Tofu has gained a reputation as being a food to avoid for its boring taste (or lack thereof) and bothersome texture. In truth, it is a most versatile ingredient – tofu can be used in every course of a meal, from soups to salads, from main dishes to desserts. Here are a few ideas for how to use tofu in ways that compliment its properties and enhance its flavour.
Raw Tofu
There are a number of ways to use raw tofu, most involving salads and desserts. If you don’t have anything against the taste, you can crumble firm tofu into your favourite salad. Just ½ cup of tofu will give you 25% of your daily protein and 22% of your daily calcium – it doesn’t take much to make a significant nutritional difference!
If you are still not a fan of the flavour of tofu, however, all is not lost. Crumble your tofu into a mixture of red wine vinegar and olive oil, combined with some salt, lemon juice, and your preferred spices to create a feta effect for your salad. (A great recipe is available at Tofu Guru.)
Another way to use raw tofu is to blend it into desserts. There are different ways to make puddings and mousses with silken tofu, one of which can be found here. Silken tofu gives desserts a rich, creamy flavour – no one will know it’s not dairy. It can be used in smoothies, cookies, and even as one of the main ingredients in vegan cheesecake!
Cooked Tofu
It would be impossible to list off all of the uses for cooked tofu, but one of the most popular recipes incorporating it is lasagne. If using firm tofu, you can simply crumble it into your tomato sauce, or you can slice it thinly and use it as a layer on its own, among the noodles and any other vegetables you like. This delicious recipe calls for both firm and soft tofu to be mashed together in order to imitate the texture of ricotta cheese.
Hot and Sour Soup is another popular meal that benefits from the addition of tofu. Because of its porous surface, tofu tends to absorb the flavours surrounding it, and thus works magnificently in most soups to enhance the overall flavour.
If you’re feeling adventurous, tofu can easily become the focus of a dish, rather than being only an addition. Try marinating thick slices of tofu in your favourite spices, or brush it with barbeque sauce and throw it on the grill. Try breading it with olive oil, breadcrumbs, and seasoning, and bake it in the oven. The options are endless, so take your pick and gain a new appreciation for a previously misunderstood ingredient!
 |
