Monday, April 6, 2015

3 Tips for Tasty Tofu

grit style tofu

Tofu is a polarizing food. In our house, we like to add it to dishes where we might typically add meat, like tacos or pasta. Mike and I avoid eating a lot of meat, so tofu is one way to help give our meals a little more density.

That said, ill-prepared tofu is super gross. Here are my top three tips for making tofu a tasty addition to your meals.

1. Be patient- to make evenly crisped tofu, pour a bit of olive oil into a skillet. Drop the (cubed) tofu into the oil and wait. Turn each piece with a fork so that all six sides of the cube are cooked. This can take a little time, but it's always worth it. The tofu ends up looking like croutons!

2. Use flavor- Plain tofu doesn't taste like anything. It IS pretty unappealing, but tofu is versatile and takes on the flavor of the things it's cooked with. We love to put a bit of hot sauce in the pan, but also use lemon juice, soy sauce, or whatever might blend in the meal. You don't need much!

3. Always serve "dry"- I like to pan fry tofu, but my mom sometimes makes baked tofu that everyone likes. When preparing the tofu, use a paper towel to remove excess moisture, and choose a cooking method that will dehydrate the tofu- crispy, "dry" tofu is much more appetizing than "raw" tofu, which can be a bit slippery or slimy looking.

Bonus: Unopened tofu keeps well in the refrigerator. I love to buy the Extra Firm style and use it in meals on those nights when the cupboards are a little bare between grocery trips. It's a very handy little meal-saver.


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