Silken Tofu Recipe

Name: Silken Tofu Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 block silken tofu (350g/ 12.35 oz) ((see above how to make your own)); 350 g soba noodles (12.35 oz) (I used wheat and buckwheat noodles ); 500 g mushrooms ( 17.6 oz) (chopped ); ¼ cup nutritional yeast; ¼ teaspoon turmeric; 100 g peas (3.53 oz) (fresh or frozen (I used frozen) ); 1 tablespoon cider vinegar; 3 med spring onions /scallions; ⅓ teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon coconut oil (olive oil is as good ); ½ teaspoon salt; 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds; 1 med onion (caramelised ); 3 med radishes (to garnish (sliced into thin slices) )

Jump to Recipe

Silken tofu recipe, or the vegan carbonara as I call it, is one of these really great vegan tofu recipes that you can never go wrong with. You only go wrong with it by not making it 😉

Silken tofu in a white and gray rim deep plate and chopsticks tucked in with 2 radish slices, scallions and sesame seeds sprinkled over

What is special about this silken tofu recipe?

Well, it is a super easy recipe to make, quick and it's a delicious vegan meal, ready in less than 30 minutes. It makes any vegan a very happy bunny.

What is silken tofu?

Silken tofu is the softest, most delicate type of tofu and it breaks up easily making it the best option for making sauces like this vegan carbonara sauce here in this recipe.

What do I need to make a silken tofu recipe?

Ingredients:

silken tofu: I recommend using silken or soft tofu that is sold in a rectangular shaped pack, and not the cylinder shape that is ideal for soups/stews. Firm or extra-firm silken tofu might also work in this recipe, but it will not be as silky and delicate as the soft type.
Green onion, garlic, and chili pepper: for the aromatics. I used Korean chili pepper in this recipe, but feel free to use any type of chili pepper and adjust it to taste. You can also skip the chili pepper entirely if you don’t prefer to add any spice.
Soy sauce, Gochugaru (Korean chili flakes), honey, sesame oil, and sesame seeds: for the sauce.

Silken tofu is soft tofu and is ideal to puree and use as a base for soups, dips, and sauces. It also makes wonderfully creamy dessert puddings and pie fillings.

Best ways to use silken tofu

in a creamy sauce like the one in this recipe
make a fragrant silken tofu curry
you can use silken tofu in dessert recipes - here is a recipe idea for a quick chocolate muse

Ingredients needed :

3.5 oz/100g dark chocolate (I normally use a 70% dairy-free) - chopped
12 oz/340 grams organic silken tofu at room temperature, (drained)
2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
You may also use as optional toppings:
some chocolate shavings
a few raspberries
a few blackberries
some fresh mint
1 tablespoon desiccated coconut

Method:

1) Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until the chocolate is thoroughly melted. Allow it to cool at room temperature.

2) Place the silken tofu and maple syrup in a food processor and blend until it becomes a smooth paste.

3) Add the melted chocolate and blend until well combined.

4) Scoop the mixture into 3-4 ramekins and refrigerate for at least 30 min.

5) Garnish with chocolate shavings, fresh or frozen raspberries, blackberries and a sprig of fresh mint and a sprinkle of desiccated or toasted coconut flakes.

It can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Make your own silken tofu- recipe

You can make your own silken tofu and I will give you a very simple recipe for a homemade silken tofu recipe, the simplest recipe you'd ever imagine, you only need two ingredients:

How to make homemade silken tofu?

Total time: 13 minutes

Ingredients:

- 3 cups Soy milk (homemade is best), about 3 cups,- use it chilled ½ teaspoon
- Epsom salt or magnesium chloride (nigari) dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water

How To Make it:

1. Pour the coagulant solution (Epsom salt or magnesium chloride) into the soy milk, using a spoon to blend them together.

2. Try not to agitate the mixture too much, distribute it among 6-7 ramekins.

3. Place the filled dishes in a deeper pan. Pour hot water into the pan up to the same level as the soy milk mixture.

4. Cover the pan with a lid that's lined with a clean, dry dishtowel. You may need to fold up the edges over the lid so that the towel will not catch fire.

5. Over low heat, gently simmer the tofu for approximately 10-12 minutes which should look jiggly and set.

6. Gently remove the dishes from the water bath and allow another 10-12 minutes at room temperature for the tofu to set.

7. Serve warm or chilled.

Two silken tofu dishes with brown chopsticks stuck in with radish slices, scallion slices and sesame seeds scattered on top of the dish — Silken Tofu Recipe with soba noodles and mushrooms

FAQs

Can I fry silken tofu?

Yes, this can be done but you will need to gently cut your silken tofu into pieces and lightly coat these in flour. Using a spatula carefully lower each piece into the well-heated oil.

Flouring the silken tofu pieces is an important step and drop in the oil only when the oil is hot, hot, hot or it will become very moist and sticky.

Deep-fry tofu for about 4 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain well and place on kitchen paper.

What is the difference between silken and regular tofu?

There are two main kinds of tofu silken and regular.

Silken tofu- known as soft, silk, or Japanese-style tofu. It has a softer consistency than regular tofu and will easily fall apart if not handled carefully.
It doesn't require refrigeration which is why is often found in a different section of grocery stores as opposed to regular tofu, which is packed in water and requires refrigeration. Best to use for making creamy sauces.

Both silken and regular tofu can be found in soft, medium, firm, and extra-firm consistencies.
They are made with the same ingredients, but they are processed differently to a small degree which is why they are not interchangeable in a recipe.

This is one silken tofu recipe that you can make but silken tofu is a versatile ingredient and there are many recipes you could put together in absolutely no time.

Other vegan recipes you may like: