firm tofu; hard tofu
A type of tofu with low water content, denser and firmer than regular tofu. Used in cooking when tofu needs to hold its shape.
Firm tofu is suitable for stir-fries.
The firm tofu at this shop has a rich soybean flavor.
Standard kanji spelling; 堅 suggests firmness.
Variant spelling; 固 also means hard or firm.
Compound of 堅 (かた, firm) and 豆腐 (とうふ, tofu). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it likely arose to describe a particularly firm variety of tofu.