Firm silken tofu has a deliciously smooth texture, similar to yoghurt, though it's solid enough to be cut with a knife into smaller cubes which hold their shape. The firm silken tofu block is created inside the cardboard packet itself, when a blend of soybeans, water and natural coagulant is poured into the carton, hermetically sealed, and left to transform into a creamy block of tofu.

Tofu is the key ingredient in mapo dofu (pock-marked women’s bean curd). It absorbs the flavours it’s cooked in, so silken tofu works well with big flavours like ginger and chilli, and is a good addition to broths and stir fries. Try deep-frying tofu so the outside crisps-up, while the inside remains soft, or using silken tofu to replace cheese in a vegan lasagne. Even use silken tofu as a dairy-substitute in lactose-free baking or smoothie making.