老豆腐 (lǎodòufu) · firm tofu, old tofu, soft tofu pudding

Measure Word

一块老豆腐 kuài

Meanings

1 firm tofu
2 old tofu
3 soft tofu pudding

About the ingredient

Tofu set with brine and pressed until dense, rougher and chewier than soft tofu (嫩豆腐). It keeps its shape when pan-fried, braised or deep-fried. In Shandong and Tianjin the name also means a tofu breakfast dish.

Contains soy

Also called 北豆腐

Used in 3 dishes

家常豆腐 jiācháng dòufu

红烧豆腐 hóngshāo dòufu

锅塌豆腐 guōtā dòufu

Characters

Examples

HSK 7-9

做麻婆豆腐要用老豆腐。

Zuò mápódòufu yào yòng lǎodòufu.

Mapo tofu should be made with firm tofu.

HSK 7-9

老北京早餐常有一碗老豆腐。

Lǎoběijīng zǎocān cháng yǒu yì wǎn lǎodòufu.

A classic Beijing breakfast often includes a bowl of laodoufu.

Tips

mistakes

'Old tofu' has two almost opposite meanings that depend on region. In most of China 老豆腐 means firm/pressed tofu, the counterpart of 嫩豆腐 (soft tofu). But in Beijing and Tianjin, 老豆腐 is a breakfast dish - very soft tofu curd served with soy sauce, sesame paste, and pickles, essentially a saltier sibling of 豆腐脑. Read context carefully.