I’ve been craving for smelly tofu for weeks and finally managed to steal some time on Saturday afternoon to visit my favourite Mini Star fermented beancurd stall in Geylang again. Being able to sink my teeth into these delightful beancurd after such a long time really put me on cloud nine. Like I said in my previous entry, I find the taste of the smelly tofu simply exquisite.
This time I ordered “extra smelly” tofu and I was literally rubbing my hands in anticipation for some unbearable pungent to assault my olfactory glands. Much to my disappointment however, what was served to me wasn’t anything nasty at all in smell. In fact, it was not any different from the ordinary grade. But the taste was fortunately still as divine.
Anyway, it was a good thing that we were the first to reach the stall. A group of tourists arrived later and took a seat near us. It must have been their first time sampling the smelly tofu because when their orders arrived, one of them took a sniff at their plate of crispy and piping hot beancurd and exclaimed loudly, his eyes and nose all wrinkled up.
I can just imagine how he would have reacted had he heard my order. He probably would have thought me mad and contorted his face in disgust. Haha… Well, I’m mad alright, but only because I love my tofu stinky!
Looks yummy! I’ve always been keen to try smelly tofu, but for some reason, didn’t have a chance. How does it really taste? Is it like fermented tofu in a bottle? Or does it have the rojak sauce smell? From the picture, it looks like regular tofu to me…. tell me more.
Comment by earthember — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 6:24 am
The ones in Hongkong are truly STINKO but is yummlicious.
Comment by Ashes — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 11:04 am
I loved those sold in Hongkong but never had the courage to try those sold in Singapore….errr..duno they smelly got standard anot leh or really real smelly then zao gao lor….
Comment by Jan (My lovely Rays) — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 1:58 pm
I’ve never tried smelly toufu before. My sis who had been to Taiwan told me the smell is really unbearable and she dare not try it…hehe… the tofu looks so yummy and crunchy from your pics here though..
Comment by Eileen — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 2:42 pm
I have tried almost every version of stinky tofu. Trust me, the worst is found in China!!! A perfect 10 for puke factor.
Comment by domestic rat — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 3:01 pm
EE: Hard for me to describe the flavour. It definitely does not taste like the normal tofu which is too bland. Smelly tofu has a uniquely strong flavour, best eaten when it’s crispy and hot with the sauce and pickles. I’ve never tried the bottle so cannot compare. Rojak? I don’t quite think so. Some say blue cheese but again, I haven’t tried that.
Ashes: Yah, heard so much about the HK ones but never tried.
Jan: Mini Star in Geylang is opened by a Hong Konger. Standard is quite good.
Eileen: My first attempt was in Taiwan and that’s where I got hooked. Give it a try when you get the chance.
DR: I believe you. But I’ll never attempt to eat that stuff there. I don’t want to be eating cooked maggots! Yikes!
Comment by sesame — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 4:39 pm
the smell is TRULY unbearable and i have not found the courage to eat it yet. its hard to describe the smell. its even worse than garbage or rotten rat. few years ago, lau pasat had a stall selling, so both my hubby and me braced ourselves to order a plate. but it was too stinko that we just couldnt force it down our throats. i guess its more like an acquired taste lah.
any idea how its made? ppl say that if something stinks, it must mean bad bacteria has infested ie. dead bodies. how can anything stinks but is nutritious or good?
Comment by Evan — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 5:18 pm
I can’t imagine the taste nor smell. But if does taste like Blue Cheese, then it’s not so bad. I doubt it, smelly tofu must have an awful smell that only tofu connoiseurs will know.
Comment by mother superior — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 9:40 pm
I’m pretty chicken about stinky tofu..! but next time i come home.. i’ll be sure i try it..
What’s life without some adventure eh..??
Comment by Mama Bok — Mon, 7 Aug 2006 @ 10:32 pm
I tried the one in Taiwan, and really didn’t like it.. Yikes!
Comment by zara's mama — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 @ 10:25 am
Evan: That’s true. It’s an acquired taste. I didn’t like it the first time I ate it and probably cos it wasn’t as fresh cos it was packed. But the smell isn’t so bad lah…haha…But I do recognise that smell and taste are subjective.
I don’t find it nutritious. Which is why I only eat it like two or three times yearly. I’ve read that in some countries, the beancurds are fermented till they have maggots.
MS: You have to try it to know.
MB: Yes must try if you have a chance, and ask Papa Bok along too.
ZM: You don’t like? I love those in Taiwan! That’s where I fell in love with smelly tofu.
Comment by sesame — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 @ 10:30 am
Smelly Toufu! My favourite too! They are SUPER Dee-licious! I hv tried those in taiwan and HK! Super! But the stall at geylang… cannot comparable!
Comment by wtpgrr — Tue, 8 Aug 2006 @ 5:18 pm
wtpg: The stall here cannot be compared to Taiwan (never tried in HK) but standard still not too bad lah.
Comment by sesame — Wed, 9 Aug 2006 @ 9:01 am
[...] This is 台湾臭豆付 or Taiwan smelly tofu. The texture is much firmer than the ones I had at the Mini Star fermented beancurd stall and doesn’t have an outer crust. [...]
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