Tofu

While there are many staples, protein-wise, for vegetarian dishes, tofu has got to be one of the most versatile. It's blandness actually helps, in that it blends nicely with the other ingredients.

With that info, here are six wonderful tofu recipes, including Chocolate Tofu Chili and Herbed Tofu Lasagna with Zucchini. Enjoy!

SALT AND PEPPER TOFU

This is from Hetty Lui McKinnon in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Hetty wrote, "The joy of Chinese salt and pepper tofu is the contrasting crispy-on-the-outside, pillowy-on-the-inside textures. There is no need to press the tofu — a quick pat down with a kitchen towel is all that’s needed — as the moisture actually helps to keep the interior soft and tender. While potato or tapioca starch is often used for a light batter, nothing beats the accessibility and affordability of cornstarch to produce an enviable crunch. There are many versions of salt and pepper seasoning in Chinese cuisine — some contain Sichuan peppercorns or fennel seeds — but in this recipe, a spicy-sweet combination of white pepper, sugar, ground ginger and five-spice powder shines (See Tip)."

Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023343-salt-and-pepper-tofu.

Ingredients

For the Salt and Pepper Seasoning

2 teaspoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

For the Tofu

1 (14-ounce) package firm tofu, drained

1/2 cup cornstarch

Neutral oil such as canola or grapeseed

2 scallions, trimmed and finely sliced

1 long red pepper (such as Fresno) or long green pepper (such as jalapeño or serrano), thinly sliced

Cooked rice, to serve

Preparation

To make the seasoning, combine the salt, sugar, white pepper, five-spice powder and ground ginger in a small bowl, and stir to combine. Set aside.

Place the drained tofu onto a clean kitchen towel and pat dry. Cut the tofu into 3/4-inch cubes.

Scatter 1/4 cup of the cornstarch onto a large plate or sheet pan. Carefully place the tofu cubes onto the cornstarch, then scatter the remaining cornstarch on top of the tofu. Using clean hands, gently dab each side of the tofu into the cornstarch until it is coated on all sides.

Line a large plate with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel.

Heat a large (12-inch) nonstick or well seasoned cast-iron skillet on medium-high. Add 3 tablespoons of neutral oil and heat until the oil shimmers. Making sure the tofu pieces are not touching each other (you may need to work in batches), add the coated tofu to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until the tofu is golden and crispy. Remove and place on the paper or kitchen towel to absorb excess oil. Continue with remaining tofu, adding more oil as needed.

The empty skillet should still have a small amount of oil, but if it doesn’t, add 1 tablespoon more of oil. With the skillet over medium heat, add the scallions and pepper and stir-fry for 30 to 60 seconds until softened and fragrant. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on the same paper or kitchen towel.

Transfer the tofu to a plate and sprinkle with about half of the salt and pepper seasoning. Top with scallions and pepper. Serve with rice and the remaining salt and pepper seasoning.

Tip

This seasoning is great to have on hand for several applications; along with tofu, it can be served on top of battered vegetables such as eggplant or cauliflower, or over roasted vegetables or salads. Make extra and store in a jar with a tight lid.

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!

CHOCOLATE TOFU CHILI

This is from Weight Watchers, and begins, "Packed with vegetables, the chili gets its deep flavor from the addition of chocolate, without tasting overtly like chocolate. For a little extra heat, you can mix in 1 or 2 finely chopped jalapeños before you turn on the slow cooker. Jalapeños can vary quite a bit in their level of heat. Take a small taste before adding them, and remember the membranes and seeds are the hottest part of the chile. Thinly sliced radishes or matchstick pieces of jicama make a pretty garnish."

Prep Time: 35 minutes; Cook Time: 4 hours; Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 1-1/2 cups; Difficulty: Easy; 3 points per serving

To view this online, go to https://cmx.weightwatchers.com/details/WWRECIPE:6037caaade317318b8e4bb84.

