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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why do I still persist with Tofu?

139 replies

likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 20:02

Every now and then I give it a bash, thinking its good for me, less meat as they say

Bought some again today, overpriced in some fancy grocers

As usual, its a nice texture but no matter how crispy I made it (I fried it), just nothing, no flavour

Ive served it with a really spicy stew I had in the freezer already so to some degree the blandness is ok

I know people say to flavour it up, but then Ive got to add a load of oil to it and when frying I find the spices or herbs burn. And then to be honest it just tastes of bland, with a coating, the blandness still endures.

OP posts:
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CluckerHam · 10/02/2026 21:37

The Tofoo Stirfry one (red pack… it’s pre-marinated) is delicious!

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 21:34

StrawberrySquash · 10/02/2026 21:32

Agree. Yes, I cook chickpeas with other interesting flavours, but they still have a taste. Same for lentils. Tofu can be a void in a sea of flavour. Flour you don't tend to eat as a thing you can distinguish.

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Yes I tend to cook with wholemeal and older grains like spelt so I was thinking of that scent and how it makes the bread taste at the end. Very wheaty. Nice.

OP posts:
StrawberrySquash · 10/02/2026 21:32

likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 20:12

Yes and no

Flour has a wheaty taste. Chickpeas taste of chickpeas and lentils, well you know where Im going with this

Tofu is like eating air, firm chewy, crispy air.

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Agree. Yes, I cook chickpeas with other interesting flavours, but they still have a taste. Same for lentils. Tofu can be a void in a sea of flavour. Flour you don't tend to eat as a thing you can distinguish.

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 10/02/2026 21:30

Honestly those who hate tofu are not making it correctly.

Nope, we just don’t like it.

It’s allowed.

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 10/02/2026 21:27

I can’t stand tofu.

I have tried all the recipes and techniques, marinading it, crispy caramelising it with all the spices etc, but the peculiarly bland sickliness pervades. A weird sickly taste that cannot be wiped out.

Tofu isn’t compulsory. I have moved on.

WoahThreeAces · 10/02/2026 21:22

Petrolitis · 10/02/2026 20:29

I'm always surprised by how people seem to revile tofu. I absolutely love it.

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Same! I eat it almost every day 😂 I get through tons of the stuff. I love it in a stir fry with soy sauce, garlic, vinegar and chilli mmmmmm

AsCoolAsKimDeal · 10/02/2026 21:14

I love tofu and I’m not even vegetarian

Poppingby · 10/02/2026 21:12

I'm a chunks of Tofu fan but I made a recipe with grated tofu the other night and it was really good. I'll try to find it.

Tempeh n the other hand. THAT I can never get on board with.

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 21:06

Isthisfunyet · 10/02/2026 20:59

I am not the one who started a thread about my hatred for tofu .... I mean Tofu really doesn't need your outright hatred either. People are helpfully suggesting ways to cook it and you keep claiming you are a master chef and nothing works. Billions of people over time aren't wrong about tofu. YABVU to argue with every suggestion on here. You don't like it so don't buy it. This whole thread is bizarre. But thanks to the other posters for the lovely recipes.

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Dear oh dear, calm down Tofu Ambassador

Its a chat forum, dont take things so seriously.

If you can evidence anywhere in any of my posts my 'hatred' let alone 'outright hatred' that would be great

Ive got all night, not doing anything other than the washing up now.

By the way Im not a master chef, or even a Master Chef (Im not on tonight's episode anyway), but I am a very good cook. Its ok to say that and still not really have a preference for an item that you've cooked umpteen times.

OP posts:
Isthisfunyet · 10/02/2026 20:59

likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 20:38

I do make it correctly. Tonight I fried it. I often air fry it. I have corn starched it. I have used marinades. I have frozen it. I am extremely good in the kitchen and very experimental.

Please dont take offence on behalf of Tofu. Im not sure it needs you to.

Show quote history

I am not the one who started a thread about my hatred for tofu .... I mean Tofu really doesn't need your outright hatred either. People are helpfully suggesting ways to cook it and you keep claiming you are a master chef and nothing works. Billions of people over time aren't wrong about tofu. YABVU to argue with every suggestion on here. You don't like it so don't buy it. This whole thread is bizarre. But thanks to the other posters for the lovely recipes.

canuckup · 10/02/2026 20:57

It's crap.

Just use lentils instead of you want veggie protein

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 20:56

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 10/02/2026 20:47

Try smoked tofu. Don't buy overpriced stuff. Aldi's or lidls is good.

I wouldnt normally have bought the expensive stuff but it was either that or the alfalfa sprouts or the overpriced not chocolate bars. It was that sort of place, you know how it is.

