Annin tofu facts for kids
A bowl of annin tofu
|
|
| Alternative names | Xingren doufu, almond tofu, almond jelly |
|---|---|
| Type | Pudding |
| Main ingredients | Apricot kernel milk, water, gelling agent (usu. agar) |
| Annin tofu | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 杏仁豆腐 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Jyutping | hang6 jan4 dau6 fu6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hanyu Pinyin | xìngrén dòufǔ | ||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | almond tofu | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
| Japanese name | |||||||||||||||||||
| Kanji | 杏仁豆腐 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kana | あんにんどうふ | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Annin tofu or xingren tofu (Chinese and Japanese: 杏仁豆腐; pinyin: xìngrén dòufǔ; Cantonese Jyutping: hang6 jan4 dau6 fu6; rōmaji: an'nindōfu), sometimes called almond tofu, is a soft, jiggly dessert. It is made from a special kind of milk from apricot kernels, a gelling agent like agar, and sugar. This sweet treat is a traditional dessert in both Chinese and Japanese cuisine. It's a bit like blancmange, another creamy dessert.
Even though it's called "tofu," this dessert does not use soy beans. Real tofu is made from soy beans. The name "tofu" here just means it's a "tofu-like solid" because of its soft, wobbly texture. You might see this naming style in other Asian dishes, like Chinese yúdòufu (which means fish tofu) or Japanese gomadōfu (sesame tofu). People often confuse apricot kernel milk with almond milk, because apricot kernels themselves look a lot like almonds.
How to Make Annin Tofu
Traditional Recipe
To make traditional Annin tofu, you start with apricot kernels. These kernels are soaked in water, then ground up with more water to make a milky liquid. This liquid is then strained to make it smooth.
Next, you add sugar to sweeten it. The mixture is then heated with a gelling agent, usually agar. Agar is a natural jelly-like substance that comes from seaweed. When the warm apricot kernel milk mixture cools down, it becomes solid. It turns into a soft, wobbly dessert, much like a gelatin dessert.
Different Ways to Make It
The traditional recipe using agar is great for people who are vegan, meaning they don't eat any animal products. However, there are many other ways to make Annin tofu that are not vegan.
Some recipes use dairy products like milk or cream. They might also add a small amount of special flavored extract to give it taste. Instead of agar, some recipes use Gelatin, which comes from animal products, to make the dessert firm.
You can also find instant Annin tofu mixes. These are often soy-based powders that have a special ingredient to make them firm. You just mix the powder with hot water, and it solidifies as it cools. It's a quick and easy way to enjoy this dessert!
See also
In Spanish: Gelatina de almendra para niños
