: 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
Mark BittmanThe tofu … was sliced uniformly and stacked neatly in the bowl of clear, seafood-flavored broth.—Karen Hayes
Karen HayesVegetarian cooking has never been so simple. Supermarkets carry packaged convenience foods like tofu hot dogs …—Norine Dworkin
Norine Dworkin
Examples of tofu in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Rich in isoflavones, another phytoestrogen, soy (think tempeh, tofu and edamame) should appear on your shopping list too.
—Georgia Day, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
Silken tofu is the softest kind of tofu, which when blended turns into a smooth puree that can be used as a neutral egg replacement.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2023
Other sandwich and wrap ideas: hummus, chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce in a pita; sauteed or baked tofu, tempeh or seitan with the seasoning or sauce of your choice.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
Consume lean proteins: Foods like chicken, fish, beans, and tofu are excellent sources of protein that can help repair tissues and support muscle growth.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2023
House of the Seasons, in contrast, is a structured observation of a family of tofu makers spanning three generations.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023
For instance, extra-firm tofu can be quickly transformed into a scramble that's just as tasty as eggs, and pancakes can be whipped up without any dairy, no issue.
—Brittany Natale, Women's Health, 2 Aug. 2023
The breakfast burrito comes out and it’s loaded with tofu and beans and potatoes and salsa and avocado and sour cream.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 15 June 2023
The bullet-train speed with which the meal is described leaves our heads spinning; a little salad of chrysanthemum flower, sparked with a yuzu vinaigrette, calms the storm, as does a steaming bowl of miso soup swirled with tofu and wild parsley.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
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Georgia Day, Vogue, 6 Sep. 2023
Silken tofu is the softest kind of tofu, which when blended turns into a smooth puree that can be used as a neutral egg replacement.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2023
Other sandwich and wrap ideas: hummus, chopped tomatoes and shredded lettuce in a pita; sauteed or baked tofu, tempeh or seitan with the seasoning or sauce of your choice.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Sep. 2023
Consume lean proteins: Foods like chicken, fish, beans, and tofu are excellent sources of protein that can help repair tissues and support muscle growth.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2023
House of the Seasons, in contrast, is a structured observation of a family of tofu makers spanning three generations.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023
For instance, extra-firm tofu can be quickly transformed into a scramble that's just as tasty as eggs, and pancakes can be whipped up without any dairy, no issue.
—Brittany Natale, Women's Health, 2 Aug. 2023
The breakfast burrito comes out and it’s loaded with tofu and beans and potatoes and salsa and avocado and sour cream.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 15 June 2023
The bullet-train speed with which the meal is described leaves our heads spinning; a little salad of chrysanthemum flower, sparked with a yuzu vinaigrette, calms the storm, as does a steaming bowl of miso soup swirled with tofu and wild parsley.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 1 Sep. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tofu.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Japanese tōfu
First Known Use
1771, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tofu
Cite this Entry
“Tofu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tofu. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
tofu
noun
to·fu
ˈtō-fü 
: a soft food product prepared by coagulating soybean milk
called also bean curd
More from Merriam-Webster on tofu
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tofu
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