Dougan
A very firm tofu variety popular in Chinese cuisine.
Dougan (Chinese: 豆干/豆乾; pinyin: dòugān) is a type of tofu known for its very firm texture, commonly used in Chinese cooking. Unlike regular tofu, which is soft, dougan is dense and dry. It is produced from soybeans with calcium sulfate added as a coagulant, and it may be seasoned with salt, soy sauce, or five-spice powder.
The name comes from two syllables: *dòu* (豆, "bean") and *gān* (干/乾, meaning "dry"), distinguishing it from tofu, whose second syllable is *fu* (腐). The full term is *doufu gan* (豆腐干/豆腐乾, literally "dried tofu").
Dougan has less moisture than regular tofu, giving it a higher bean-to-water ratio and more protein per gram. It is even firmer than firm tofu, and should not be confused with seitan, which is wheat-based. Substituting regular tofu for dougan in recipes may not work well.
In popular culture, dougan appears in *Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc* as a food the character Makoto Naegi dislikes.
- Type
- Food
- Origin
- Chinese cuisine
- Main ingredient
- Soybeans with added calcium sulfate
- Also known as
- Doufu gan (豆腐干/豆腐乾)
- Moisture content
- Lower than regular tofu
- Protein content
- Higher per gram than regular tofu
Lore & Background
Dougan's name is composed of two syllables: dòu (豆, 'bean') and gān (simplified Chinese: 干; traditional Chinese: 乾; lit. 'dry'). This differs from tofu, whose second syllable is 'fu' (腐). The full name is doufu gan (simplified Chinese: 豆腐干; traditional Chinese: 豆腐乾; lit. 'dried tofu').
Reader's Guide
Dougan is significant as a distinct form of tofu with a lower moisture content and higher protein density than regular tofu. It is made from soybeans with added calcium sulfate, and may be flavored with salt, soy sauce, and five-spice powder. Its dryness and firmness make it unsuitable for substitution with regular tofu in recipes that specifically call for dougan. Dougan is also different from seitan, which is made from wheat rather than soy. In popular culture, dougan is mentioned in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc as a food the character Makoto Naegi dislikes. Its legacy lies in its role as a versatile ingredient in Chinese cuisine, offering a chewy texture and concentrated soy flavor that distinguishes it from softer tofu varieties.
Did You Know?
- Dougan has a lower moisture content and higher protein per gram than regular tofu.
- The full name of dougan is doufu gan, meaning 'dried tofu'.
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