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

At breakfast, expect Okinawan-style waffles with sweet red beans, Vietnamese pho, and delicate local tofu. —Kaila Yu, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Santa Barbara uni is suspended over tofu made with soy milk from Hodo Foods, the Bay Area’s favorite purveyor, dressed in a clean gingery soy sauce. —The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Sep. 2025

Arrange the tofu in one layer in the skillet. —Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025

And if all the organic tofu suddenly triggers an irresistible urge to clog your arteries? —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 Sep. 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