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The Book of Tofu: Protein Source of the Future--Now!: A Cookbook Mass Market Paperback – July 12, 1987
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“A seminal work.”—The Washington Post
“The most important book on food ever published for vegetarians—if not for all the world.”—The Vegetarian Alternative
A protein-packed, soybean-based food that makes fullest use of the earth’s nutritional resources, tofu was discovered in China more than 2,000 years ago and has long served as the backbone of East Asian diets. Lending itself to a wide variety of forms, tofu adapts well to any recipe and can easily become an essential ingredient in all your favorite dishes. Low in saturated fats and cholesterol-free, tofu is also an ideal food for controlling weight, maintaining heart health, aiding in digestion, and so much more.
This beautifully illustrated book is a complete guide to tofu, its forms, and its traditions, including:
• 250 gourmet recipes for all meals of the day, including soups, salads, dressings, mains, barbecued and deep-fried specialties, and desserts
• easy-to-follow instructions for making seven varieties of tofu at home
• a clear, scientific guide to nutritional benefits
With the expert advice in The Book of Tofu, you’ll never be at a loss for how to prepare this perfect vegan protein.
- Print length448 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBallantine Books
- Publication dateJuly 12, 1987
- Dimensions4.17 x 1.1 x 6.76 inches
- ISBN-100345351819
- ISBN-13978-0345351814
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Awakened the West to the wonders of Tofu.”—The New York Times
“A seminal work.”—The Washington Post
“Delicious, easy-to-follow recipes . . . meticulous . . . fascinating . . . highly recommended.”—Library Journal
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Ballantine Books
- Publication date : July 12, 1987
- Edition : Revised
- Language : English
- Print length : 448 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0345351819
- ISBN-13 : 978-0345351814
- Item Weight : 8 ounces
- Dimensions : 4.17 x 1.1 x 6.76 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #869,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #366 in Whole Foods Diets
- #535 in Natural Food Cooking
- #2,146 in Vegan Cooking (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors

William Shurtleff is the author of author (or lead co-author with Akiko Aoyagi) of more than 100 books about soyfoods. These books have sold more than 825,000 copies. His best-selling book is The Book of Tofu, which has also been widely translated.
All of these books are presently in print or in full view (free of charge) on Google Books. They include three popular books (on tofu, miso, and tempeh), plus market studies, histories, and historical bibliographies (each extensively annotated and containing many photographs).
In October 1972 William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi began full-time research on soyfoods in Japan while writing The Book of Tofu. In August 1976 they founded the Soyinfo Center (named Soyfoods Center until 2006) in California. A detailed chronology of their work is available on the Soyinfo Center website www.soyinfocenter.com.
The Soyinfo Center (located in Lafayette, California) has the world's most complete collection of soy information - available in various formats in addition to our books.
1. SoyaScan Database: SoyaScan is the world's most comprehensive computerized database on soyfoods and soybeans. It contains more than 89,000 records from 1100 B.C. to the present. These include four basic types of records providing detailed information on: 73,000+ published documents, 15,500+ commercial soy products, 5,800+ original interviews and overviews, and 6,000+ unpublished archival documents. These records are unique, and have been added one at a time over many years; none have been downloaded from other databases.
2. Free Digital Books in PDF Format on Google Books. A steadily growing number of our books is available here. For best results, go to Google Books advanced search.
3. Research Library of Books and Articles: The Soyinfo Center Library owns more than 78,000 physical documents (printed on paper).
4. Graphics Collection: More than 5,000 labels and other graphics sorted by soyfood type.
William Shurtleff has been a vegetarian since 1968 and a vegan for most of this time. He uses soyfoods as a regular part of his daily diet and believes strongly that soyfoods are the among the very best, most delicious, and most versatile protein sources available. They promote good health, are inexpensive, are great for the Planet, and are part of an ethical lifestyle that bypasses the slaughterhouse and the feedlot system. Roughly 50 percent of the agricultural land in the United States is used to grow crops that are fed directly to animals. When people eat more than a small amount of animal protein, they easily fall prey to the degenerative diseases of affluence (heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, obesity and overweight) that characterize modern American culture.
William Shurtleff has been serving as a consultant to the soyfoods industry for more than 25 years. He probably has more personal contacts in this field, worldwide, than anyone else in the world. He has helped to start more than 450 new companies.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book informative, with one review highlighting its detailed process descriptions, and they appreciate the recipes and wonderful illustrations. They describe the content as interesting and fun, with one customer noting it's an interesting mix of East meets West. The book receives positive feedback for its historical content, with one review specifically mentioning its history of tofu. The library capacity aspect receives mixed reactions from customers.
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Customers find the book informative and useful as a reference, providing detailed information about both tofu and miso, with one customer noting its extensive content on high-quality protein.
"If you're serious about soy this is the book" Excellent references. I am zen student, authors are zen students, so you're getting the truth...." Read more
"This is an excellent resource. I've started making my own tofu. There is just no comparison between homemade and commercial products I have tried." Read more
"...It is very informative and educational, and to learn the history of the stuff is quite interesting and fun...." Read more
"...So much information that I doubt exists anywhere else or will ever exist anywhere else. And on top of the info, beautiful hand-drawn illustrations...." Read more
Customers appreciate the recipes in the book, with one mentioning detailed instructions on making tofu at home.
"This book is my life now. Not only does it have so many amazing recipes but it also has a lot of info about tofu and how it compares to meat products..." Read more
"...I loved the historical references and all the recipes, I have referred to it often in my experimenting." Read more
"...It is filled to overflowing with great factoids, recipes, and other useful info." Read more
"An interesting mix of East meets West with lots of history and recipes. This book taught me a lot about all of the various and yummy forms tofu has...." Read more
Customers appreciate the illustrations in the book.
