BEAN CURD PUDDING or豆(Dòu)花(Huā)

MAIN INGREDIENTS: silken tofu; fried soybeans; chili sauce. 

TASTE and TEXTURE: freshly grounded soy bean curds lend this dish its smooth and silky taste and texture.

HISTORY: An Liu was a Han dynasty Chinese prince and an advisor to his nephew, Emperor Wu. Liu was ambitious powered craved more power, his frustration eventually growing into an obsession the idea of immortality. He summoned many warlocks to assist him in his various efforts to achieve immortality, which included directing the warlocks to use soybeans and salt brine in alchemy experiments. While Liu did not unlock the secret to life everlasting, his work led to a delicate tofu curd pudding with a very special flavor that quickly became a popular snack.