Ingredients

4 sprays cooking spray

2 tsp cumin seeds

1 pound extra firm tofu, cut into 2-inch cubes

28 oz canned diced tomatoes

15 oz canned kidney beans, drained

1 large uncooked onion, chopped

2 medium uncooked carrots, chopped

2 ribs medium uncooked celery, chopped

2 medium uncooked red bell peppers, chopped

1 cup fat free reduced sodium vegetable broth

2 oz 70-85% dark chocolate, chopped

2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

4 cloves garlic clove, finely chopped

1 Tbsp Chili powder

1 Tbsp Kosher salt

1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp black pepper

Directions

Heat large nonstick skillet over medium. Add cumin seeds and stir until slightly darker in color and aromatic, about 2 minutes. Transfer cumin seeds to slow cooker. Remove skillet from heat, coat with nonstick spray, and heat over medium. Add tofu to skillet and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer tofu to slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes, beans, onion, carrots, celery, bell peppers, broth, chocolate, cocoa powder, garlic, chili powder, salt, and crushed red pepper.

Cover and cook chili for 4 hours on High or 8 hours on Low. Divide chili among bowls.

TOFU AND MUSHROOM JORIM (SOY-BRAISED TOFU)

This is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "Korean jorim is a traditional braised dish typically made with beef that is stewed in a savory garlic- and ginger-spiked soy sauce until tender. This version highlights tofu’s ability to absorb the aromatic salty-sweet sauce like a sponge; earthy shiitake mushrooms add depth and a meaty texture that contrasts the tofu’s softness. The dish is as delicious cold as it is hot, so it’s a great make-ahead meal; simply cool and chill overnight in an airtight container."

Time: 20 minutes; Yield: 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023476-tofu-and-mushroom-jorim-soy-braised-tofu.

Ingredients

1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce

5 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed

1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

2 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces, plus more thinly sliced scallions for garnish

2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as safflower or canola

2 tablespoons turbinado or light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 (14- to 16-ounce) block firm tofu, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes

6 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced into 1/2-inch-thick pieces

Salt

Steamed rice and kimchi (optional), for serving

Preparation

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, combine soy sauce, garlic, ginger, scallions, oil, sugar, pepper and ¼ cup water; mix well. Add tofu and mushrooms, season with salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, carefully turning tofu and stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens into a glaze and coats the mixture, about 15 minutes.

Transfer the jorim to a serving bowl or platter and garnish with thinly sliced scallions. Serve with rice and kimchi, if using.

HERBED TOFU LASAGNA WITH ZUCCHINI

This comes from the April 2006 issue of Vegetarian Times. It begins, “Simple, fresh flavors and an innovative way with tofu—it's blended with herbs and seasonings until creamy and ricotta-like—make this lasagna one you'll want to make year-round. The key: Use the best purchased marinara sauce you can find, then drizzle each serving with extra virgin olive oil.” Serves 10.

To view this online, go to http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/herbed-tofu-lasagna-with-zucchini/.

Ingredients

2 14-oz. pkg. firm tofu, well drained

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil

1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted

2 cloves garlic, peeled

2 Tbs. lemon juice

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp. sugar

1 Tbs. olive oil

4 medium-size zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch slices (about 3 cups)

5 cups marinara sauce

16 no-cook lasagna noodles (9 oz.)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine tofu, basil, parsley, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, salt, red pepper flakes and sugar in food processor; blend until smooth and similar to ricotta in texture.

Put oil and zucchini in large nonstick skillet. Sauté 3 to 5 minutes over medium-high heat, or until just tender.

Spread 3 Tbs. marinara sauce over bottom of prepared baking dish. Cover with layer of noodles, overlapping slightly, half of tofu mixture and half of zucchini mixture. Top with another layer of noodles, remaining tofu and zucchini, and 1/2 cup sauce. Finish with another layer of noodles and remaining sauce.

Cover with foil, and bake 1 hour. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

nutritional information Per SERVING: Calories: 314; Protein: 18 g; Total Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Carbohydrates: 36 g; Sodium: 617 mg; Fiber: 6 g; Sugar: 10 g; Vegan

GRILLED JERK TOFU AND PLANTAINS WITH MANGO SALSA

This is from Chrissy Tracey at the Epicurious website.

