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 difference between Chinese and Burmese tofu? ›

Regular tofu is made from soybeans, whereas Burmese tofu is made from chickpeas and has a smooth, silky texture. Burmese tofu is a food of Shan origin, made from water, chickpea flour (or soaked dried chickpeas).

Is chickpea tofu healthier than soy tofu? ›

Given that soy-free tofu is primarily made with chickpea flour and water, you can expect the nutrition to be fairly advantageous. Like soy-based tofu, this varietal is naturally gluten-free. It's also very low in total fat and contains no saturated or trans fats.

What does Burmese tofu taste like? ›

On the other hand Burmese tofu is made from chickpea milk and has a fairly neutral flavor similar to regular tofu. It is more firm than traditional tofu and also mixed up with other dishes.

Is tofu made from chickpeas? ›

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.

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.

What is the healthiest form of tofu? ›

Silken tofu contains only about half the calories and fat, while firm tofu contains over twice the protein. The reason for this is water content.

Is there a downside to eating tofu? ›

Incorporating tofu into your daily meals and snacks can bring several health benefits. Those benefits include brain health promotion, ease of menopause symptoms, and heart disease prevention. However, eating tofu has some risks, as it might lead to digestive issues or interact with certain medications like MAOIs.

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.

Is tofu better for you than eggs? ›

In case you're wondering which is healthier, eggs or tofu, the match-up is surprisingly close. If you compare them per serving (1 egg to a 3.5-ounce serving of tofu), the tofu has a similar amount of calories and slightly more protein. Here's how they stack up: Calories: egg = 78 | tofu = 70.

Is chickpea tofu good for you? ›

This plant-based, 3-ingredient chickpea tofu is packed with protein but low in fat. It's also soy-free. Make it in minutes! If you are vegan (and even if you aren't!), you've heard of tofu.

Why does my tofu taste like egg? ›

But the star ingredient just might be kala namak. Also known as Indian black salt or Himalayan black salt, kala namak brings that distinctive umami-rich, egg-like flavor, similar to the yolk of a hard-boiled egg.

Can you grow chickpeas from store-bought chickpeas? ›

We used to buy chickpeas in a tin or boil them from dried. But then we discovered they are very easy to sprout and grow into plants that bear pods with three green chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) in them. Start by soaking the dried chickpeas in water overnight.

Why do vegans eat chickpeas? ›

Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are a nutritious source of plant-based protein and a healthy food to always have on-hand. They make plant-based eating easy and convenient. Chickpeas are a good source of protein. Chickpeas have fiber.

What does chickpea tofu taste like? ›

So, the silver lining is that it's good I didn't post the first more involved version, right? Ha. Timing. You can use chickpea tofu in anything you'd eat chickpeas in, really, because it tastes like, chickpeas—it's beany, and has that tofu-like spring we're familiar with, but it's a bit more creamy.

Why are chickpeas good for vegans? ›

Chickpeas are what's known as a complete protein because they contain all nine essential amino acids, which are building blocks that help our bodies function properly. “Chickpeas are also an excellent source of non-animal protein,” Lane adds. “They're great for vegetarians and vegans.”

What are the three 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 the difference between Chinese tofu and Japanese tofu? ›

Difference between Chinese and Japanese Tofu. People often find it difficult to differentiate between Chinese and Japanese tofu. Since it contains less water, Chinese tofu has a firmer texture than Japanese tofu. It's great for adding texture and flavor to vegetarian foods that otherwise could lack substance without it ...

What kind of tofu do Chinese restaurants use? ›

White in colour and tender to touch, soft tofu (yun dou fu) contains the highest water content of all tofu types and is widely used in Cantonese and other southern Chinese cuisines. It's similar to Japanese silken tofu, but while very soft it has a bit more “body” to it, making it slightly easier to handle and cut.

Is Burmese tofu high in protein? ›

The fiber and starch is removed so the resulting tofu is high in protein but low in carbs. As in the photo above, high protein chickpea tofu holds up in soups. But Burmese Tofu would dissolve (making it a nice way to make creamy sauce as well!)

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