Tofu has a very healthy reputation given it is made from a few natural ingredients, is a plant-based protein that is easy to digest. However, whether your tofu is healthy or not much depends on your cooking method; if you are deep frying it vs baking it vs braising it or even eating it cold; nutritionally it will deliver very different results.

We recommend mixing it up when it comes to cooking with tofu so that you can enjoy the wide ranging flavours textures and nutritional benefits.

If you have never heard of TofuWings, you are not alone! Most people haven’t and that’s because it’s a specialist ingredient in China and little known outside of Asia. Dried Tofu is a delicacy in Chinese and Japanese cuisine. It is considered a cupboard staple for adding protein and textures to meals, and not just vegetarian meals, it is often cooked with fish meat, or other vegetables.

TofuWings, also known as tofu knots, are made from the delicate top layer of soy milk, dried and then twisted into different shapes. It has a creamy savoury flavour and the texture is soft but can be easily crisped up. As TofuWings are so absorbent in texture, the traditional way to cook TofuWings is to braise them with a light soy sauce, they are soft but with a slight chew.

Dried tofu come in a variety of shapes, but we have launched with our favourite tofu knot shape because we find it super satisfying and also, kind of pretty!

Yes, our TofuWings are made from 2 ingredients; soybean and water, making them suitable for both vegans and vegetarians.

Dried tofu, without any sauces provides a creamy but savoury flavour. They are made from the rich layer that forms on top of warmed soy milk, so if you imagine custard that has cooled with a layer of skin on top, this is what forms TofuWings. This means that dried tofu has a richer deeper flavour than fresh tofu, and contains much higher protein too.

For different ways to dress and flavour tofu knots, head to our recipe page.

Believe it or not, dried tofu can be kept in an airtight container or packet for YEARS, because it is a dried food ingredient! Think of other dried ingredients like lentils and pasta. Of course, you don’t want to keep them for too long as over time they will slowly lose their deep flavour, and anyway, once you have tasted them, we doubt you will be able to resist finishing the whole packet anyway!

Refer to the best before date on the box for a guide on how long it will be at its best. Because they are such a reliable cupboard staple we really encourage you to stock up when you can!

We know they look pretty irresistible but please refrain from eating dried TofuWings without cooking.

They require rehydrating for at least 2 hours in cold water and a quick minimum 10-15 minute cooking time. Alternatively, if you are pressed for time, a quick way to rehydrate TofuWings is to simmer them for 8 minutes. Check out our recipes for some inspiring quick and easy recipes.

Since dried tofu is cooked already before drying, they don’t need a long cooking time, but for the best experience, please follow the cooking suggestions carefully.

For the best results, we advise at least 1.5 hours in cold water, 2 hours preferably. If you soak them over night, just take care that you drain them properly at least 30 minutes before cooking or they can become fragile and can break.

On hydrating, some knots will become loose from their bow shape, and double in size and this is perfectly normal. If you are short on time, hot water will hydrate them quicker, but some of the flavour will be lost as some of the natural soybean essence will be forced out into the hot water.

We recommend about 50g-75g of TofuWings per person if you are having it as the main meal, which is about 7-10 TofuWings. TofuWings are surprisingly filling with its high 45% protein level so be warned, you will feel very satisfied after about 7 tofu knots!

If you are sharing the dish with other people, we recommend that you have 150g - 200g of dried tofu knots between 4 people.

As TofuWings are so dense nutritionally (did we mention the 45% protein?!) and chewy in texture, we recommend serving them with light salad or grilled vegetables, along with some rice or noodles to soak up some of the sauces you will be cooking the tofu knots in.

If you are feeling inventive, you can also try out some of our recipes here, we love it instead of pasta too!

TofuWings and all dried tofu are made from only soybeans and water, so as long as you do not have a soy allergy, you will be able to enjoy our TofuWings.

If you are gluten-intolerant, you will be pleased to discover that TofuWings has a pastry-like texture that crisps up like wanton pastries once you have tasted them. Our TofuWings are gluten-free.

TofuWings are nutritionally more dense than fresh tofu (45% vs about 18%) and have a chewy texture, so depending on your dish either types of tofu delivers a different experience. If you are looking for a tofu type that is more nutritious, then dried tofu will give you more nutritionally in protein and fibre for the same weight of tofu. Saying that, fresh tofu is lower in fats than dried tofu, so it very much depends on your preference.

All types of tofu, as long as they are made with natural ingredients are good for your diet. They are also a great swap out for meats as part of a reduced meat diet.

TofuWings are made from soybeans and it is worth looking at whether the soybeans are made from GM-free soy to determine this. At Tofu Tasty, our soybeans are made from GM-free soybeans, and are made authentically in China.