The Trouble with Tofu

[DanaC]

.......Every so often I buy some tofu and store it in my fridge til its ready to throw away.....The trouble is I dont know really how to do tofu in such a way as to make it taste good ....

Anybody able to help me out with a recipe for tofu ?

I heard a recipe for "Steamed Tofu parcels" on the radio a year or so ago but when I tried to find it online I struck out....

[perth]

Tofu (the firm kind) is pretty good cut into chunks and stir-fried with all your traditional stir-fry vegetables. Can't stand the softer tofu at all.

But that's about it, as far as I'm concerned. I cannot imagine any other way it would be tasty.

You might find something interesting at www.epicurious.com or www.foodtv.com.

[DanaC]

*nods* stir fry is about all I could think of. I suppose I ought to do the decent thing and chop some veg up....

[perth]

Fresh broccoli, carrots, red peppers, snow peas and onions. Throw in some unsalted cashews or slivered almonds, some decent teriyaki or szechuan sauce. Nothing fancy, easy to cook, healthy if you're careful about your oil, and it tastes great.

[DanaC]

That sounds delightful Thanks. I am never really sure what to include in stir fries. I know the kinds of things to throw in but I dont always get the combo right. End up overloading with too many different flavours and textures.

[DanaC]

Would you say sesame oil is too strong a flavour to use?

Oh...I just read that recipe back and realised something ( being the observant gal that I am)...I have no clue what snowpeas are

[perth]

Not really. I don't personally like the flavour of it too much, so I avoid it mostly, but Case loved it and so I used it a lot. I would use less than you would if it was peanut or some other oil though.

[perth]

snowpea pics

[DanaC]

ahhh. We call em sugar snaps

[DanaC]

Well excallent thanks. I think I might cook just that up this weekend *smiles, delighted*

[Clodfobble]

I think sugar snap peas and snow peas are different. Snow peas are flat and have almost no "pea" to them, but sugar snap peas are definitely 3D and have standard-sized peas inside them.

Personally I hate snowpeas, sugar snap are the way to go!

[Yelof]

Deep fry briefly the tofu (firm) then roll in beaten egg, followed by a mix of breadcrumbs and sesame seeds, drop back in the deep fry pan. Serve with some sort of dip, a garlic yogart is my fav.

I find if you freeze or deep fry tofu before using it to reduce the water content it adds to the texture and flavour.

If yopu want to use soft Tofu I suggest that you treat it as a cheese and add it to very sausy food in order to break it down in the sauce, it adds a bit of body and protein to the sauce.

Try seitan instead, it is made from wheatgerm and is easier to cook because it actually has a flovour itself.

I am not to keen on tofu or seitan more then say once a week and I normally use pulses or beans to add protein and flavour to my meatfree diet

[DanaC]

That also sounds very nice. The tip about freezing it first is interesting.

I dont have a meatfree diet but I rarely eat meat. I stopped eating it all together for a while but decided I would be healthier with a small amount in my diet....Nice in theory but the stuff turns my stomach unless I am very drunk. .....Soooo either I find a way to get a decent level of protein into my diet without meat or I become an alcoholic. :P

[jinx]

Miso Soup would be easy.

Japanese Recipe
Miso Soup
(with tofu and green onion)
Ingredients:

* 4 cups dashi soup stock
* 1/2 tofu
* 3 tbsp miso paste
* 1/4 cup chopped green onion

How to Cook:

1. Put the soup stock in a pan and bring to a boil.
2. Cut tofu into small cubes and add them to the soup.
3. Scoop out some soup stock from the pan and dissolve miso paste in it.
4. Return the soup in the pan.
5. Stop the heat and add chopped green onion.

* Remember not to boil the soup after you put miso in..
**Makes 4 servings



I like the Silken tofu because it doesn't need ot be refrigerated until it's opened, and I can usually use the whole package at one time.

[ladysycamore]

Try these on for size:

Tofu recipes:
http://www.tofu.com/recipes.html

Christina Pirello of "Christina Cooks":
http://www.christinacooks.com/recipes.php3?letter=T

*scroll down to the tofu recipes*