Starchy Steamy Fish Tofu Recipe

Fish tofu… surely a contradiction in terms? How can you have something that is decidedly non-meat with something that contains fish? Well, we’ll put you out of your misery, quite simply, this is not vegetarian.

That’s right, fish tofu is just fish that is prepared in such a way that it has the exact same texture as tofu. This is a very fatty and starchy fish that can be cooked in with noodles or used as a substitute for egg.

But when you are serving it, make sure that you don’t give it to any vegetarians!

We would recommend this meal with rice or vegetables for that extra boost of vitamins and nutrients. This is also a great source of omega 3, as fish is a very rich source of these amazing oils.

This is a great dish to serve in large quantities, so if your family is sick of the same old fish meal, we would certainly recommend that you try some fish tofu.

Not only is this tasty, but it is very easy to prepare.

If you fancy a quick snack before you go to the office or you are coming back from the gym and want something healthy to dine out on, then throwing some fish tofu in the frying pan will be the perfect fix for the hunger hole.

So where exactly can you find this fish tofu? How best to prepare it for cooking? What is this fish dish best served with? How much can you be expected to pay for this meal? What is the right texture to have at the end of your cooking process?

Well, if you want the answer to some of these questions, then we would suggest that you read on. We’ll really get into the nitty-gritty when it comes to fish tofu, looking at why it is prepared in such a way and how you can get the best flavors.

This dish is both easy to make and exotic at the same time – so why not wow your friends with it at your next dinner?

What Is Fish Tofu?

This dish is originally Japanese, with peasants in agrarian communities looking for interesting and unique methods of preparing fish. This is made to have the texture of tofu, it is quite crumbly, owing to the unique preservation method.

This goes well with quite earthy foods like rice, cracker or rye bread. This recipe delivers fish steak in a form that is cubed, so it is very easy to share.

If you want to control your appetite or deliver food in a presentable manner, then we would definitely recommend that you try making this fish tofu.

Quite frankly, you won’t even believe that this is fish when you are finished with it. With some simple ingredients, you have everything that you need to go on a short culinary adventure. You don’t even need that much cooking expertise, just grab the ingredients and jump right into making it.

The Ingredients

• White fish fillet (500 grams) – you should cut this into slices for ease of cooking.
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon of cooking wine
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon of grated ginger root
• 0.5 teaspoons of salt
• 0.5 teaspoons of white pepper
• 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
• 1 spring onion – chopped to taste
• 1 red chili pepper – chopped and diced
• Fresh lime
• Fish sauce

Make sure that you have all of the ingredients before you embark upon this recipe. The worst thing that can happen is that you get halfway through a recipe before realizing that you are missing a crucial ingredient.

Once you have everything and have prepared your cooking space, it is time to start making your fish tofu.

The Recipe

1. Take the fish fillet, the egg white, the ginger, the wine, the starch and the salt and pepper and place it in a food processor. Blend it until it turns into a consistent paste.
2. Take some water and bring it to the boil in a steamer.
3. Take the vegetable oil and cover a heatproof bowl with it. Now fill the fish mixture with it. Once you have done this, put it in your oven or steamer and steam for 15 minutes.
4. Once your fish tofu has been steamed, remove it from your cooker and leave it to cool on the counter.
5. Take a frying pan or skillet and heat it up on a medium heat. Slice the tofu into small pieces and fry them in the oil for around 2-3 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
6. Just before your tofu is properly cooked, add a splash of the fish sauce at the end.
7. Serve with the lime, sprinkling some chopped spring onion and chili pepper over the finished fish tofu.

So there you have it, a very simple fish recipe that can be attempted by even the most inexperienced of chefs. Why not try making this as part of a large Japanese buffet with white rice and other side dishes?

What Else You Should Know

A great alternative to fish tofu is fish tofu balls. Simply do this by making your fish paste thicker, chopping it instead of blending it.

You can serve this with some rye or pitta bread, the tangy fish taste will complement the earthy bread flavor very well. We would also recommend pairing this fish with garlic and grated carrot.

Our Final Say

We hope that we have gone some way to demystify the fish tofu, showing that it actually has more in common with fish than it does with tofu. This is a great beginner dish for anyone who is a fan of Japanese cuisine.