Vietnamese sweet tofu pudding in syrup dessert

Known in Hanoi as tào phớ and in the centre and south as đậu hủ, the eight to twelve wobbly discs placed in a bowl by the vendor are not traditionally a dessert but rather a mid-morning or afternoon snack.

Hannah Nguyen

April 19, 2020 | 21:53

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vietnamese sweet tofu pudding in syrup dessert

This photo is what tao pho traditionally looks like.

'Tao pho' (sweet tofu pudding) is a very common and popular sweet dessert made from soy beans. Tofu pudding has the smooth, creamy texture of a light flan, but the taste of soy milk.

In Vietnam, this dessert is commonly sold as street food and has won the heart of people of all ages.

Tofu pudding in ginger syrup was introduced by the Chinese diaspora in southern Vietnam.

Soft tofu pudding which is made with silken tofu, is almost unbelievably good. Adding sugar syrup and some ginger slices onto the soft tofu pudding, it’s ready to serve. It’s a great choice on cool day. Hot sweet soft tofu pudding is often sold at street food stalls in Vietnam.

Now variety of soft tofu puddings are made from various ingredients. They are different from traditional Vietnamese sweet soft tofu with amazing flavors.

Each slice of pudding is taken using a small and thin aluminum ladle.

One way that tofu can be enjoyed on the streets of Vietnam, usually from mobile vendors on bicycles or on foot. These days scooped out of large saucepans or insulated containers with a slightly curved plastic or metal paddle, this velvety tofu used to be prepared in large earthenware jars.

The original recipe of the syrup only has syrup and ginger, but many salers experimented with the idea of tapioca pearls, steamed red bean, aloe vera and Asian grass jelly.

Each slice of pudding is taken using a small and thin aluminum ladle. Layer after layer is placed in a bowl, which is then followed by syrup and toppings on top.

The dish is served warm, but every bite sends coolness down one’s throat on a hot day. A bowl of warm pudding doesn’t lose its appeal when the weather is colder.