'oh I'll just take a look, see whats in here'

OP posts:
happysunr1se · 10/02/2026 20:56

For firm tofu I like it in the form of pockets as pp described, stuffed with rice; inari.
I also like pre-fried chunks in Chinese or japanese style hotpot/steamboat with rehydrated shitake mushrooms and some kind of meat like belly pork or ribs and hair moss. the tofu absorbs the broth and is nice and chewy.

I mostly eat silken tofu though.
I make a soup with a smoked tuna broth lots of ginger and garlic, sesame oil, spring onions and preserved mustard greens which are sour. At the last minute you break the tofu up into large clumps and add to the soup, sometimes throw some fishballs or udon in aswell. It's quick and comforting.

I also love to make dango/ mochi with silken tofu and have a bag of them in the freezer to fry up and eat with caramel sauce as a treat.

FOJN · 10/02/2026 20:56

I've been vegetarian for over 30 years. I've tried. I've really tried but it's disgusting. I've marinated it, assaulted it with every herb, spice and aromatic I can think of and still hate it.

greatvisuals · 10/02/2026 20:52

I can't ever make tofu work either. It tastes of nothing. I mean, if you have to add so many spices and herbs to make it taste of something I'd rather just eat a potato.

I eat meat but it's Quorn chunks all the way if I have the urge to go light. Great in a black bean sauce.

WongandLynch · 10/02/2026 20:49

I have tofu most days and it’s never bland. Black pepper tofu, orange tofu and salt and pepper tofu are particularly good as long as you coat in cornflour and use the extra firm stuff. You can use spray oil too so that you don’t need to use loads.

AnotherHormonalWoman · 10/02/2026 20:48

A wet marinade is the answer.

I usually do soy sauce, ginger and garlic. Occasionally some paprika and chilli, or some other dried spices. Then it goes in the air fryer.

Antsinmypantsneedtodance · 10/02/2026 20:47

Try smoked tofu. Don't buy overpriced stuff. Aldi's or lidls is good.

familyissues12345 · 10/02/2026 20:47

I’m a saddo, but I love the stuff 😳🤣

GOAT26 · 10/02/2026 20:45

My local Thai restaurant’s Tofu dish would probably be my death row dinner, it’s superb!

1000StrawberryLollies · 10/02/2026 20:39

Why bother? If you want to eat less meat, just eat less meat. There are lots of vegetarian dishes which don't use tofu. I don't like it either. It's bland and not anice texture either.

Original poster
likelysuspect · 10/02/2026 20:38

Isthisfunyet · 10/02/2026 20:36

Freeze extra firm tofu and then thaw out and press out remaining water. The freezing gives it bigger air pockets. Then throw it in whatever marinade you want. The tofu absorbs the marinade and it is very flavorful. You can also air fry it and it turns out nice and crispy or throw it in the oven, you don't have to fry it. A light coating of corn starch always makes it crisper as well. Honestly those who hate tofu are not making it correctly. Most foods are bland unless seasoned and cooked properly. Tofu is no exception to this.

I do make it correctly. Tonight I fried it. I often air fry it. I have corn starched it. I have used marinades. I have frozen it. I am extremely good in the kitchen and very experimental.

Please dont take offence on behalf of Tofu. Im not sure it needs you to.

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 10/02/2026 20:38

Quite like cauldron pre seasoned stuff

BreadstickBurglar · 10/02/2026 20:37

toastofthetown · 10/02/2026 20:13

Tofu is bland, so it’s best in a really flavoured sauce. One of my favourite tofu ways is tofu puffs. They sell them in my Asian supermarket. My top three tofu recipes are if you aren't a huge fan of the taste or texture of tofu, then Felicity Cloake's vegan ragù is perfect.I chopped up the tofu and vegetables into a fine dice. The recipe is rich and delicious, and while tofu gives it body and texture, it's not dominant so perfect if you're more of a tofu sceptic.

Meera Sodha's vegan banh mi is more tofu forward than the ragu, it's an absolute banger, and as the tofu is finely chopped/minced, it might be a good intro dish. It's sharp, spicy, crunchy, fresh and comes together so quickly. It's probably my favourite tofu recipe.

My favourite tofu forward recipe is Ottolenghi‘s black pepper tofu. It's amazing. Totally packed with flavour and the firey sauce pairs so well with the relatively bland tofu.

But them no ingredient is for everyone, though I find the widespread revision and idea that it’s only good for the bin on Mumsnet bizarre given how widely and for long it’s been eaten in many parts of of the world.

Thanks for these! The quantities in that Ottolenghi recipe look bonkers though. 16 spring onions??