Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe {vegan + dairy free + gluten free} (2024)

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Looking for a soy free tofu? This vegan Burmese Chickpea Tofu (also called shan tofu) is an easyhomemade tofu recipe to make whichis a healthy and delicious source of protein.

Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe {vegan + dairy free + gluten free} (1)

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As a known tofu hating vegetarian you might be scratching your head wondering why I'm sharing a tofu recipe with you today.

I even wrote an entire vegan cookbook without using tofu one... single... time.

Well, you see, this Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe I'm about to share isn't really tofu.

Tofu is made from bean curd, however, Burmese tofu is made from beautiful nutty chickpea flour. Also calledchickpea tofu or shan tofu, it ismore similar to polenta than tofu, as I'll explain.

As a lover of chickpeas and chickpea flour I couldn't wait to give chickpea tofu a try after reading about it on Sarah Brinson's wonderful blog.

However, while Sarah's recipe is totally doable, I'm too impatient to leave the chickpea flour soaking for 12 hours and wait another 8 hours before eating it.

So I came across another recipe for Burmese tofu, which didn't require soaking and a long wait. I halved it and set about giving it a go.

If you've made polenta before, then the process is not too dissimilar.

Chickpea flour is whisked together with water and salt and added to a saucepan of boiling water and whisked until thick and glossy. Then it ispoured into a pan to set.

Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe {vegan + dairy free + gluten free} (2)

The tofu sets in about an hour and is soft and pillowy,with that slightly nutty chickpea flavour that I love.

The wonderful thing about this chickpea tofu recipe, apart from the fact that it's a wonderful soy free alternative to tofu, is that it is also budget friendly too.

Chickpea flour is relatively cheap especially if you are able to source itfrom an Indian grocer. (Or you can grab this one on Amazon!)

It is also extremely versatile too. Add it to salads, stir fries, soups. This soba mis soup is a great way to use chickpea tofu!

Anywhere you'd normally use tofu, you can use chickpea tofu instead.

I'm a little addicted to it at the moment, I've made 3 batches in the last 4 days, and have been having fun experimenting with it in the kitchen.

So tell me, have you ever tried chickpea tofu?

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And if you love this Burmese Chickpea Tofu, be sure to try these other delicious ideas:

For more easy vegan cooking ideas, be sure to grab my free 5-day vegetarian meal plan. It's loaded with my favorite plant-based recipes, cheat sheets, and more.

Recipe

Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe {vegan + dairy free + gluten free} (3)

Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe (soy free tofu) {vegan + dairy free + gluten free}

Looking for a soy free tofu? This vegan Burmese Chickpea Tofu (also called shan tofu) is an easyhomemade tofu recipe to make whichis a healthy and delicious source of protein.

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: dairy-free, Gluten free, Vegan

Keyword: Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe, Chickpea Tofu recipe, Delicious Everyday, soy free tofu

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 77kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chickpea flour garbanzo bean flour / besan flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric optional
  • 3 cups water divided
  • neutral flavoured oil such as canola, sunfower (safflower)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Place the chickpea flour in a bowl along with the salt and turmeric (if using). Whisk to combine. Add 1 ½ cups of water and whisk until smooth.

  • Bring the remaining 1 ½ cups of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-high and add the chickpea flour and water mixture. Whisk over the heat until the mixture becomes really thick and glossy. This should take about 8 minutes.

  • Pour immediately into the prepared baking dish and leave to cool at room temperature for at least 1 hour. The longer it sits, the more water will drain out of the tofu and the firmer it will get.

  • Cut into whatever size and shape you like. This will depend on how you are going to use it. I cut it into 2 to 3 cm cubes. Store in an airtight container and use within 3 days. Some commenters have had success freezing it, but it is not something I have tried myself.

Notes

Very lightly adapted from this recipe which was sourced from The Burmese Kitchen: Recipes from the Golden Land

Nutrition

Calories: 77kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSodium: 406mgPotassium: 169mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg

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Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe {vegan + dairy free + gluten free} (4)
Burmese Chickpea Tofu recipe {vegan + dairy free + gluten free} (2024)

FAQs

What is the name of the Burmese tofu? ›

Shan tofu (also known as chickpea tofu) is a Burmese dish that comes from the Shan State in Myanmar. Yellow in color, this “tofu” is very easy to make and can be served in many ways. Many recipes for this chickpea tofu use only chickpea flour, water, salt, and occasionally turmeric for color.

