Tofu

So far this week, we've touched base with tempeh and seitan. Today, it's tofu.

I almost neglected to mention tofu for two reasons: first off, I use it so often that I almost felt that everyone was familiar with using it (more on that in a minute), and secondly, so many people get down-right weird at the mention of tofu.

Vegetarian Times has a short guide to the different varieties of tofu (yes, there are different kids of it). Check out “A Beginner's Guide to Tofu Varieties.” It also has five recipes to try out; feel free to check them out, as well as the tofu recipes I've posted here. Try the Engine 2 Diet Vegetarian Lasagna and Chocolate Tofu Chili, along with the rest of the yummy recipes. Enjoy!

BROTHY THAI CURRY WITH SILKEN TOFU AND HERBS

This is from Yewande Komolafe in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Yewander wrote, "A jarred red curry paste is the central flavor of this wonderfully restorative and nourishing broth. Coconut milk lends a subtle creaminess, and the cherry tomatoes become bright little jammy bursts. You can use fresh tomatoes when in season, but canned tomatoes do just as well. Ladle the piping hot broth over seasoned tofu pieces and fresh herbs: The delicate silken tofu used here will absorb big flavors from the surrounding liquid."

Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 6 servings

This was featured in "Three Restorative Recipes to Warm From Within", and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022862-brothy-thai-curry-with-silken-tofu-and-herbs.

Ingredients

2 (14-ounce) packages silken tofu, drained

2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed

2 shallots, peeled and minced

3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced

1 (1-inch) piece ginger, scrubbed and grated

3 tablespoons red curry paste

1 (14-ounce) can cherry tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes

1 quart vegetable stock

1 (13-1/2-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk

Salt and black pepper

1/4 cup soy sauce

1-1/2 cups mixed fresh herbs, such as cilantro, basil and dill

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1 lime, cut into wedges, for squeezing

Preparation

Pat the tofu blocks dry with a clean kitchen or paper towel. Cut each block into 3 slices.

Heat a medium Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high. Add the oil and shallots, and stir until softened, 2 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and curry paste, stir, and cook until fragrant and the paste turns deep red, 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, stir and bring to a simmer. Simmer until the tomato juices thicken slightly, 4 minutes.

Pour in the vegetable stock, stir, increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer to slightly reduce the liquid, 10 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk, season to taste with salt and remove from the heat.

While the broth is simmering, divide the soft tofu into 6 bowls. Break each slice into 4 or 5 pieces. Season each bowl of tofu with 2 teaspoons of soy sauce and a few cracks of black pepper, and top with about 1/4 cup of the fresh herb mix.

Ladle the hot broth and tomatoes over the bowls of silken tofu. Top with sliced scallions and serve hot, with lime wedges for squeezing.

SWEET POTATO HASH WITH TOFU

This comes from Ali Slagle in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Ali wrote, "Hash, which comes from the French word for 'chop,' can be made of any number of meats and proteins that cook and crisp on the stovetop. One of the most common might be corned beef and potato hash, but this recipe is more hands-off: It cooks on a sheet pan. This vegan hash is sweet, smoky and spicy, with cubes of sweet potato, tofu, peppers and onions. The potatoes and tofu are spunky with chili powder and crisp from cornstarch. Serve the dish for breakfast or dinner, with vinegary red onions for crunch, plus your favorite hash toppings."

Prep Time: 15; Cook Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 55 minutes; Yield: 2 to 3 servings

To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1024671-sweet-potato-hash-with-tofu. Also, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend it. Plenty of great recipes, lots of helpful guides and tips...definitely worth signing up for.

Speaking of guides, check out Melissa Clark's guide, "How to Make a Sheet-Pan Dinner," where you'll find some very helpful info.

And now, on to the recipe.

Ingredients

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 medium red onion, a quarter thinly sliced, the rest cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 rosemary sprig (optional)

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

1 (14- to 16-ounce) block extra-firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and patted very dry

8 ounces sweet potato (1 small), cut into 1/2-inch pieces

2 tablespoons cornstarch

2-1/4 teaspoons chili powder

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lime juice

Fried or poached eggs, cilantro, parsley, hot sauce, Cheddar, feta and/or ketchup, for serving (optional)

Preparation

Arrange a rack in the bottom third of the oven, heat to 425 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment. In a medium bowl, toss the bell pepper, 1/2-inch pieces of red onion and the rosemary, if using, with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with a pinch of salt, then arrange in a single layer on about one-quarter of the prepared sheet pan.

In the same bowl, combine the tofu, sweet potato, cornstarch and 2 teaspoons chili powder and season generously with about 2 teaspoons salt. Toss gently until well coated, then add remaining 2 tablespoons oil and toss to coat. Arrange in a single layer next to the peppers and onion. Roast on the bottom rack until the vegetables are tender and the tofu is crisp underneath, 30 to 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss the sliced onion with the vinegar, remaining 1/4 teaspoon chili powder and a pinch of salt. Serve the hash topped with the pickled onions and any additional toppings you like.

ENGINE 2 DIET VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

This was on a long-forgotten email list. But it comes originally from a cookbook titled The Engine 2 Diet: The Texas Firefighter's 28-Day Save-Your-Life Plan that Lowers Cholesterol and Burns Away the Pounds. Personally, I'm considering picking up a copy for myself. Check it out!

Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped

1 small head of garlic, all cloves chopped or pressed

8 ounces mushrooms, sliced

1 head broccoli, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1 can corn, rinsed and drained

1 package Silken Lite tofu

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon basil

1 teaspoon rosemary

2 jars pasta sauce

2 boxes whole grain lasagna noodles

16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained

2 sweet potatoes, cooked and mashed

6 roma tomatoes, sliced thin

1 cup raw cashews, ground

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté the onion and garlic on high heat for 3 minutes in a wok or nonstick pan. Add the mushrooms and cook until the onions are limp and the mushrooms give up their liquid. Remove them to a large bowl with a slotted spoon. Reserve the mushroom liquid in the pan. Sauté the broccoli and carrots for 5 minutes and add to the mushroom bowl. Sauté the peppers and corn until just beginning to soften. Add them to the vegetable bowl.

Drain the silken tofu by wrapping in paper towels. Break it up directly in the towel and mix into the vegetable bowl. Add spices to the vegetable bowl and combine.

To Assemble:

Cover the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch casserole with a layer of sauce. Add a layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with sauce. This way the noodles cook in the oven, saving time and energy. Spread the vegetable mixture over the sauced noodles. Cover with a layer of noodles and another dressing of sauce. Add the spinach to the second layer of sauced noodles. Cover the spinach with the mashed sweet potatoes. Add another layer of sauce, the final layer of noodles, and a last topping of sauce. Cover the lasagna with thinly sliced roma tomatoes.

Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the cashews, and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.

Makes 10 – 12 servings of sweet potato lasagna.

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.

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 BROCCOLI STIR-FRY

This is from AARP, and 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

To view this online, go to https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/recipes/tofu-broccoli-stir-fry/.

Ingredients

1/2 cup vegetable broth or reduced-sodium chicken 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.