Time-traveling with desserts: A brief history of tofu pudding

Tofu pudding is a lip-smacking Chinese snack that holds the distinction of being one of the healthiest desserts.

In today’s edition of “Time-travelling with desserts,” we are going journey back to ancient China to the reign of the illustrious Han Dynasty. It would be an understatement to say that the Hans revolutionized contemporary life, culture, and science. Some of the most historic scientific feats they are credited with include the invention of paper, wheelbarrows and suspension bridges, the development of the seismograph, and the use of marine clocks and sundials to gauge time. The Hans also made far reaching contributions to civil society, pioneering the creation of merit-based civil service exams as well as laying the blueprint for a centralized system of governance.

The Hans were also great innovators when it came to food and sustenance. They developed numerous advanced farming methods as well as farming tools that are still in use today. According to food historians and scholars, the Hans observed a grain-heavy diet, which included millet, barley, and wheat. If historical records are accurate, we also have the Hans to thank for the creation of one of the most universally loved dishes—noodles! In fact, the Hans laid the seed for many modern dishes we love and savor today. One of these dishes—the tofu pudding—will be the primary focus of this article.

Tofu pudding is a classic dish that goes by multiple names. For example, it is called “douhua” in Mandarin and “tau fu fa” in Cantonese. We also refer to tofu pudding as “soybean pudding,” soybean being one of the main elements of tofu. A rich, dramatic, and captivating origin story is attached to this dish. The protagonist of this story, as legend goes, is Liu An, a Chinese prince of the Han Dynasty. According to the story, this prince erroneously dropped gypsum powder into a container of soymilk as he was trying to concoct a brew that would grant one the boon of eternal life. The gypsum powder and soymilk combined to form a soft soy mixture, resulting in the birth of tofu pudding.

The dish may not have been able to grant anyone eternal life, but it did sort of become immortal itself. Today, it is a fixture across China, Hong Kong, and nearby regions. Its silky texture coupled with its melt-in-the-mouth quality has ensured that it remains a culinary favorite delighting millions across the globe. The popularity of the dish stems from its remarkable versatility; it can be consumed as a sweet or a savory dish. You can also add whatever flavor you wish to the pudding; vanilla tofu pudding and chocolate tofu pudding, for example, are particularly popular. Do try tofu pudding if you’re ever in China or Hong Kong; you will find it in every street corner!

Another major factor responsible for the enduring status of tofu pudding is the health benefits the dish offers, making it a big hit among fitness and health junkies. Tofu pudding is typically prepared by meshing soybean with some form of coagulant, usually gelatin, and a thickening agent, such as gypsum powder or agar-agar. These food items endow the dish with a high level of protein. The dish, in its original form as the Hans envisioned it, without the addition of any condiments or toppings, is also 100% cholesterol and dairy-free, and a potent source of nutrients, including calcium and iron. For these reasons, tofu pudding is considered a healthier alternative to most contemporary desserts that are undoubtedly loaded with sugar and unprocessed fats.

Although the dish is the healthiest in its original form, modern recipes do incorporate condiments as well as other flavors to take the dish to the next level and add some dimension to its taste. For example, sweet ginger syrup is a common garnishing that chefs and bakers like to use in their tofu pudding recipes; they simply pour a generous helping of the syrup over the pudding. Being a highly amenable dish, you only have to make minor tweaks to modify the flavor profile of the dish. Sweet tofu pudding, served with ginger syrup, is probably the most famous version of the dish across the globe but did you know that savory tofu pudding, also referred to as “Dou Fu Nao” or “tofu brain,” is preferred in Northern China? Ingredients, such as pickles, chili oil, and soy sauce are incorporated into this dish alongside a rich, dense gravy, which provides the pudding a savory touch.

In the same vein, you can transform your simple original tofu pudding to a vanilla-flavored tofu pudding by introducing some vanilla essence to the core base of the pudding. We also have something for you chocolate lovers out there! Just like vanilla extract is essential in the preparation of vanilla tofu pudding, you need cocoa powder to make chocolate tofu pudding. We recommend using Cadbury cocoa powder as it is one of the highest-rated and best quality cocoa powders out there. Beat the cocoa powder thoroughly into the tofu and gelatin blend, and just like that, your chocolate tofu pudding is ready! To make your dish even “chocolatier,” you can pour some melted Cadbury Silk chocolate over the pudding or even decorate the dessert with some bits of Cadbury chocolate, crushed Oreos, or Oreo dust. It is imperative that you use Cadbury products in your dish as far as possible to ensure the dessert produced is of premium quality.

Of course, you don’t need to stick with the aforementioned ingredients only for your chocolate tofu pudding. You can garnish any of the different sweet tofu puddings with the above ingredients. Similarly, you can also get creative and add other food items to the dish per your liking. For instance, some chefs add tapioca pearls to the finished pudding to add some color, vibrancy, and chewiness to the dish. Others prefer to add healthier substitutes, such as raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries. Despite originating in ancient times, there are innumerable ways in which you can modernize this vegan and gluten-free dish, and make it your own. So, what are you waiting for? Get innovating!