Tofu Cheesecake

It is finally the holiday season! It is the time of the year when you are getting back together with your family, preparing for the holiday feast, and trying different recipes. BUT! At the same time, not gaining weight with all of the delicious food available.

Therefore, the ingredient for this post: Tofu-an ingredient that’s existed for more than 2,000 years!

Tofu, made from soybean curds, is naturally gluten-free, low in calories,  and contains no cholesterol. It is an excellent source of protein, iron, and calcium (Medical News Today). It is the superstar ingredient among vegetarians and healthy eaters! However, another distinctive feature that makes tofu so unique is its versatility when cooking with other ingredients.

“Tofu: you either love it, or you haven’t had it prepared well.”—SeriousEats

Tofu comes in several different consistencies: extra firm, firm, soft, or silken. There are also multiple ways to prepare them. In this post, I will share a simple dessert recipe that uses soft tofu as the main ingredient: Tofu Cheesecake.

As you’ll know, a holiday feast wouldn’t be complete without the delightful and creamy desserts. 😉

Ingredients:

[preparing size: 15cm x 10cm (4 inches x 6 inches) baking tray]

•             250g (1 cup) of low-fat cream cheese
•             300g (1.3 cups) of soft tofu
•             2 tbsps of sugar
•             1 cup of graham cracker crumbs or nuts
•             3tbsps of unsalted butter
•             some mocha or cocoa powder

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set cream cheese in room temperature, makes sure it is soft before use.
2. In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs or blended nuts, add melted butter. Pour the mixture into the oiled baking tray ( you can also add a layer of parchment paper); press mixture firmly to form the crust. Bake about 5 minutes; let it cool while preparing the filling.
3. In the food processor or blender, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and soft tofu (make sure to get rid of the excess water before adding to the mix) and process until it is smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour the mixture into the crust.
4. Put the baking tray in the 350 degrees’ oven, bake until the top is slightly browned, about 20-25 minutes. Cool and refrigerate until it is thoroughly chilled and firm, which takes about 2 hours.

Garnish with your choice of fresh fruits, or add a hint of mocha/ cocoa powder. TIME TO SERVE! 🙂

PS: Special thanks to Katie Chan for providing the recipe!