When I moved from Japan to the U.S. in the 1990s, it wasn't always easy to get the ingredients I knew and loved. But there were some staples that were easier to come by, like whole grains and beans.

Growing up in Nara, Japan, one food that was a constant in my home was tofu. It's truly been a lifelong staple. When I was a baby, once I could eat solids, my mom commonly prepared two dishes for me — ...