Luhe Hakka Stuffed Tofu

Luhe Hakka Stuffed Tofu

　　"Hakka Stuffed Tofu" has long been renowned and is beloved by many diners. In the past, anyone visiting Luhe would make sure to try this signature dish. To make stuffed tofu, first cut a square block of tofu in half with a knife, then mash half-fat, half-lean pork and mix in a small amount of shredded salted mackerel or salted medium black fish, along with an appropriate amount of star anise seeds. Slowly mince the mixture into stuffing, then use chopsticks to stuff the filling into the tofu halves. Next, pan-fry them over low heat until the outside turns golden and the inside remains tender—this is considered the best preparation. Then place the tofu in a pot with broth, star anise spices, a few slices of ginger, minced garlic, and other seasonings, cover, and simmer. After about half an hour, the aroma fills the air, delightfully fragrant, and the Hakka Stuffed Tofu is ready to be served.

　　"Hakka Stuffed Tofu" is delicious, as everyone knows. However, the origin of who first created tofu is less known. Legend has it that tofu was invented by Liu An, the King of Huainan during the Han Dynasty, which is why he is regarded as the founding figure of tofu. But some believe tofu was actually created by the working people. Therefore, a folk tale called "The Wife Teasing Her Husband" is also passed down, suggesting that tofu was originally named "Teasing the Husband."

　　According to the story, in ancient times, people only knew how to grind beans into soy milk to drink. There was a family of three: a loving young couple taking care of their elderly mother. But the mother-in-law was extremely frugal and never allowed her daughter-in-law to make soy milk easily. One day, while the mother-in-law went to visit relatives, the daughter-in-law took the opportunity to grind soy milk. When the soy milk began to boil, just as she was about to scoop it into a bowl, she heard footsteps at the door. Afraid her mother-in-law would come back and get angry, she hastily poured the soy milk into a clay jar by the stove and covered it with the lid. After finishing her task and stepping outside, she saw that it was her husband returning from the fields. She smiled and pulled him over to drink the soy milk together. But when they opened the jar, they found the soy milk had turned into a snow-white solid. The husband looked at it and said, "Don’t tease me—what is this if not soy milk?"

　　It turned out that the jar had previously been used to soak pickles and still contained some salty brine. When the soy milk was poured in, it solidified. The couple tried it and found it incredibly tender and delicious. They began making it regularly. But since it had no name, after some discussion, they called it "Teasing the Husband." Later, because it was a soy product, it gradually came to be known simply as "tofu."