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

Joey Junior is a burrito with the customer’s choice of protein (brisket, barbacoa, pollo asado, chili crisp chicken, steak, white meat chicken, adobo chicken, ground beef or tofu), rice, beans, shredded cheese and pico de gallo. —Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

A lot of the menu options feature tofu. —Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 Dec. 2025

Health-conscious travelers will love Good Food Conspiracy on Big Pine Key, a small natural café and juice bar known for its pineapple-mango smoothie, tofu melt, and turmeric-ginger-lemon shots. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025

Place a heavy object on top of the tofu. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 6 Dec. 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