For this yumminess, Chrissy wrote, "I was inspired to create this jerk tofu recipe after countless visits to Jamaica where I found myself inhaling the aromas of jerk meats prepared by family and other islanders. Jerk chicken, a classic Jamaican dish my family members on the island still eat regularly, is known for its spice-forward combination of many herbs and aromatics, including scallions, onion, garlic, brown sugar, Scotch bonnet peppers, and most important, allspice—the calling card of many Jamaican dishes. Growing up in a Jamaican vegetarian household, my mother would often use jerk spice to uplift the flavors of vegetables.

"Tofu is the perfect canvas for reflecting other flavors. Extra-firm tofu is ideal since it holds together well on the grill after getting pressed and marinated in homemade jerk sauce. If you can plan ahead, freezing tofu is the best way to improve texture and allow it to more readily soak up flavorful marinades. If you have time, drain the tofu and press it just after you buy it, then freeze in a resealable plastic bag. Thaw at room temperature before marinating. (Read more about why this works here.) Homemade mango salsa and grilled sweet plantains balance out the heat of the dish and provide a well-rounded taste of the island."

Active Time: 35 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours; Makes 4 servings

To view this online, go to https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-jerk-tofu-plantains-mango-salsa-vegan.

Ingredients

Tofu

2 14-oz. blocks extra-firm tofu, drained

2 small red onions, coarsely chopped

10 scallions, cut into 2" pieces

12 garlic cloves

4–6 Scotch bonnet or habanero chiles, seeds removed, or 1–2 tsp. Scotch bonnet chile powder

12 sprigs thyme, leaves picked

2 1" pieces ginger, peeled

16–20 allspice berries or 2 Tbsp. ground allspice

2/3 cup soy sauce

1/2 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

1/2 cup distilled white vinegar

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. browning sauce (preferably Grace; optional)

1 Tbsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1-1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt

1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 cup avocado oil or vegetable oil

Salsa

Juice of 1 lime

1 Scotch bonnet chile or jalapeño, seeds removed

2 cups coarsely chopped ripe mango

2/3 cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onion

2 Tbsp. coarsely chopped cilantro

2 tsp. agave nectar or honey (optional)

1/2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt, plus more

Plantains and assembly

1/4 cup avocado oil or vegetable oil, plus more for grill

2/3 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

1/4 cup distilled white vinegar

1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1/2 tsp. Morton kosher salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

4 very ripe (almost black) plantains, halved lengthwise

Thinly sliced scallions and lime wedges (for serving)

Directions

Tofu

Wrap tofu in 2 layers of paper towel, place on a rimmed baking sheet, and weigh down with something heavy (large cans or a small cast-iron skillet work well). Let sit 30 minutes. (Alternatively, press tofu in a tofu press 15–30 minutes.)

Meanwhile, process red onions, scallions, garlic, chiles, thyme, ginger, allspice, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, lime juice, browning sauce (if using), black pepper, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a food processor or blender to a coarse purée. With motor running, stream in oil and process to a fine purée. Transfer jerk sauce to a bowl.

Unwrap tofu and cut each block crosswise into 6 slices. Pour 1 cup jerk sauce into a baking dish, then add tofu slices and turn to coat. Set remaining jerk sauce aside for brushing and serving. Cover and chill tofu at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.

Do ahead: Jerk sauce can be made 3 weeks ahead. Cover and chill.

Salsa

Pulse lime juice, chile, mango, bell pepper, red onion, cilantro, agave (if using), and 1/2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1/4 tsp. Morton kosher salt in a food processor just until coarsely chopped, 5–10 pulses. Taste salsa and season with more salt if needed. Transfer to a bowl; cover and chill until ready to serve.

Plantains and assembly

Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; lightly oil grate. Arrange tofu on grate, cover, and grill, brushing with reserved jerk sauce as you turn tofu, until lightly browned and grill marks appear, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and brush with additional sauce, if desired.

Meanwhile, mix brown sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, and remaining 1/4 cup oil in a small bowl. Brush cut sides of plantains generously with mixture.

Arrange plantains, cut side down, on grate, cover, and grill, brushing all over with brown sugar mixture as you turn, until deep golden and grill marks appear, about 7 minutes per side. Transfer plantains to plates with tofu.

Top tofu and plantains with scallions and serve with salsa and lime wedges.