Making Your Own Tofu

Making your own tofu might seem daunting, but it’s actually a simple, cost-effective, and genuinely fun process that not only provides culinary pleasure but also ensures a product free from preservatives and additives. We have already published an article on the many facets of tofu, “Tofu, The Plant-Based Quintessence” (available here), but today, we’re going further by guiding you through a straightforward process to produce your own block of tofu.

Necessary Equipment
To embark on this adventure, a few specific tools are indispensable: a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature of the soy milk, cheese cloth or a muslin cloth to filter the mixture, and a mold to shape your tofu. Investing in a tofu press, like the Tofuture press that I personally use, is an excellent investment for homemade tofu enthusiasts (available on Amazon). This tool makes the pressing process more uniform and less laborious, optimizing the texture of your tofu.
But don’t worry, if you don’t have (yet) a tofu press, we’ll explain how to proceed with common kitchen utensils to achieve excellent homemade tofu.

Customizing Your Tofu
One of the joys of homemade production is the ability to customize your tofu. Incorporating spices or herbs into the coagulated soy milk before pressing can turn your tofu into a unique culinary creation. Whether it’s with basil, paprika, or even a mix of Asian spices, the possibilities are endless.

Choosing Soy Milk
The success of your tofu largely depends on the quality of the soy milk used. A milk with a soy content of at least 7.5% is crucial; not all soy milks are equal to this task. My personal experience has shown that the milk from the brand Lima, for example, is not suitable for making tofu. However, I have had excellent results with soy milk from the Delhaize brand.

Where to Find Nigari?
Nigari, the key coagulant in tofu making, can be found in organic stores, some specialty groceries, or online. It is essential for achieving the ideal texture of your tofu.

Enjoy Your Meal!
And for those looking to go even further, it’s also possible to produce your own soy milk from soybeans. An additional step towards culinary self-sufficiency! Maison Marmite will soon publish a second detailed tutorial but in the meantime, here’s a super simple method to produce your block of tofu.

And when your block is ready, check out our list of Tofu recipes, you’re sure to find something delightful!