Can you eat chickpea tofu raw? ›

It can be added to veggie burgers, meatballs, or falafels, etc. Just make sure to cook it and not eat it raw! You could also mix a little with the 'milk' mixture for slightly firmer chickpea tofu.

How to make tofu without soy milk? ›

How to Make Chickpea Tofu
  1. Soak the chickpeas. Soak whole dried chickpeas in plenty of cold water (at least 3 times the volume of peas) and let them rehydrate overnight in the fridge. ...
  2. Make Raw Chickpea Milk. Depending on the size of your blender, you may need to do this step in two batches. ...
  3. Let Cool. ...
  4. Press curds.
Aug 18, 2023

What is Burmese tofu made of? ›

Burmese tofu (Burmese: တိုဖူး, pronounced [tòpʰú]; or Burmese: တိုဟူး, pronounced [tòhú]) is a food of Shan origin and of Chinese from Yunnan Province, made from water and flour ground from yellow split peas and the Burmese version of chickpea flour, also known as besan flour, in a fashion similar to polenta.

Where did Burmese tofu come from? ›

The dish has been a staple in Burmese culture for years, originating in the Shan State of Myanmar (it's also known as Shan tofu). Unlike panelle, a Sicilian crispy, fried fritter created using a similar technique, Burmese tofu is silky, creamy, and smooth.

Is chickpea tofu better? ›

Overall thoughts. We think that if you can't have soy, chickpea tofu makes an awesome alternative. The taste is very neutral and takes on flavor well. It is a very soft texture inside when being cooked that may deter some people.

What is the difference between Chinese and Burmese tofu? ›

Burmese tofu is a common dish from the Shan minority in Burma (Myanmar) that is traditionally made with flour from split yellow lentils or chickpeas. It is different to traditional Chinese tofu, which is made by curdling soy milk and pressing the curds into a firm block.

Is chickpea tofu good for weight loss? ›

Due to their high-fiber and protein content, chickpeas are excellent for weight loss diets because they keep you fuller longer and control appetite.

Do you have to rinse tofu before eating? ›

She encourages people to treat tofu in a similar manner to canned beans, which we are taught to drain and rinse before using. She finds that doing so can help eliminate any off-flavors from preservatives in the water for liquid-packed tofu.

Do you need to wash tofu? ›

After removing the tofu from its package, rinse it and then remove the water. For soft tofu, just drain it and blot it dry; but for medium, firm and extra-firm tofu, simple draining isn't enough—you need to press the water out.

Is chickpea tofu a complete protein? ›

Like most other plant protein sources, chickpeas are not a complete protein and do not contain all nine essential amino acids. Chickpeas are rich in some essential amino acids, including lysine and arginine, but lack the sulfur-containing amino acids, methionine and cystine.

What can I use instead of dairy in tofu? ›

But you can also puree a package of tofu in the blender with a cup and a half of water the create a high-protein, low-fat milk substitute for use in recipes.

What can I use instead of soy sauce for tofu? ›

12 Soy Sauce Substitutes
  • Avoiding soy.
  • Coconut Secret coconut aminos sauce.
  • Red Boat fish sauce.
  • Maggi seasoning sauce.
  • Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce.
  • Ohsawa White Nama shoyu sauce.
  • Bragg Liquid Aminos.
  • 6 Sauces to make at home.
Dec 19, 2018

What is a vegan substitute for tofu? ›

Instead of using tofu for the stir-fry, just add another high-protein element such as seitan, lentils, beans, or a soy-free meat analogue.

What are the 5 types of tofu? ›

Tofu is categorized as silken, regular, firm, extra-firm and super-firm. Silken, the softest type of tofu, can be compared to a young white cheese. Firm tofu, the most common, has the same consistency as feta, while the texture of super-firm can be compared to that of meat.

What is satonoyuki tofu? ›

Satonoyuki tofu is a wonderfully smooth tofu is made in Japan from the best quality soy beans and mineral water taken from the aquifers of Mount Fuji. Packed in a tetra pak container to keep this tofu tasting as fresh as possible.

Is tofu and tauhu the same? ›

Tofu is called tauhu in Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysian and Singaporean Indians use tofu in their cuisine, such as in Indian mee goreng, and rojak pasembor. Peranakan cuisine often uses tofu, as in Penang curry noodles and laksa.

What is the difference between tofu and Tauhu? ›

In Malay language and Indonesian; tauhu or tahu refers to 'tofu' and goreng indicates 'fried'. Tofu originated from China and brought to Southeast Asia by Chinese immigrants to the region.

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