Basal material for the preparation of tofu

摘要

A process for the production of a dried basal material used for the preparation of a soy based cheese food particularly tofu is set forth wherein a slurry of a soy protein material is formed followed by heating such slurry to a temperature of at least about 220 DEG F. and the retention of such slurry in heated condition under positive pressure for at least a few seconds up to about a few minutes. Following heating of the slurry, the slurry is cooled and mixed with an edible oil which is added to said portein material in an amount sufficient to improve the whiteness of products which are produced with the basal material. The oil is preferably added to said soy material in a proteinaceous solids to oil ratio of between about 5 to 0.2:1. The mixture of oil and soy protein material is dewatered preferably by spray drying and then blended with other ingredients of a basal mix thereby forming a basal material for the production of soy cheese or tofu which has unusual characteristics. The present process provides an easy means of forming a starting material for tofu or soy cheese with an improved degree of whiteness over prior art starting materials and of a comparable texture to conventionally produced tofu or soy cheese.