But it's the blandness (and lack of flavor) that makes it great for different recipes, since it takes on the flavors of what you cook it with. The texture can also be worked around, too, depending on whether you crumble or dice it (great for firm or extra-firm tofu) or blend it with other ingredients (great for silken tofu).
Here are six yummy tofu recipes to help you through the day, including Tofu & Broccoli Stir-Fry and Chocolate Mousse. Enjoy!
COCONUT-CARAMEL BRAISED TOFU
This is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "In this quick vegan meal, versatile tofu takes on a flavorful coconut-caramel glaze with minimal effort. It’s simmered in a fragrant braising liquid of rich coconut milk, savory miso and aromatic ginger and garlic until the liquid reduces into a rich, sweet caramel sauce. Lightly charred green beans add subtle smoky notes, but broccoli or cauliflower florets would also work great. A final shower of fresh scallions and tart lime juice balances and brightens the sweet sauce; other herbs like basil or cilantro would also light up the dish in a lovely way. Leftovers can be reheated and tossed with noodles for lunch the next day."
Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023803-coconut-caramel-braised-tofu.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as safflower or canola
8 ounces green beans, trimmed and cut crosswise into thirds
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 (14- to 16-ounce) package firm tofu, drained, patted dry and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 small shallot, minced (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon peeled minced ginger (from one 1-inch piece)
1 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk, stirred
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons white miso
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
1/4 cup chopped scallions, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Steamed rice and hot sauce, for serving
Preparation
In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Add green beans, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly charred in spots, about 5 minutes. Transfer green beans to a plate.
Add 1 tablespoon of the oil and the tofu to the skillet and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes. Push tofu to one side of the skillet and reduce heat to medium. To the empty side, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the shallot, garlic and ginger; stir until well combined and coated in the oil, then mix into the tofu until well incorporated.
Add coconut milk, soy sauce, miso and sugar and bring to a simmer, mashing the miso until it dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce reduces and resembles caramel, about 5 minutes. Stir in reserved green beans, 1/4 cup scallions and 1 tablespoon lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
Divide braised tofu and green beans over rice. Garnish with more scallions and serve with lime wedges.
TOFU MILANESE
This is from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, David wrote, "The breaded cutlets known as Milanese are often made of veal, pork or chicken, but, here, tofu stands in with excellent results. To accompany, broccoli rabe is a delicious choice, though mustard greens of any variety make a fine substitution."
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in "For the Crispiest Tofu, Give It the Milanese Treatment", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024089-tofu-milanese.
Ingredients
Salt and black pepper
1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup whole milk
2 cups dried bread crumbs, panko or homemade
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1 tablespoon roughly chopped drained capers
1 lemon
1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound)
1-1/4 cups olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
Preparation
Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Drain the liquid from the tofu and cut crosswise into 8 rectangular cutlets. Pat dry and season to taste with salt and pepper.
Put flour on a plate. Beat together egg and milk in a shallow medium bowl. Sprinkle bread crumbs on a rimmed baking sheet.
Working one at a time, dip a slice of tofu in the flour, lightly coating all sides. Place in the bowl with egg mixture. Lift slice from egg mixture and set on crumbs in a single layer. Shower the top layer with crumbs and flip to coat well. Repeat with remaining slices. If not using right away, refrigerate, uncovered for up to 4 hours, until ready to cook.
To a small bowl, add parsley and capers, and zest the lemon over. Mix together, and set aside mixture, reserving the rest of the lemon.
Add broccoli rabe to the boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Drain and cool.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a wide 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and red pepper; let sizzle without browning, about 15 to 30 seconds. Add broccoli rabe and stir to coat. Cook, tossing often, for 3 to 4 minutes, until softened. Pile on a platter.
To cook cutlets, wipe out the skillet and, in the same pan, heat 1/2 inch olive oil (about 1 cup) over medium-high. When oil is wavy, cook the breaded tofu cutlets in 2 batches without crowding until golden and crisp, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet and keep warm.
To serve, surround the broccoli rabe with tofu cutlets. Stir 2 tablespoons olive oil to parsley-caper mixture. Spoon some onto each cutlet. Slice the lemon into wedges, and serve alongside the cutlet.
TOFU & BROCCOLI STIR-FRY
I found this yumminess on the AARP site. It begins, "We like broccoli best in this tofu stir-fry, but any mixture of vegetables you have on hand will work. One way to get great tofu texture without deep-frying is to toss the tofu in cornstarch before stir-frying. Let it cook for several minutes without stirring to help it develop a little crust. Serve with: Chinese egg noodles or rice noodles and a glass of Riesling."
