Last Updated on April 1, 2022 by Guillermina
Termed “nufu”, or “peanut tofu”, tofu made from peanuts is also termed “jimami tofu”, a specialty Okinawan dish often served with sweetened soy sauce. This delicacy boasts a peanut-y flavor unlike tofu often found today that is made from soy. Often eaten as a dessert due to its sweet and salty peanut flavor combined with its creamy, pudding-like texture, jimami can easily be recreated at home—so you don’t have to travel all the way to Japan to savor this enticing dish!
Below you can find a delightful, easy-to-make Jimami-dofu, or tofu made with peanuts, recipe to be made from the warmth of your home with additional information on the health benefits of jimami-dofu and where it originates from.
Tofu Made From Peanuts
A dessert delicacy in Okinawa, Japan, tofu that is made from peanuts is termed “jimami-dofu”. Unlike tofu, which is made from soybeans, jimami-dofu is made from peanuts, which adds a sweet peanut-y flavor that has made it an incredibly popular dish in Okinawa, oftentimes even gifted as a souvenir!
Nutritional Benefits Of Jimami-Dofu
Jimami-dofu, or peanut tofu, is rich in vitamin B1 and vitamin E. It is believed in Okinawa, that jimami-dofu has a “beautifying” effect on the skin, and is often paired with alcohol, like sake.
Vitamin B1
Vitamin B1, also known as “thiamine”, is loaded with health benefits when consumed appropriately.
Some Benefits Include:
- Lowers The Risk Of Kidney Failure And Effect Of Sepsis
- Improves Insulin Levels
- Raises Energy Levels
- Lowers The Risk Of Heart Disease
- Improves Memory
Vitamin E
A group of eight fat-soluble compounds, vitamin E presents many health benefits with its antioxidant properties.
Some Benefits Include:
- Reduces Oxidative Stress
- Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease
- Protects Against Cancer
- Improves Vision
- Protects Against Risk Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Reduces The Risk Of Cognitive Decline
The Movie–Jimami Tofu
A 2017 Singaporean-Japanese film, the movie Jimami Tofu is set in Okinawa, Japan. A Chinese-Singaporean chef returns to Okinawa on a quest to find his long-lost love. During his search, the chef is subject to the art of traditional Okinawan cuisine. There he finds not only a new passion in the art of culture and cuisine but new love in a Japanese food critic.
The film went on to win the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature Film at the 2017 Hawaii International Film Festival, where the movie made its world premiere. The movie has drastically improved popularity for jimami-dofu in the creative outlet of the visually stimulating movie. Some tourists have gone to Okinawa specifically after watching the movie, Jimami Tofu, and the inspiration it created to interweave culture, history, and travel.
What You Will Need To Make Tofu Made From Peanuts
The hardest part about making tofu from peanuts is waiting. The recipe itself is not difficult to make, it simply takes time for the peanuts to soak and the tofu to set and firm. Practice patience and you’ll be rewarded with the ultimate tofu made from peanuts!
Ingredients:
- ⅔ Cup Sweet Potato Starch
- 4 Cups Water
- 2 Cups + 1 Tbsp Raw Peanuts
Equipment:
- Blender
- Medium Saucepan
- Shallow Bowl
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring Utensils
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Dishcloth (Clean)
- Baking Dish (Small)
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1: Soak The Peanuts
Measuring out the raw peanuts and water, combine both in a shallow container. The nuts should be covered with water so that they can soak. For 24 hours, or overnight, allow the peanuts to soak in the water.
Step 2: Blend The Peanuts
After 24 hours have passed, pour the mixture of peanuts and water into a blender. Purée until creamy and smooth.
Step 3: Extract The Liquid
Set a saucepan over the appropriate burner. Now, overtop the saucepan, pour the mixture in the blender into the fine-mesh sieve. Make sure to extract all the liquid as you squeeze the mixture in the fine-mesh sieve into the saucepan.
Step 4: Add The Sweet Potato Starch
Add the measured sweet potato starch to the saucepan along with the liquid extracted from the mixture in the fine-mesh sieve. Mix to combine together.
