Xuchang Dried Tofu Skin

Place of Origin

Xuchang, Henan, China

Description

Xuchang dried tofu skin appears pale yellow with a lustrous sheen, smooth to the touch, and its interior consists of a spongy texture with evenly distributed pores.

Technical Aspects

Compared to the conventional production of dried tofu skin, Xuchang dried tofu skin employs a distinctive technique in the skin-lifting step, known as “jiē pí” in Chinese. This distinctive technique is called the double-boiler method. Specifically, this method involves using a large iron pot at the bottom to boil water, while placing a large flat-bottomed pot on top. The flat-bottomed pot does not directly contact the heat source; instead, it gradually heats up through the action of the boiling water in the lower pot. Pre-cooked soy milk is poured into the upper flat-bottomed pot, and as it slowly heats up, a film, also known as tofu skin, forms on the surface, which is then lifted to produce dried tofu skin. Compared to directly boiling the soy milk in a single pot, the double-boiler method ensures that the soy milk does not boil over and scorch the pot. Additionally, the temperature during the skin-lifting process does not exceed 85°C, thereby ensuring that the tofu skin is smooth without any hard spots.