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Glite Dictionary
silken tofu

silken tofu

3.5
A very soft, smooth food made from soy that people use in desserts and soups
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪlkən ˈtoʊfu/
translation icon : tofu sedoso
  • In our dessert, low-fat silken tofu is used as a binder and a replacement for eggs.
  • a cup of silken tofu
  • 8 oz silken tofu
  • soft silken tofu

Examples

  • She added silken tofu to the smoothie for a creamy texture.

  • Have you tried silken tofu in your dessert recipes?

  • Many vegan desserts use silken tofu as an egg substitute.

  • The chef pureed silken tofu to make a light, airy mousse.

  • I love adding silken tofu to my smoothies.

  • You can add pesto, nut butter, or silken tofu while blending for extra flavor or texture.

  • An easy cream sauce made with a base of healthful silken tofu enriches this delicious gratin.

How Smooth

silken tofu
3.5
tofu
61 2.9

Surface Forms

silken tofu singular
silken tofus plural

Morphology

silken + tofu

The noun phrase is a direct composition of 'silken' (soft, smooth) and 'tofu' (soy-based soft food), so the meaning—a variety of tofu with a very smooth, soft texture—is immediately derivable from its parts. This is a literal, descriptive combination found in many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Silken tofu is named for how smooth it is; silken means 'like silk' and tofu is made from soy milk that becomes a soft, creamy block. That's why cooks use silken tofu in soups and desserts when they want a light, smooth texture.