Step 5: Bring To A Boil
Now that the sweet potato starch has been mixed in with the other liquid mixture, increase the heat to bring it to a boil.
Step 6: Reduce The Heat
After the liquid has been brought to a boil, reduce the heat to medium heat. Stir the mixture frequently for around 2 minutes.
Step 7: Extract The Contents
Once time is up, pour the mixture into a baking dish lined with a clean dishcloth. Smooth the tofu and then cover the tofu with the remainder of the dishcloth.
Step 8: Time For A Water Bath
Bring the tofu to room temperature by setting the baking dish into a water bath. Once the tofu has reached room temperature, place the dish in the refrigerator where the tofu should be chilled for around 6 hours.
Step 9: Serve
Unwrap the dishcloth from the tofu after 6 hours. The tofu is ready to be served after being sliced into serving-size pieces, enjoy!
Tips and Tricks
Serve with a sweetened soy sauce to get the prime flavor from this homemade Peanut Tofu recipe!
For a sweetened soy sauce combined three ingredients—⅓ cup soy sauce, ⅓ cup mirin, and ⅓ cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring the contents to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar has fully dissolved, turn off the heat and remove the saucepan from the burner.
Before serving the sweetened soy sauce, allow it to cool to room temperature. Enjoy with your jimami-dofu!
Servings And Preparation Time
Preparation Time | Cook Time | Servings |
1 Day 6 Hours | 20 Minutes | 4 |
Conclusion
Did you enjoy this recipe? Make sure to leave a comment below to tell us what you think or if you have any questions. Don’t forget to share this article for our favorite Tofu Made From Peanuts, Jimami, recipe.
Tag us on social media with your finished product!
FAQs
Baked peanut tofu
To bake your peanut tofu, preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add the cubed peanut tofu. Place the baking sheet with the peanut tofu in the over for 30-40 minutes. At the 15 minute mark make sure to flip the tofu. Once time is up, allow the tofu to cool and enjoy!
How do you make tofu from nuts?
Follow the recipe we've provided! After soaking the nuts for about 24 hours, you need to strain the liquid into a saucepan and combined with sweet potato starch.
Is it hard to make your own tofu?
It isn't! The hardest part about making tofu is practicing patience, as it takes time for the nuts to soak and then allow the tofu to sit until it firms.
What is an alternative to tofu?
Peanut tofu is an alternative to tofu! Peanut tofu, or jimami-dofu, is made from peanuts and contains zero soy. Tofu is made from soybeans.
Tofu Made From Peanuts
Equipment
- Blender
- Medium Saucepan
- Shallow Bowl
- Measuring Cup
- Measuring Utensils
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Dishcloth (Clean)
- Baking Dish (Small)
Ingredients
- ⅔ Cup Sweet Potato Starch
- 4 Cups Water
- 2 Cups + 1 Tbsp Raw Peanuts
Instructions
- Measuring out the raw peanuts and water, combine both in a shallow container. The nuts should be covered with water so that they can soak. For 24 hours, or overnight, allow the peanuts to soak in the water.
- After 24 hours have passed, pour the mixture of peanuts and water into a blender. Purée until creamy and smooth.
- Set a saucepan over the appropriate burner. Now, overtop the saucepan, pour the mixture in the blender into the fine-mesh sieve. Make sure to extract all the liquid as you squeeze the mixture in the fine-mesh sieve into the saucepan.
- Add the measured sweet potato starch to the saucepan along with the liquid extracted from the mixture in the fine-mesh sieve. Mix to combine together.
- Now that the sweet potato starch has been mixed in with the other liquid mixture, increase the heat to bring it to a boil.
- After the liquid has been brought to a boil, reduce the heat to medium heat. Stir the mixture frequently for around 2 minutes.
- Once time is up, pour the mixture into a baking dish lined with a clean dishcloth. Smooth the tofu and then cover the tofu with the remainder of the dishcloth.
- Bring the tofu to room temperature by setting the baking dish into a water bath. Once the tofu has reached room temperature, place the dish in the refrigerator where the tofu should be chilled for around 6 hours.
- Unwrap the dishcloth from the tofu after 6 hours. The tofu is ready to be served after being sliced into serving-size pieces, enjoy!