Prep/Cook Time: 30 Minutes, Servings: 4
You can view this online at https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/recipes/tofu-broccoli-stir-fry/.
Note: The recipe originally called for vegetabale or chicken broth. I omitted the “or chicken broth” for obvious reasons; this is a vegetarian blog.
Ingredients
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/4 cup dry sherry or rice wine
3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons cornstarch, divided
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or more to taste
1 14-ounce package extra-firm water-packed tofu, drained
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
6 cups broccoli florets
3 tablespoons water
Directions
Combine broth, sherry (or rice wine), soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, sugar and crushed red pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
Cut tofu into 3/4-inch cubes and pat dry, then sprinkle with salt. Place the remaining 2 tablespoons cornstarch in a large bowl. Add the tofu; toss gently to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the tofu; cook, undisturbed, until browned, about 3 minutes. Gently turn and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned all over, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, garlic and ginger; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add broccoli and water; cover and cook, stirring once or twice, until tender-crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir the reserved broth mixture and add to the pan. Cook until the sauce has thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Return the tofu to the pan; toss to combine with the broccoli and sauce.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
I saw something similar to this a few years back and tweaked it a little. For anyone who is sure that he or she won't like tofu, this may be the game-changer.
Ingredients
1 10-12 ounce tub of silken tofu
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
2 - 3 tablespoons milk (you can use soy milk, if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Directions
Melt chocolate chips along with the milk over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
Place silken tofu, melted chocolate chips, vanilla, and syrup into blender. Blend on a medium setting, pulsing if needed to combine.
Pour into 4 bowls or small cups, and let cool for 10 minutes or so.
Dig in! Yum!
SMOKED TOFU FARFALLE CASSEROLE
This was on the Vegetarian Times web site, and begins, "Here's a new twist on old-fashioned tuna noodle casserole." Serves 6
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/smoked-tofu-farfalle-casserole/.
Ingredients
4 tsp. olive oil
1 small yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 1/2 cups frozen baby peas
3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 Tbs.)
2 1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme
8 oz. farfalle pasta (bows)
1 3/4 cups low-fat milk
3 Tbs. all-purpose flour
3 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 3/4 cup)
6 oz. smoked tofu, diced
3 Tbs. Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
Preparation
Preheat oven to 425F. Heat 1 tsp. oil in 6-qt. Dutch oven over medium heat. Add bell pepper, and cook, stirring often, 3 minutes. Stir in frozen peas, garlic and thyme, and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes more. Transfer to bowl and set aside.
Wipe out Dutch oven; fill with water, and bring to a boil. Add pasta, and cook about 4 minutes, or until just al dente. Drain and transfer to clean bowl. Drizzle with 2 tsp. olive oil, and toss to coat. Return Dutch oven to stove.
Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in Dutch oven over medium heat until almost simmering. Whisk together remaining 1/4 cup milk with flour in small bowl, then whisk into hot milk. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 2 minutes, or until sauce thickens and bubbles. Remove from heat, and stir in cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add pasta, bell pepper mixture and tofu, and stir to combine.
Mix breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tsp. oil in small bowl; sprinkle over casserole. Bake uncovered, 20 minutes, or until golden. Serve hot.
TOFU-CARROT CACCIATORE
This is from the May/June 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times, page 75. It begins, "Tomatoes and carrots grow better when planted side-by-side in the garden and they taste great together too." Makes 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipes/tofu-carrot-cacciatore/.
Ingredients
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 medium-size onions, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)
1 large green pepper, cut into 1 1/2-inch strips
3 large cloves garlic, minced (1 Tbs.)
1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes
2 8-oz. bags baby carrots, halved diagonally
1 8-oz. pkg. Italian-flavored baked tofu, cut into cubes
1 Tbs. rubbed dried sage
1 bay leaf
12 oz. linguine or other pasta
Preparation
Heat olive oil in large pot over medium heat. Add onions and pepper, and cook 5 to 7 minutes, or until softened, stirring often. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute more, or until fragrant.
Stir in tomatoes, carrots, tofu, sage, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer about 1 hour, or until carrots are tender. Remove bay leaf.
After cacciatore has simmered about 45 minutes, cook pasta according to package directions. Serve cacciatore over pasta.
