creamy, cheesy pasta sauces are one of the things I most often hear is missed by vegans. This excellent recipe replicates that comfort food in vegan form, with silken tofu and a ton of hidden veggies for your picky toddlers.
Recipe by: The Hidden Veggies
4. Mapo Tofu
A classic Chinese dish, in which silken tofu is served cold, drenched in an addictively rich and spicy sauce. This authentic version contains ground pork, but it can be replaced with fermented black beans for vegetarians.
Recipe by: Omnivore’s Cookbook
5. Spicy Korean Tofu Soup
A vegan version of a Korean classic soup, with lots of greens and aromatics simmered in a rich and spicy broth. You can use any tofu you like, but silken tofu is the recommended one.
Recipe by: Connoisseurus Veg
6. Kimchi Sundubu Jiigae
This is the authentic Korean version of that famous soup, including pork belly and eggs as well as the fiery gochujang chili paste and kimchi. This will heat you up from the inside out on a cold winter day.
Recipe by: Maangchi
7. Chili Garlic Silken Tofu
OMG, so tasty! This is not only one of the best silken tofu recipes I’ve ever had, but one of the best vegan recipes. The sauce is incredibly versatile, and you can use it for many other dishes too.
Recipe by: Sarah’s Vegan Kitchen
8. Creamy Asparagus Soup
We use silken tofu here as a dairy replacement to enrich the soup and make it creamy. A really good vegan version of a classic.
Recipe by: Mae’s Menu
9. Quick Spicy Silken Tofu Recipe
Silken tofu in a rich, umami broth with plenty of fresh vegetables – what’s not to love? The tofu soaks up the spicy sauce beautifully.
Recipe by: The Fiery Vegetarian
10. Spinach Pasta Sauce
Silken Tofu replaces dairy products here in this delicious and healthy pasta sauce for vegans. You blend it with spinach, nutritional yeast and just a handful of other ingredients for a rich and cheesy dinner
Recipe by: Six Hungry Feet
11. Vegan Soft Silken Tofu “Egg” Scramble
Super-quick and easy, this is a great vegan breakfast which tastes just as good as the real thing. Because the protein content is high as well, it is a good egg replacement in every way.
Recipe by: My Vegan Minimalist
12. Vegan Shakshuka
Another fantastic breakfast dish without using real eggs. I love classic shakshuka, but this is a great trick to have up your sleeve for when your vegan friends come round for brunch.
Recipe by: Six Hungry Feet
13. Teriyaki Tofu
I love me some teriyaki sauce, and this recipe doesn’t disappoint. A crispy exterior shell and meltingly soft interior, author Namiko Chen says her teriyaki tofu is way to convert someone who thinks they hate tofu.
Recipe by: Just One Cookbook
14. Agadashi Tofu
Another Japanese recipe, agadashi tofu takes silken tofu and gives it a crispy coating with fried potato starch before serving in dashi broth. One of those great Japanese recipes that perfectly straddles the balance between delicate and hearty.
Recipe by: Hungry Huy
15. Soba Noodle Salad
Absolutely packed with fresh vegetables, this recipe uses silken tofu as a binder in the sauce to hold everything together. A really nice fusion dish, bringing East and West together.
Recipe by: Ramona’s Kitchen
Conclusion
Inspired? I know I am! There’s nothing I love better than exploring a new ingredient and finding out the best things to do with it. I hope you enjoy these Silken Tofu Recipes as much as I did and are sparkling with creativity to test out your own ideas as well. Let me know in the comments if I missed any great recipes with silken tofu that you think I should try.
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