Street Snack · Fermented Fried Tofu

Shaoxing Choudoufu (绍兴臭豆腐) — Fermented Stinky Tofu

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The tofu is fermented in a savory brine until it turns almost black — the smell is famously much stronger than the actual taste.

Firm tofu is soaked for days in a fermented brine, traditionally made from fermented amaranth stems or bamboo shoots, until it darkens and develops its pungent smell, then it's deep-fried until crisp outside and soft within.

Why it's made this way: Shaoxing has long been a center for fermented foods thanks to its mold-friendly climate and its famous rice wine and soy sauce industries.