Tofu is generally associated with long haired hippies and the lack-of-flavor of the month club. The general public doesn't even want a small bite of this protein-rich power food and in some ways, they are right. Tofu alone is a pretty bland food, but that is not the way its supposed to be eaten! Tofu shines when mixed with the right spices and accompanying ingredients.
Tofu Types
Flavoring tofu is dependant on what kind of tofu is available to work with. The following are the two major different types of tofu:
Soft or silken tofu- this type would not be used in a casserole or a stir fry, but can easily be added to a smoothie for creaminess. Yes--tofu can be sweet as well as savory! In fact, silken tofu can be used as an egg replacer in desserts, as well as a way to get creamier results.
Firm tofu- this type of tofu is what is used in most savory dishes. It can be added in a stir fry, or marinated and baked for a sensational vegetarian entree.
Pressing the Tofu
Before cooking or marinating tofu, it needs to be pressed. Pressing will give the tofu a firmer texture and less of that tofu taste--most firm varieties can be pressed.To press tofu:
- Start with a block of firm tofu.
- Place a plate or cutting board under the tofu.
- Cover tofu in paper towels, two should work just fine.
- Place a heavy object on top of tofu, such as an old phone book or an unneeded math book.
- Let tofu sit for at least 15 minutes, and for as long as 30.
- Remove heavy object and towels from tofu, squeeze one more time as needed.
Flavoring Tofu
After pressing the tofu, there are several ways to add flavor to it. One way is to marinate the tofu in a dressing or sauce. Soy sauce is a great tofu marinade as it adds flavor without being overtly strong and it can be used in many different dishes, but that is only one of the many possibilites. Some other ways to flavor tofu include:
- Smothering tofu in BBQ sauce.- perfect for a summer party with meat-eating friends.
- Rubbing the tofu in curry powder- this would be great in an Indian-inspired stir-fry!
- Batters- Tofu can be battered in flour, cornmeal, etc. and fried for southern comfort food.
These are just a few ideas to get started with. Try and use tofu in veganized version of classic dishes.
Recipes
Here are a couple of recipes which feature tofu as a main ingredient with a punch.
- Chile-Cornmeal Crusted Tofu from Veganomicon
- Coconut Curry Tofu
- Tofu Parmigiana
