Let me guess, you saw one of those Chinese street snack videos where the woman mixes moldy-looking white cubes with spices. Well, we tried it! And as strange as it may look, we know you want to try it too. It's none other than Hairy Tofu, also known as 'Mao Doufu'—just one of the many delicacies crafted from ordinary tofu.
Mao Doufu or Hairy Tofu is not simply a mould but a fermentation that gives it a peculiar texture. In the 6-day process it takes a minimum, Hairy Tofu develops tiny hairs, creating a velvety outer coat and a cheese-like taste with an intense flavour. Many people like eating fried hairy tofu, but we have a few other ways you can try making it.
This article will cover:
The Origins of Hairy Tofu
How Hairy Tofu is made
How to eat Hairy Tofu?
Is Hairy Tofu a Fungus?
Is Hairy Tofu safe to eat?
Difference between Hairy Tofu and Stinky Tofu
How to make Hairy Tofu at home (with store-bought tofu blocks)
Origins of Hairy Tofu
Hairy Tofu has a long history dating back to the Han dynasty, originating over 2000 years ago in Anhui, within the Huizhou district of East China. Legend has it that Prince Liu An (179–122 BC) may have been the mastermind behind this peculiar delicacy, though very little valid information is known of its origin, unlike the famous Zongzi from the Dragon Boat Festival.
Anhui is known for its subtropical climate, one that's unique when compared to the rest of the cities in the region. As climate often varies, food preservation processes used here were different.
Did you know that Hairy Tofu which was made traditionally in Huangshan City was also submitted to UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Element? The method of preparation of hairy tofu here is so authentic that it has been the same for the past 350 years.
How is Hairy Tofu made?
Hairy Tofu is nothing out of this world. It's made of soybean just as any tofu you'd find in the market. Regular Tofu is made with soybean milk, water, salt and a coagulant - a coagulant is what helps curdle the soy milk. The difference between Hairy Tofu and regular tofu is that the first is dipped in brine made up of mucor powder and left to ferment for a week or longer in a wooden container maintaining a constant temperature between 60-75F.
How to eat Hairy Tofu?
Are you a fan of the Hairy Bikers Sweet and Sour tofu recipe? Or any kind of tofu? Then you must try Hairy tofu! The good thing is that there's no one method to eat it. You can eat Hairy Tofu in many ways. 3 of the most common ways are;
Deep-fried hairy tofu - This is when the hairy tofu is fried till it's golden on the outside and white and creamy on the inside. Some like the crispy hairs of it (well, didn't sound appetising to me but hey! You may love it). This can be served as a side dish to your main meal, or even consumed as a snack.
Pickled hairy tofu - You would've seen videos of street vendors mixing spices and jarring hairy tofu. They use aromatic Chinese five-spice powder for this mix (star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns and fennel seeds). And no, five-spice Powder does not have MSG. After a generous toss in salt, pepper, and chilli powder, they add a splash of rice wine. It's essentially treated like any other pickle but with a uniquely delicious twist.
Scrambled hairy tofu - It's very much similar to scrambled eggs. It's often served as a side dish and would go well with many types of carbs like rice, potatoes, noodles etc. You can break the hairy tofu into pieces, mix it with eggs and fry it in a pan. Or you can only scramble the hairy tofu without eggs by adding some greens like spring onions and frying them.
Is Hairy Tofu a Fungus?
Yes and no. If we look at its scientific structure, although Hairy Tofu belongs to zygomyceteous fungal mycelium, it's not entirely a fungus. While it has fungal properties, studies show that Hairy Tofu has more Yeast in it than fungi.
Is Hairy Tofu safe to eat?
Yes, it is. Hairy Tofu or Mau Doufu is safe for consumption. This does not mean you can eat regular tofu that has gone mouldy. But make sure the mouldy tofu that you're eating is white, and not yellow or brown. Hairy Tofu can last about a week. It has a lower shelf life compared to regular tofu. So make sure if you're buying uncooked hairy tofu, they look white.
