Dougan facts for kids
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Dougan is a special kind of tofu that is very popular in Chinese cooking. It's different from regular tofu because it's much firmer and drier. Think of it like a super-firm block of tofu! It's made from soybeans, just like regular tofu, but with a few extra steps that make it more solid. Sometimes, it's even flavored with yummy things like salt, soy sauce, cinnamon, star anise, or licorice.
What is Dougan?
This food gets its name from two Chinese words. The first part, "dòu," means "bean." The second part, "gān," means "dry." So, its name literally means "dry bean" or "dried tofu." The full name is sometimes called doufu gan, which means "dried tofu."
It's important to know the difference between dougan and regular tofu. Even though they are both made from soybeans, they have different textures. If a recipe asks for dougan, using regular soft tofu might not work as well because it's too watery.
How is it Different from Tofu?
Dougan has much less water than regular tofu. This means it is drier and more solid. Imagine squeezing all the water out of a sponge – that's kind of what happens to dougan!
Because it has less water, dougan also has more protein in each bite compared to regular tofu. This is because the bean parts are packed more closely together. So, dougan is a great way to get protein from soybeans.
