All about the signature food of Asians, Stinky Tofu

Stinky tofu is one of the most popular snack foods in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan - and its smell will probably be a memorable part of any trip. The dish is served from hundreds of street food vendors, hawkers and small restaurants.

How Is Stinky Tofu Served?

The style of cooking and serving varies by country and region. In Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taiwan and Chinatown’s around the world, it is generally deep fried in vegetable oil and served with chilli and soy sauce. Other regional variations include steamed or stewed stinky tofu, sometimes served as part of a larger main dish or in a soup.

Deep fried stinky tofu is considered the classic dish. It’ll usually be served in small cubes skewered together and placed on a plastic plate, sometimes with pickles dumped on top.

Is It Really Stinky?

Oh, yes, it absolutely stinks. Various critics and gourmets have tried to capture the smell in words, such as ‘old socks’, ‘gone off blue cheese’ and – quite simply –‘rotting garbage’. It’s incredibly potent and won’t have you licking your lips.

Even those who enjoy the flavor admit the smell is truly awful and that the attraction is in the taste. There is also a consensus amongst fans that the smellier the tofu, the tastier. Many tofu sellers gain a reputation for producing the smelliest tofu.

How Does It Taste?

Thankfully, the taste is far less pungent than the smell, although few first timers are unlikely to be holding out their hand for a second helping. Shorter fermentation times mean some stinky tofu can actually taste a little bland. Spray some soy or chilli sauce on top to mask the smell and give it some flavor.

Like many Cantonese dishes, the texture is important and biting into stinky tofu is similar to biting into soft cheese. It should be golden and crisp on the outside from the deep frying and soft on the inside. It will also be dripping in grease and very, very hot on the inside. And you don't want to eat it cold - if you think the smell is bad hot then just try biting down on cold stinky tofu.

Where Can I Try Stinky Tofu?

If you’re in Hong Kong, Shanghai or Taiwan, you shouldn’t have any difficulty finding stinky tofu, just follow your nose. Stinky tofu is mostly sold from open-air hawker stalls. One popular destination is late night markets, such as Temple Street in Hong Kong.

Elsewhere, your local Chinatown will almost certainly have somewhere that serves this stinky dish.

See more: The most popular local dishes in Taiwan

Source: Internet

Have you ever tried these Taiwanese local street foods?

Taiwan is home to the best street food markets in the world. Known as a melting pot of cuisines, where a night out for dinner could entail anything. It’s day and night street food markets are a popular attraction both for tourists and locals, and an important part of Taiwan food culture. Here are the best dishes you should try once traveling.

Fried Chicken

Taiwan has a fried chicken obsession, and every neighborhood has at least one late-night food stall where you can pick up a deep fried chicken steak or chicken pieces. Take a walk through the night market, and you’re likely to see quite a lot of people snacking on some as they wander the stalls. But bear in mind that no two fried chicken vendors are the same, so you may have to search a little to find the one that suits your tastes.

Coffin bread

A specialty from the night markets of Tainan, a slice of thick-cut white bread is deep-fried to a golden crisp then the top is cut open and creamy seafood chowder is poured in. Think of it as Tainan's version of the San Francisco bread-bowl chowder.

Sausage

It’s a bit of a thing in Taiwan to wrap things in other things and in this case, it’s a small pork sausage wrapped in a sticky rice sausage that is split open like a hot dog bun. It’s a wonderfully sticky, chewy, messy, and filling dish that’s perfect for late night eats on the street.

Guabao

A white wheat bun filled with pieces of pork belly, cilantro, and a few pickled greens, make up this Taiwanese sub/burger hybrid. There might even be a few crushed peanuts thrown in for good measure making this a rather tasty dish.

Bubble tea

While tea served in the traditional way is popular here in Taiwan, bubble tea is even more so. It’s so popular that it is now served across the globe and more commonly known as bubble tea or boba tea. Created here in Taiwan, this tapioca ball-filled drink is fast becoming the island’s official drink and with good reason. As far as afternoon snacks go, it takes some beating.

Spring onion pancake

For the less carnivorous, the Taiwanese-style spring onion pancake is a good bet. It's light, flaky, and toasted to a perfect crisp. Locals usually make their own at home and eat these savory pancakes for breakfast, hot from the pan. Luckily, you don't have to go knocking on anyone's door to taste the real thing because it's also available for cheap in most street markets in Taiwan.

Stinky tofu

You’ll know you’re near the night market when you can smell the stinky tofu! Some people find the smell just too much to bear but it actually tastes great. No traveler can leave Taipei without trying this unique food. Be warned! It really does stink.

Iron egg

It's called "iron egg" because it's so tough. These chewy little eggs, dyed black from long braising in soy sauce, are a highly addictive Taiwanese food. Often made from quails' eggs, the protein balls are cooked for hours in soy sauce then air-dried. The process is repeated over several days until the snacks become tough and acquire the desired chewiness.

