A new super food popping up in the local grocery store is called Shirataki tofu. Already familiar in the Asian markets, Shirataki tofu is a Japanese noodle product made from a yam like root that is combined with tofu. This plant called devil’s tongue has been used in Japan and China for about two thousands years. It is called konnyaku in Japanese. This fibrous root is cleaned, cooked, mashed and pounded. The resulting mixture is blended with lime to coagulate in a method similar to making tofu. The outcome is a pasty brick that is turned into many food products. The flour or starch from this yam like root is used to make the Japanese noodles called Shirataki.

Shirataki actually means ‘white waterfall‘, which describes the noodles when they are cooked. Shirataki tofu adds bean curd to the yam flour in the noodles. The yam flour alone has little nutritional value. The tofu gives the noodles the benefit of a small amount of carbohydrates and a few calories. Shirataki tofu is a healthy food product that provides glucomannan which some say has an effect on controlling blood sugar levels. It also can contribute to good cholesterol and a balanced weight.

The cooked noodles are flavorless themselves and like tofu absorb the essence of whatever dish they are set in. The noodles are often sold packed in bags of water. Sometimes there is a subtle odor when the bag is opened which is removed when rinsed and cooked. The taste and textured of Shirataki tofu may be a little chewy or rubbery but it is a good substitute for traditional pasta in many dishes providing far less calories.

How to Use the Noodles

It is easy and convenient to use Shirataki tofu. The noodles can be put into soups, quick casseroles, stews and dishes where you would normally use traditional pasta. The taste is only subtly different and the result is that Shirataki tofu has far less calories than many wheat-based products.

Shirataki tofu can be used in salads, main dishes, appetizers and other favored recipes. Many new recipes are sure to come up when you try this unique food product. Try getting a can of chicken stock and adding a can of cooked chicken with some herbs. Bring it to a boil and put in some rinsed Shirataku tofu noodles. This is a quick and healthy alternative to traditional chicken noodle soup. You will soon find that it is easy to adapt to the healthy alternative of Shirataku tofu.