tofu

noun

to·​fu ˈtō-(ˌ)fü How to pronounce tofu (audio)
: 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 The Baja fish taco is crispy and flavorful — it was named No. 4 on USA Today’s 10 Best Fish Tacos in California list in 2018 — while the tofu taco is surprisingly filling and savory. Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 Line a plate or baking sheet with paper towels and place tofu on top. Melissa Clark, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2024 Starbucks also released other new flavors across China with a holiday theme in February, according to the Shanghai Reserve Roastery’s Weibo account, including a jujube macchiato inspired by new year’s rice cakes and an almond tofu macchiato. Jessie Yeung, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 Roast it all until the sweet potatoes are tender, the broccoli gets crisp around the edges, and the tofu browns. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Crispy tofu nuggets that rival frozen chicken nuggets (really). Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 10 Feb. 2024 Vegan options at Panda Express include vegetable spring rolls and eggplant tofu, which are reportedly only available at select locations. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Jan. 2024 The book takes one through pantry staples like gochujang and ferments like kimchi, all the way through to bibimbap, Molinaro’s many takes on tofu, and tteokbokki arrabbiata. Alicia Kennedy, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2024 Here, the versatile Filipino dish is adapted for chicken or tofu. Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of tofu was in 1771

Dictionary Entries Near tofu

Cite this Entry

“Tofu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tofu. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tofu

noun
to·​fu ˈtō-fü How to pronounce tofu (audio)
: a soft food product prepared by coagulating soybean milk

called also bean curd

More from Merriam-Webster on tofu

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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