Toby’s Tofu Pate is available in 2 flavors, but 4 varieties. There is an original flavor that is just a basic spread and there is a mild jalapeno flavor, which has a little kick to it. And both flavors come in Lite versions. In the early days, the Lite versions were vegan, while the non-Lite varieties contained egg. But they eventually made them all egg-free and vegan. And they’re each still made with organic whole soy tofu – no GMO’s or soy protein isolates in sight!
Toby’s Tofu Pate is Over 30 Years of Dairy-Free Tradition
My first taste of this product was back in the early 2000s, but their formula was created nearly 40 years ago. It is still a small company with limited distribution, but I have seen these dips in more natural food stores recently.
Apparently Nevadans have yet to discover the wonders of Toby’s Tofu Pâté. Though I was easily able to find it in California, the Whole Foods in Las Vegas had not a tub on the shelves. Luckily, when I asked the manager of the “dairy” section he said he had four packages in back. It seems a woman had special ordered an entire shipment of Toby’s Jalapeno Pate for a holiday party. She proclaimed it was their absolute best flavor. As luck would have it, there were a few extras from her order, so I promptly grabbed one and made my way to check out.
Original
Toby’s Tofu Pate has a very creamy consistency with chunky elements – like celery and onions – and a rustic appearance. The flavor is delicious and tastes quite “all-purpose” with just a touch of cheesiness. I enjoyed it as a bagel spread, but have also added it to rice for quick and flavorful meals. I’m betting it would also make an amazing potato salad.
Ingredients: tofu (organic non-gmo soybeans, water, nigari), mayonnaise (expeller pressed non-gmo canola oil, water, vinegar, organic sugar, non-gmo food starch, pea protein, beta carotene), celery, onion, nutritional yeast, parsley, sea salt, mustard, herbs and spices.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 80 calories, 8g fat, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, <0.5g sugars, 3g protein.*
Lite
Something about the Original draws me in more, but the Lite has a similar flavor vibe and consistency, and is pretty darn good.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 40 calories, 3g fat, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 3g protein.*
Jalapeno
The base of this Toby’s Tofu Pate was very similar to the other flavors – slightly chunky, yet creamy, rich, and a touch cheesy. But it has a spicy kick. I wasn’t sure at first where this pate would fit in beyond dipping and spreading, but then a quick dinner idea came to mind. We had sacrificed our favorite chicken enchilada recipe many years ago, as it was prepared with what seemed to be irreplaceable cheese and sour cream. It occurred to me that Toby’s could be just what I was looking for. That night, I combined a few helpings of the Jalapeno Pate with some chicken, sliced mushrooms, and chopped olives. I wrapped the mix up in flour tortillas, smothered it in our favorite green enchilada sauce, and baked it at 400º for 20 minutes. It was delicious! My husband is far from a tofu fan, but he quickly proclaimed, “This is great!” It was boldly spicy from the jalapenos, while the overall texture and flavor of the pate was the perfect replacement for my former sour cream / cheese combo.
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 80 calories, 8g fat, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, <0.5g sugars, 3g protein.*
Lite Jalapeno
Just like the other Original varieties, we preferred the ‘full-fat’ Jalapeno, but the Lite was good, too!
Nutrition (per 2 tablespoons): 40 calories, 3g fat, 2g carbs, 0g fiber, 0g sugars, 3g protein.*
More Facts on Toby’s Tofu Pate
Availability: Toby’s Tofu Pate is sold refrigerated at natural food stores in the U.S. If your local store doesn’t carry it, you can ask them to order it in. They come in 8-ounce and 14-ounce sizes. The 8-ounce ones are petite, so they can be easy to miss on the shelves.
Certifications: Toby’s Tofu Pate is Certified Kosher Pareve.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Toby’s Tofu Pate is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, vegan, and vegetarian.*
For More Product Information: Visit the Toby’s website at tobysfamilyfoods.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
This stuff rocks!
We loved this “pate!” It’s so versatile and flavorful. I only wish it was easier to find.
Jalapeno Lite
Mild Jalapeno
The Facts on Toby’s Tofu Pate
Certifications: Toby’s Tofu Pate is Certified Kosher.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Toby’s Tofu Pate is dairy-free / non-dairy, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and vegetarian. The Lite varieties are egg-free and vegan.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
This stuff rocks!
We loved this “pate!” It’s so versatile and flavorful. I only wish it was easier to find.
2 Comments
Alisa, you mentioned in your post that you prefer the egg based dip? That goes against your model of dairy free? Maybe I misunderstood you. Let me know.
Hi Jimar,
Confusing eggs with dairy is quite common. This post should help to clear things up for you: http://www.godairyfree.org/ask-alisa/are-eggs-dairy