Shiping Grilled Tofu (石屏烧豆腐) is a traditional delicacy from Shiping County in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. According to local historical records, this dish dates back to the early Ming Dynasty, boasting a history of several centuries. During the late Qing Dynasty, Shiping Tofu was even selected as a tribute, making it a prized delicacy at the royal court.
Main Ingredients and Preparation Process
Main Ingredients:
- Shiping Tofu: Made from high-quality local soybeans. The tofu is renowned for its fine texture, high resilience, delicate aroma, and exquisite taste.
Preparation Process:
- Ingredient Preparation: Select soybeans harvested within the past year, ensuring a protein content of ≥40%. Use spring water from the local area, meeting national drinking water standards.
- Production Steps:
- Selection and Cleaning: Choose soybeans and clean them thoroughly.
- Soaking: Soak the beans (soaking time varies by season).
- Grinding: Use a stone mill or grinder to make a smooth soy milk.
- Filtering: Remove the soy residue, leaving only pure soy milk.
- Cooking: Cook the soy milk until fully done.
- Coagulation: Use local natural underground acid water as a coagulant to curdle the soy milk.
- Shaping: Press and shape the tofu, adding salt before cutting into blocks.
- Grilling: Place chestnut charcoal in a fire pit to burn, set up an iron grid, and once hot, oil the grid before placing the tofu on it. Grill the tofu while constantly turning it, optionally brushing with duck oil to enhance flavor. Grill until the tofu turns golden brown.
Flavor and Characteristics
Shiping Grilled Tofu is celebrated for its smooth, tender texture and robust, earthy aroma. The tofu’s unique taste comes from the local production methods and natural ingredients. During grilling, the tofu absorbs the smoky flavor of the charcoal and the richness of the oil, resulting in a crispy exterior and a soft, flavorful interior.
Serving Suggestions
Shiping Grilled Tofu can be enjoyed in various ways:
- Dipped in Sauces: Serve with a mix of sweet soy sauce, salty soy sauce, fermented tofu juice, Sichuan pepper oil, cilantro, mint, and spicy pepper powder. This method highlights the tofu’s fresh taste and the rich layers of the sauces.
- With Pepper Salt and Chili Powder: For those who enjoy bold flavors, dipping the grilled tofu in pepper salt and chili powder provides a spicy and stimulating taste experience.
Nutritional Value
Shiping Tofu is not only delicious but also nutritionally rich. It contains up to 48.15% protein, which is four times that of beef, seven times that of chicken, and eight times that of pork. Additionally, it has 19.3% fat, 0.13% sugar, and abundant iron. These nutrients are essential for human health, aiding in growth, boosting immunity, and more.