If you do have allergies to soy, you should stay away from all types of Tofu including Hairy Tofu.
Difference of Hairy Tofu and Stinky Tofu
Stinky Tofu, also known as Chou Doufu (臭豆腐) is another variation of fermented tofu that is often mistaken for fried Hairy Tofu. Stinky tofu looks like hairy tofu without the hair. But it smells absolutely horrid, like rotten garbage. We've come across many stinky tofu stalls, but I haven't been able to gather up my courage to eat it. We've heard that it's delicious.
Stinky tofu is famous in Taiwan. The secret behind stinky tofu's flavour is the special brine in which the tofu is soaked. It's soaked for weeks and even months. The brine is made from dried shrimp, bamboo shoots, Chinese herbs, and most importantly amaranth greens which have a lot of health benefits to help aid weight loss and cholesterol, and it has anti-inflammatory properties too.
We were surprised to hear that every stinky tofu stall has its own secret brine mix that sets it apart from the others.
Is Hairy Tofu Vegan?
Yes. All tofu including Hairy Tofu is made of Soybean milk and water. This means Hairy Tofu in its original form is vegan. However, if you're buying cooked hairy tofu, it may come with eggs mixed in it. Make sure to clarify this before you purchase from a stall.
What does Hairy Tofu Taste like?
It's creamy and soft. The best part is taking that first bite. You're scared and excited at the same time. I tried the pickled hairy tofu and it tastes like pickled cream cheese! A very acquired taste that many won't like. I love sour food, so I enjoyed its salty note but the Chinese spice mix can be a little overpowering. It's best eaten as kimchi for your Chinese dish.
Fried hairy tofu tastes crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. It's perfect for a street snack. The saute sauce is the key. It's usually made of chilli oil and soy sauce (with a bit of MSG) and you can add spring onions, oyster sauce and garlic into the mix as well.
Is Tofu Halal?
Yes. Tofu is halal and Hairy tofu is halal too. Despite hairy tofu being a type of mould, it's still safe for consumption. You don't have to worry as long as you're sure your cooked tofu comes with a sauce that doesn't contain pork or lard.
Does Hairy Tofu Expire?
Yes. Hairy Tofu does expire in about a week, and if you store it in an airtight container in a fridge, you can save it for about two weeks. Unlike stinky tofu, Hairy tofu does not have a foul smell. But if yours does, this is a sign that it's expiring. If it's yellow or light brown, this also means it's expiring. If your Hairy Tofu is slimy, it may be best to dispose of it.
How to make Hairy Tofu at home
Good news! You can now make Hairy Tofu at home without having to go through the long process of refining soybeans. use store-bought Tofu to make your own hairy tofu, but a bit of effort is required.
Firstly, the natural fermentation requires temperatures between 65F to 75F. And it's best left to ferment in a separate room where this exact temperature is maintained.
Making Hairy Tofu with a 500g Tofu Block - you can now get the perfect cut with a Tofu Press to make your job much easier!:
Cut Tofu into bite-size pieces
Steam for 10 minutes and let it cool
Add 2g (1/2 a teaspoon) of mucor powder to 40g (2 1/2 tablespoons) water and mix
With chopsticks, dip each cube in the mucor water
Place them on the oven rack or a wooden tray with a loose lid
Let it rest for 6 days at the mentioned temperature.
Your Hairy Tofu is ready to be cooked!
More tips on Hairy Tofu (cause making it or eating it is not a simple task):
Use clean utensils to avoid spoiling the process. (steam them before to be safe)
Before buying Tofu, make sure it doesn't have too many additives. Opt for a high-quality tofu.
If your tofu looks strange (not hairy, but slimy), don't take the chance. Throw it away and make a new batch
Eat cooked Hairy Tofu within a week of preparation
Planning to make Hairy Tofu anytime soon? Let us know how it goes!