"...The book is full of wonderful illustrations on the process of making tofu in Japan, along with copious information detailling the process...." Read more
"...the story to go witthe every step of the way,his vist to japan,illustration is great,Iread it often to test the recipeis.Its a great book...." Read more
"Good. Needs more pictures." Read more
"...And on top of the info, beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. Bravo William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi" Read more
Customers appreciate the book's historical content.
"...the tofu but I really enjoyed the stories the author shared and the history." Read more
"...I loved the historical references and all the recipes, I have referred to it often in my experimenting." Read more
"...The history of tofu, the culture around it , more recipies than you can shake a stick at, and even how to make it...." Read more
Customers find the book interesting and fun to read, with one mentioning it's an interesting mix of East meets West.
"...and educational, and to learn the history of the stuff is quite interesting and fun...." Read more
"...Am learning to make tofu, tempeh, etc... great fun!" Read more
"An interesting mix of East meets West with lots of history and recipes. This book taught me a lot about all of the various and yummy forms tofu has...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the library capacity of the book, with one customer appreciating having both books in one volume, while another notes it is a compilation of two other books.
"This book seems to be a compilation of two other books, namely one on miso and one on tofu...." Read more
"A necessity for every library!..." Read more
"...love having both books in one. a great read, a great cookbook." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2021Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseI was delighted to find this book on Amazon, so that I could give it to a friend, recently turned vegetarian. The book is full of wonderful illustrations on the process of making tofu in Japan, along with copious information detailling the process. The recipes are very inventive and useful. My own copy from 1975 is filled with paper clips marking recipes I am planning to try out.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase5 stars solid. Two books combined and my page numbers are perfect so I don't know what that 2 star reviewer is talking about. So much information that I doubt exists anywhere else or will ever exist anywhere else. And on top of the info, beautiful hand-drawn illustrations. Bravo William Shurtleff and Akiko Aoyagi
- Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2010Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes Tofu and Miso! It is very informative and educational, and to learn the history of the stuff is quite interesting and fun. Although there are recipes with the use of egg in the book, I would also suggest it to vegetarians for its extensive information on high quality protein.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2018Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI've been using this book quite a bit. Am learning to make tofu, tempeh, etc... great fun!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2012I have read mr.Shutleffs book over 20years ago and learnt how to make tofu.In those days in this small town no tofu was availave in the super market,so only way was to make it myself I was very happy to found his book, in the small book store.The book expalins so well and the story to go witthe every step of the way,his vist to japan,illustration is great,Iread it often to test the recipeis.Its a great book.Now days so many tofu books out there but Mr. Shutleff was(is) a TOFU guru.I'lost the book and glad to have found it. Thank you.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2020Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified PurchaseI am a tofu lover even when I used to eat meat but now that I make my own tofu from beans I am always on the hunt for recipes. In particular for the okara (soybean pulp) left over during the process. This book is the closest thing I've found that has alot of great ideas....the problem is that the book is the size of a small paperback, not standard size, and there are alot of pages so it's impossible to keep it open while cooking. And if you are older, and can't see well, trying to cook the recipe, while trying to keep the cumbersome little book open, in place, while trying to focus on the tiny text is too annoying to give this book the 5 stars it deserves.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2015Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified PurchaseThis book is my life now. Not only does it have so many amazing recipes but it also has a lot of info about tofu and how it compares to meat products. Really love it:)
- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2013This book gives you all you ever wanted to know about Tofu and more. The history of tofu, the culture around it , more recipies than you can shake a stick at, and even how to make it.
If you are at all intersted in tofu, its making, history, uses, or even the uses for its by-products, get this book.
Top reviews from other countries
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Nicolas FlorentinReviewed in France on April 24, 20195.0 out of 5 stars Ce livre est une merveille!
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified PurchaseCe livre est un petit bijou. J'aurais voulu la version professionnelle pour avoir encore plus de détails mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé. Je suis quand même satisfait car il contient déjà une quantité de données, d'histoire, d'anecdotes et de recettes halucinantes. Si vous êtes un cuisinier aventureux, un curieux, ou que vous avez tout simplement envie d'explorer le sujet du tofu en profondeur, vous ne serez pas déçu par ce livre.
Un de mes livres de chevets!
TerezuReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 20135.0 out of 5 stars What a book!
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseJust got this book today. It's going to answer all those tofu questions I've been dying to ask someone and can't wait to get stuck in. I've been making tofu for the past 2 years and was looking for some help in perfecting it. It has tons of recipes and the most amazing uses for okara the soy bean fibre left over after straining the soy bean mash.......it even has recipes for Go which is fresh soy purée.
I will post a more detailed review when I've read it fully but for anyone remotely interested in tofu, soy milk etc it's a must.
The only thing that might not please someone is the lack of photos to accompany the recipes but then it is much more than a tofu recipe collection. It covers the history of tofu and various methods of making it, nutrition etc.
It is a reference book that I know I will use throughout the year.
I not a vegetarian either...I just like tofu!
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Cliente de AmazonReviewed in Mexico on March 26, 20224.0 out of 5 stars Buen libro
Mucha info y varías recetas, solo que usa muchos ingredientes que no encuentra tan fácil, pero se pueden intercambiar
FlaviaReviewed in Germany on March 18, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Very good
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseAll you need to know about tofu
J.S.Reviewed in Canada on October 1, 20195.0 out of 5 stars The definitive guide on everything Tofu
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified PurchaseA superb and great reference on everything tofu. A must for any one wanting to learn about tofu. Hope you enjoy and benifit from it as much as we have.















