Tofu

For years, Tofu seemed to get a bad rap: It's bland; the texture; what do I do with it?

No problem. Its blandness lets it take on the flavors of whatever it's added to. With many recipes, it's crumbled or blended so that the texture becomes almost a non-issue.

What to do with it? Here are six recipes to get you started, incuding Tofu Broccoli Stir-Fry and the popular Chocolate Mousse. Enjoy!

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.

CRISPY TOFU WITH BASLAMIC TOMATOES

This comes from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Melissa wrote, "You don’t need to fry tofu to get it crisp-edged and golden brown. Drizzling it with a mix of cornstarch and oil, then roasting it will deliver a closely crunchy approximation that won’t splatter oil across your countertop. Here, the tofu is roasted alongside balsamic-glazed cherry tomatoes, sliced garlic and red onions, all of which caramelize as they cook. Top everything with a handful of fresh herbs, then serve it over rice, quinoa or another grain for an easy, plant-based meal. Note that the recipe serves only two to three. To double it, use two sheet pans and add a few extra minutes to the cook time."

Total Time: 40 minutes, plus at least 15 minutes' draining; Yield: 2 to 3 servings

This was featured in "Crisp-Edged Tofu Straight From Your Oven," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022852-crispy-tofu-with-balsamic-tomatoes.

Ingredients

1 (14- to 16-ounce) package extra-firm or firm tofu, cut crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices

1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (Diamond Crystal), plus more as needed

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved if large, kept whole if small

1 large red onion, cut into ¼-inch wedges (about 2 cups)

3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1-1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, plus more for finishing

1/2 cup fresh cilantro or parsley leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped

Preparation

Heat oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Arrange tofu slices on a clean kitchen towel or on paper towels. Cover with another kitchen towel (or paper towels) and place a flat cutting board or baking pan on top. If your cutting board or pan is lightweight, stack a few cans or a skillet on top to weigh it down. Let tofu drain for at least 15 minutes, and up to 45 minutes.

Transfer tofu to a cutting board and cut slabs into 1-inch cubes. Pat them dry with paper towels and season both sides of the tofu with 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon oil, cornstarch, garlic powder (if using) and 1/2 teaspoon of the oregano. Add tofu to cornstarch mixture and gently toss until tofu is evenly coated. Dump tofu onto one side of the prepared sheet pan.

In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, remaining ½ teaspoon oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Drizzle in the remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil, tossing to combine.

Arrange vegetables on other side of the prepared sheet pan. Bake until tofu is crisp and golden brown, and tomatoes are condensed, 25 to 35 minutes. Halfway through baking, flip tofu and toss vegetables while keeping the tofu and veggies separate.

To serve, sprinkle cilantro on top and drizzle with balsamic and oil, if you’d like.

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 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.

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.