Read more: 24 hour culinary experience in Taiwan

Deep-fried prawns

The key to any deep-fried savory dish is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and this snack from Tainan does it perfectly. Freshly caught prawns are battered and insta-deep fried and served with a sweet brown sugar sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi for a sweet, sour, nose-clearing finish.

Source Internet

The tasty dishes made from tofu in China

Tofu, also known as bean curd, is a food of Chinese origin. It is made from soy milk, water and a curdling agent. The production of tofu from soy milk is similar to that of producing cheese from milk. It is made by coagulating soy milk, then pressing the resulting curds into blocks.

There is a wide variety of tofu, which can be split into two main categories as fresh tofu produced directly from soy milk, and processed tofu processed in some way from fresh tofu.

Stinky Tofu 

Image: Josephine Lim

This smelly tofu is a kind of snack with a strong odor described as rotten or fecal. Blocks of soft tofu are fermented in a unique brine, and then fried till the rind becomes crisp, and are usually served with sweet sauce, soy sauce or spicy sauce.

Mapo Tofu

Mapo tofu is a Sichuan specialty, typically made with tofu, various aromatics, oil, broth, and beef. The last two ingredients are meaty, sure, but do they have to be? You can make a vegan version that is just as satisfying. The key adaptations are replacing the meat-based broth with a soy-and-mushroom concoction and subbing a mix of fresh and dried mushrooms for the beef.

Dried Tofu 

This extra firm tofu contains the least amount of moisture of all fresh tofu. It is usually pressed very flat and sliced into long strings, which look like loose cooked noodles, and can be served cold or stir-fried.

Read more: 5 noodle dishes you must try in Shanghai, China

Silken Tofu

Silken tofu is the softest type of tofu. Some are so soft they crumble as soon as they make contact with chopsticks. It is by far my favorite type because of the texture and subtle sweet and nutty flavor.

Source Internet

Try the best local street foods in Shanghai

Due to a citywide crackdown on sanitation, street food vendors are becoming increasingly scarce in Shanghai, but that doesn’t mean the food itself is disappearing. You may have to look harder to find these simple culinary treats, but the search is worth it.

Xiao Long Bao

Shanghai’s signature dish is Xiao Long Bao, delicate soup dumplings that make an addict out of anyone who ever tries them. It takes patience to learn the proper eating technique, but once you developed a method, you’ll see why this dish has so many proclaiming its superiority over all other types of dumplings, including its fried cousin, the sheng jian bao.

Cong You Bing

Cong You Bing are scallion pancakes that differ from their western counterparts in their use of dough instead of batter. This ubiquitous thick and filling treat is perfect for breakfast or a midday pick me up.

Crab Shell Pie

River crabs are an integral part of Shanghai’s food scene, but only available seasonally. To combat your year-round craving, try crab shell pie, a crispy bun filled with savoury ingredients, whose appearance is reminiscent of a golden crab shell.

You Tiao

Literally meaning “oil slick,” this fried doughnut-like delicacy doesn’t try to fool anyone into thinking it’s healthy. You Tiao make for a great on the go breakfast and are best paired with fresh hot soy milk.

Read more: The incredible and unique museums in Shanghai, China

Baked Sweet Potato

The smell of baked sweet potato is how you know it’s winter in Shanghai. Usually sold from the back of a scooter, these sweet potatoes are fluffy and fibrous and will warm you up on even the coldest day.

Stinky Tofu

Don’t be put off by the name, or the pungent smell, stinky tofu is one of Shanghai’s best street foods. Follow your nose to this playful dish, whose taste is as fragrant as its smell. Cut into rectangular cubes and smothered in sauces, stinky tofu will have you questioning why you ever thought tofu was bland.

Sesame Ball

Red bean paste fills many a popular dessert in China, and sesame balls are no different. These glutinous dough balls are chock full of the sweet filling, covered in sesame seeds, and fried to crispy goodness.

Tea Eggs

Even as Shanghai’s street food scene fades, tea eggs are still available everywhere, from convenience stores to newspaper stands. The chicken eggs are hard boiled in a mixture of green tea and soy sauce and kept in a crock pot for warmth.

Kebabs

Known in China as chuanr, kebabs are usually found at night on pushcarts parked strategically outside of bars and clubs. The sellers definitely know their target audience, as there’s no better drunk food than greasy meat on sticks. A variety of vegetables and starches are also available, but the epitome of chuanr is fatty lamb meat.

Jianbing

This crispy crepe-like treat is not only popular throughout China, but has recently gained fans in America as well. The wrap is made from a batter of wheat, grain flour, and eggs. Its fillings vary but typically include a crispy fried cracker, scallions, and chili sauce.

Source the culture trip