Almond Tofu is a dessert ideal for hot weather, known for its smooth, jelly-like texture and the deep almond flavor. This vegan recipe is simple, featuring ingredients that are both accessible and safer to use compared to those in traditional recipes.
After making Black Bean Tofu, I sought a new legume to broaden my tofu series and discovered this interesting recipe: Almond Tofu. What's interesting is that, despite the name, it doesn't contain any real tofu here.
Almond tofu is a jiggly almond-flavored dessert. It's traditionally a Chinese dessert that uses apricot kernels, which have a slight toxicity if not prepared correctly, especially the bitter variety. So I experimented with a safer alternative using almonds, an ingredient that's both more available and safer, and found out that it's just as delicious.
For other simple desserts, consider trying Vietnamese Avocado Pudding, Mango Sago, or Vegan Matcha Tiramisu.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
As a plant-based dessert, it's a fantastic option for those looking for:
- Dairy-free or vegetarian sweet treats.
- The dessert's versatility also allows it to be paired with various toppings, such as fruit syrups and fresh fruits, enhancing its delicate almond flavor.
- An easy and light dessert for dinner parties or gatherings, and like how an Asian person would compliment a dessert, it’s “not too sweet”.
Ingredients
To make Almond Tofu, you will need these ingredients:
- Almond Milk Base:
- Almonds (Soaked): Essential for a rich flavor and soft texture
- Water
- Vanilla Extract: Provides a sweet, aromatic essence to enhance the dessert's flavor profile.
- Dates (Pits Removed): Serve as a natural sweetener, imparting a subtle caramel note.
- Jelly Base (Agar Agar):
- Agar Agar (or Vegan Gelatine): The gelling agent that sets the almond tofu into a firm consistency.
- Sugar: Adds sweetness to the jelly base.
- Water
- Toppings:
- Fruits of Choice: Fresh berries, mango slices, kiwi, or any preferred fruits.
- Syrup (optional): Optional sweetener for topping.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Here’s the instructions for making Almond Tofu:
- Soak the almonds overnight or in hot water for at least 30 minutes. This softens and prepares them for blending.
- Blend the almonds in a blender along with 300ml of water, vanilla extract and dates until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Strain the blended mixture through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible to get almond milk.
- Dissolve agar-agar in 200ml of water, then heat the mixture in a pot over low heat, whisking vigorously until dissolved, then add sugar to the mixture.
- Pour the almond milk into the pot and let it simmer for 6-8 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture into a serving bowl through a sieve or filter, cover and refrigerate it for 4-6 hours or overnight.
- Once set, top your almond tofu with your favorite toppings. Consider using syrup or fresh fruits for a delightful finish.
Soak the almonds overnight or in hot water for at least 30 minutes.
Blend the almonds in a blender along with 300ml of water, vanilla extract and dates until you achieve a smooth consistency.
Strain the blended mixture through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible to get almond milk.
Dissolve the agar agar and sugar in water, then add the almond milk
Transfer the mixture into a serving bowl through a sieve or filter, cover and refrigerate it for 4-6 hours or overnight.
Substitutions
Try out nuts like raw cashews or hazelnuts as an almond replacement. Soak the nuts in water overnight and blend them to achieve a similar texture.
Variations
The recipe allows for flexible customization of the topping. Here are some variations to consider for the Almond Tofu topping:
- Fruit: Add a burst of color and natural sweetness by topping your almond tofu with a mix of fresh berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries), juicy mango slices, and vibrant kiwi.
- Sweeteners: The golden richness of honey or syrup pairs beautifully with the silky texture of almond tofu.
- Matcha: Sprinkle some matcha (green tea powder) over your almond tofu. The earthy, slightly bitter notes of matcha balance the sweetness.
- Chocolate powder: Dust your almond tofu with a fine layer of cocoa or chocolate powder. It adds depth and indulgence to each spoonful.
Equipment
Here are the key equipment you’ll need for making Almond Tofu:
- Blender or Food Processor: To blend the soaked almonds, water, vanilla extract, and dates into a smooth almond milk.
- Pot: For heating and dissolving the sugar and agar agar (or vegan gelatine) to create the base for the almond tofu.
- Glass Container or Serving Bowls: To pour and set the almond tofu mixture.
Storage
Keep your almond tofu in an airtight food container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Top tip
- To ensure a smooth and consistent texture, it’s best to dissolve agar in water first then add sugar. If sugar is added too early, it might prevent proper gel formation or lead to inconsistent results.
FAQ
Yes, you can opt for unsweetened almond milk to manage the sweetness of your almond tofu. However, note that homemade almond milk is often creamier, as you can modify the almond-to-water ratio to increase the almond content.
Agar-agar is a vegetarian gelatin substitute made from seaweed, commonly available in most Asian markets. Dishes prepared with agar tend to be firmer than those that use gelatin.
The strips and powder both act as setting agents. In my recipe, I use agar powder. To substitute for the powder, use 1 part strips to 3-4 parts powder, and soak the strips in water before using them.
Dates are a tropical stone fruit that comes from the date palm trees, commonly available in Middle Eastern or Asian markets. These sweet fruits have been a staple ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine for thousands of years. Alternatively, you can use sugar, agave or maple syrup, or other sweeteners.
📖 Recipe
Almond Tofu (Annin Tofu)
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Almond Tofu is a dessert ideal for hot weather, known for its smooth, jelly-like texture and the deep almond flavor. This vegan recipe is simple, featuring ingredients that are both accessible and safer to use compared to those in traditional recipes.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup almonds (soaked overnight or in hot water for 30 minutes)
- 500ml water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 dates (with pits removed)
- 1 tsp (5g) agar agar (or vegan gelatine)
- 2 tsp sugar
- Fruits of choice
Instructions
- Soak the almonds overnight or in hot water for at least 30 minutes. This softens and prepares them for blending.
- Blend the almonds in a blender along with 300ml of water, vanilla extract and dates until you achieve a smooth consistency.
- Strain the blended mixture through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh sieve. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible to get almond milk.
- Dissolve agar-agar in 200ml of water, then heat the mixture in a pot over low heat, whisking vigorously until dissolved, then add sugar to the mixture.
- Pour the almond milk into the pot and let it simmer for 6-8 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture into a serving bowl through a sieve or filter, cover and refrigerate it for 4-6 hours or overnight.
- Once set, top your almond tofu with your favorite toppings. Consider using syrup or fresh fruits for a delightful finish.
- Soak Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Blending, Straining, Whisking
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 114
- Sugar: 10.2g
- Sodium: 756mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 13.8g
- Fiber: 2.7g
- Protein: 2.7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Related
Looking for other desserts? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Almond Tofu:
Cedars says
Very pleased with this dessert. Not too sweet, pleasantly light, and refreshing. I was looking for a WFPB vegan recipe using agar-agar in place of gelatin. I wasn't sure of the ratios. Thank you so much for the recipe.