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AIBU?

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Original poster

To tempt a carnivore with tofu?

280 replies

Tofunoo · 02/01/2025 22:47

My DP is a committed carnivore but I’d like to eat more vegan/veggie food without us having to make 2 dinners when I do that. Is there any chance I can tempt him over with something deliciously tofu? I have found 2 nice recipes for tofu chilli and bolognaise but he wasn’t keen. Lots of the tofu recipes I’ve found either are deep fried or full of sugar, so not super healthy. Any ideas?!

YABU-DP will never eat vegan

YANBU- there’s hope

OP posts:
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15
mumbruh · 03/01/2025 19:48

Not being funny but I make a lot of vegan meals and don't tell my dp, he doesn't know, I tell him afterwards though, it's how you cook it and season it!

Elphame · 03/01/2025 17:12

I'm a veggie for over 30 years and commercial tofu is horrible. I've never been able to make it into anything enjoyable.

I had it once at an Indonesian restaurant and it was lush. I asked them what brand they used and they said they made their own. I wet home, googled and had a go. The difference is incredible.

It is an almighty faff though, so not something I do very often.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/01/2025 17:09

Butty not butter argh!!

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/01/2025 17:09

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 17:07

I quite like bacon, but I don’t eat it because of its cancer causing properties!

I've had nearly 30 years of people asking me if "don't i just ever fancy a bacon butter!?"
No just no 🤢😂

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 17:07

I quite like bacon, but I don’t eat it because of its cancer causing properties!

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/01/2025 17:02

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 17:00

Yes, I’ve realised it’s ‘just’ a processed food, and it’s smoked tofu which is ultra processed. My point still stands though.
I’ve never known anyone other than tofu fans to be so defensive over a food.

Edited
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I'm generally defensive about all food- I love food :) it is a thread about tofu though so us tofu fans are happy to answer questions. I wouldn't force it on anyone though if they don't like it same way I couldn't ever stomach eating bacon. I just wouldn't engage with a thread about bacon as it's not for me and never will be.

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 17:01

(I don’t like smoked tofu either).

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 17:00

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/01/2025 16:57

It's classed as group 3 so not UPF

Yes, I’ve realised it’s ‘just’ a processed food, and it’s smoked tofu which is ultra processed. My point still stands though.
I’ve never known anyone other than tofu fans to be so defensive over a food.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/01/2025 16:59

Minimally processed.
There's different levels of processing otherwise we would all be there eating raw fruit and veg all day.
The vast majority of food has to be processed in some way to be palatable.
UPFs are the factory created food that usually haven't been around that long.
Tofu has been going for thousands of years its no more UPF than olives.

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 03/01/2025 16:57

It's classed as group 3 so not UPF

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 16:53

RampantIvy · 03/01/2025 16:51

Is tofu considered a UPF though?

I suppose you don't eat cheese or butter because they have been processed?

As I said, I avoid them as much as possible. So eat them minimally. I occasionally have cheese as a treat. I don’t have tofu as a treat, because I don’t like it.

Randomontheinternet25 · 03/01/2025 16:51

@magicalmrmistoffelees tofu isn't ultra processed

RampantIvy · 03/01/2025 16:51

Is tofu considered a UPF though?

I suppose you don't eat cheese or butter because they have been processed?

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 16:49

As well as disliking it, despite how it’s cooked 😉, I also try and avoid eating UPFs as much as possible so would avoid it even if I did like it.

RampantIvy · 03/01/2025 16:46

I think some people hate tofu, like they can dislike any other food.

I don't disagree with you @Bearbookagainandagain, but the knee jerk reaction and descriptions from a number of posters who have eaten badly cooked tofu shows that they have never had it cooked well or made into a nice dish.

For example, the first time I ate avocado I was underwhelmed, but when I ate it with a simple balsamic vinaigrette it was elevated into something delicious.

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 16:39

Tiswa · 03/01/2025 16:35

I do wonder with tofu whether people just aren’t cooking it right! It’s not a meat sub as others have said it is Asian cooking for years

It took awhile to grasp the different types and how to handle it (like aubergine and some meats) but once you do it can be very nice

or tofu could be like coriander where a certain percentage just don’t like (or marmite)

I’ve had it cooked in lots of different ways, by people who insist if I just have it cooked properly then I’d like it. I just don’t like it. There are other foods I don’t like to, regardless of how they’re cooked, but tofu appears to be the only one where the fans of it insist you’re doing something wrong if you don’t like it!

Tiswa · 03/01/2025 16:35

I do wonder with tofu whether people just aren’t cooking it right! It’s not a meat sub as others have said it is Asian cooking for years

It took awhile to grasp the different types and how to handle it (like aubergine and some meats) but once you do it can be very nice

or tofu could be like coriander where a certain percentage just don’t like (or marmite)

Hippee · 03/01/2025 16:29

tillyandmilly · 02/01/2025 22:53

Smoked tofu is delicious! I have it in salads-

Isn't it! I'm not veggie but I love a smoked tofu stir fry.

DriveMeCrazy1974 · 03/01/2025 16:26

Beezknees · 02/01/2025 22:49

YABU with tofu, it's gross.

Personally as a meat eater I don't like the fake meat substitutes, the texture always seems off. I'm happy to eat veggie meals but just make them veggie, don't put fake meat in it.

I am totally with you on that. I've tried many fake meat substitutes and they're always weird in texture. I'd rather have a meal made with mushrooms in place of the meat. Happy to each vegetarian but not happy to eat tofu or anything claiming to be like meat!

Original poster
Tofunoo · 03/01/2025 16:16

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I was replying individually but didn’t think this they’d would get so many responses. There’s some brilliant resources and ideas here which I’m going to follow-up. I’m thinking try out one of the yummy, maybe fried ones, and if that fails then try some non tofu dishes. Tbh if he still doesn’t like them, I now have lots of great ideas for me 😀

OP posts:
magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 15:33

onefootinfrontoftheotherbabe · 03/01/2025 15:27

Why are people shocked that other people like something they don’t like?

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The people who don’t like it aren’t telling those that do that they’re wrong and in some way inadequate, though. Just saying they don’t like it.

onefootinfrontoftheotherbabe · 03/01/2025 15:27

magicalmrmistoffelees · 03/01/2025 13:37

Why are some people so shocked that other people don’t like something that they like?

Why are people shocked that other people like something they don’t like?

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/01/2025 14:38

ErrolTheDragon · 03/01/2025 09:23

My dogs liked tofu.

The reasons for being vegan are usually ethical, so that's an obviously disingenuous comparison.

Humans aren't pure, obligate carnivores.

I'm an omnivore... I enjoy meat but also enjoy some vegan foods including tofu.

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I will eat Tofu and any curries I personally make are always vegan because I prefer them.

However, seeing as dogs will also eat their own shit, their dinners on the second viewing of them, nine day-dead-squirrel, an abandoned portion of chips and three pairs of unwashed socks from a linen basket, I wouldn't say that your dogs eating tofu is really that much of a recommendation for it. 😀

Makes a great cat litter, though.

CuddlyDodoToy · 03/01/2025 14:29

Tofu is disgusting.

No human being is a carnivore. We are omnivores.

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