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

Lentils, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, tofu, and many other sources contain an impressive amount of iron per serving. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Health, 2 Sep. 2025

The one-Michelin-star kitchen highlights Cantonese dishes, from Xing grouper steamed in lotus leaves to a too-pretty-to-eat tofu chrysanthemum flower. —AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025

The inspiration for jelly ice came from freezing tofu, which releases any water stored inside when it's thawed, much like ice. —ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2025

Kimthao's offers a variety of tofu dishes, from silken tofu pudding to spicy-sweet lemongrass chili oil tofu. —Reia Li, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 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