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Stinky tofu is a form of fermented
tofu that has a strong
odor. It is a popular snack in East and Southeast Asia, particularly Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Indonesia, and Mainland China, where it is usually found at night
markets or roadside stands, or as a side dish in lunch bars. |
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Left: Deep fried
version of stinky tofu. |
Unlike cheese, stinky tofu fermentation does not have fixed
formula for starter bacteria; wide regional and individual variations exist in
manufacture and preparation.
The traditional method for producing stinky tofu is to prepare a brine made from
fermented milk, vegetables, and meat; the brine can also include dried shrimp,
amaranth greens, mustard greens, bamboo shoots, and Chinese herbs. The brine
fermentation can take as long as several months. Depending on the ways of
preparation, the process can be extremely unsanitary; the brine is covered with
maggots and has extremely strong rotten odor.
Then after the brine is made,
fresh firm tofu is marinated in it for a period of time ranging from several days
to a couple months. Sometimes quicklime is added to control the fermentation
and maggots. Since no starter bacteria were used, the only way to determine
whether the tofu has achieved desired quality is by its appearance, e.g. tofu
covered in white mold and not black mold. After a successful attempt, the
brine can then be kept for future use. This is also the reason why stinky tofu
tastes different from vendor to vendor, and the brines are usually considered a
trade secret by the makers.
Even though the traditional method is still widely practiced by street vendors,
modern factories often use quicker methods to mass produce stinky tofu. Fresh
tofu is marinated in prepared brine for only a day or two, especially for fried
or boiled cooking purpose. The process only adds odor to the marinated tofu
instead of letting it ferment completely.
Stinky tofu can be eaten cold, steamed, stewed, or most commonly, fried. It is
often accompanied by chili sauce. The color varies from the golden fried
Zhejiang-style to the black typical of Hunan-style stinky tofu.
From a distance, the odor of stinky tofu is said to resemble that of rotten
garbage or manure, even by its enthusiasts. In spite of stinky tofu's smell,
most say the flavor is surprisingly mild. Some have compared it
to the taste of blue cheese. It has also been compared to
foie gras. In some
instances the taste has even been compared to rotten meat. It is said the more
it smells, the 'better' its flavor is.
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Stinky tofu is one of the most recognizable dishes in Taiwan.
It is very commonly served on roadside stands and in night markets. It is
usually served deep fried (often served with drizzled sauce and topped with sour
pickled vegetables), grilled, or added into a
Sichuan mala soup base (with
solid geese blood.) |
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Left: Stinky tofu
with goose blood and mala sauce. |
