I need a few good recipes for tofu...?

Question

I've always been rather fascinated by tofu, but haven't ever had the guts to try any. I bought some extra-firm today, and am just dying to use it tomorrow or the next day but I need some really yummy (and really easy) recipes for using it. I know you can't just eat it plain (or rather you can but it'll be nasty) and it takes on whatever flavor you mix it with... any suggestions would be GREAT !!
Thanks.

Answer 1

Ah, tofu... I have made many dishes with tofu. The most simple and flavorful for me is this, but you have to like garlic. Cube the firm tofu in pieces 3/4"x3/4 wide and about 1/3-1/2" thick. Take about a tablespoon of butter or so, two large cloves of garlic, pressed of course. Place the butter in a frying pan with the garlic on med for a couple of minutes to let the garlic meld with the butter. Put the tofu in the pan with salt to taste, probably 1/2 teaspoon, with pinch of cayenne pepper or reg pepper and grill the tofu. Make sure that you have a brown crunchy outside. You may have to turn up the heat, but watch the garlic, you don't want to burn it. You will have to turn each piece over to get the light brown crispy outside. Let it cool. This is great in salads, just by itself, or, great in stir-fry, but after you've cooked your veggies. You want the tofu to remain crunchy on the outside. Most people who don't like tofu like this. By the way, only butter works in crisping the tofu. Olive oil doesn't.

Answer 2

Marinated Fried Tofu and Vegetable Salad with Mesclun 1 tablespoon tamari soy sauce 1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil 1 pound extrafirm tofu, sliced 1/4 inche thick, patted very dry, then each slice cut into 4 triangles 1 tablespoon canola oil The dressing: 3 tablespoons lemon juice 2 garlic cloves, put through a press or minced 1 teaspoon tamari soy sauce 1/2 teaspoon salt Generous seasoning freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup olive oil 4 to 5 cups tiny broccoli florets 2 large scallions, very thinly sliced 1 red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch slice 4 cups mesclun (baby salad greens), washed and spun dry Combine the soy sauce and sesame oil in a mediumsize bowl. Add the tofu and, with a rubber spatula, gently toss it with the marinade. Let sit 30 minutes. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the tablespoon of oil over high heat until it is very hot but not smoking. Add the marinated tofu and spread it out so that it is in one layer. Fry it, shaking the pan often to prevent sticking, until it is a rich golden color all over. With a spatula, flip it over occasionally so it gets evenly browned. Place the tofu in a large bowl. Set the skillet aside. Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a jar with a tightfitting lid and shake vigorously. Pour half the dressing on the hot tofu and toss well. Chill the tofu until it is very cold, about 2 hours. Meanwhile place the broccoli in the skillet, add a little water, and cover the pan. Cook until it is crisp yet tender, about 4 minutes. Immerse it in a bowl of cold water to stop any further cooking. Drain the broccoli thoroughly, then place it on a cotton or linen kitchen towel and pat it very dry. In a large bowl mix the broccoli, scallions, red pepper with half of the remaining dressing and toss well. Let sit at least 30 minutes to marinate. Just before serving mix in the tofu. Toss the mesclun with the remaining dressing, then place a portion of the greens on each large serving plate. Spoon a moundful of the vegetables and tofu in the center. Serve immediately.

Answer 3

If you need to make a fast lunch or supper: it's not really a recipe per say, but throw any kind of chopped vegetables ie) tomatoes, mushrooms and carrots with the tofu is a good combo into a frying pan and put it on the stove. It tastes awesome, if you put on some mrs. dash it tastes pretty good.

Answer 4

My fav thing to do with Tofu is to marinate it for a couple of hours in soy sauce and then fry it in a hot pan. Add it to salads as croutons or add it to a stir fry with noodles. This is a good way to get started on it as fried tofu is a lot easier to eat than the other ways of cooking it.

Answer 5

I also love tofu! You are very luckY! Anyway, try this:


First fry your tofu in vegetable oil or corn oil,(try slicing it into cubes or strips 15mm to 20mm thick) until it turns into golden brown. Set it aside after cooking.This, can be eaten already after frying, try dipping it in soysauce with lemon.

Or try putting those in stir fried vegetables with oyster sauce.

Buy Mama Sita's oyster sauce the vegetarian type.Onion, garlic, beans, (not the string beans), carrots, celery.

How to do it?

Pound 4 pieces of garlic,chop and slice 1 onion, and prepare other vegetables(cut also to your desired sizes)
Put some oil in the pan until it heats up, put in the minced or pounded garlic until before being fried.Put the chopped onions.and count some 15 to 20 sec then put the other veggies and the fried tofus, stir it or mix it. put some 1/3 cup of oyster sauce and also 1/2 cup of water.Mix it before pouring to the veggies.After pouring, Mix it and stir again and then cover it til it boils for 3min or so (it depends upon your desired textures). Then its eating time! One of my best secret recipes!

Answer 6

Tofu is a versatile protein food to use. It will take on the flavourings that you use to cook with. Firstly with tofu always drain liquid off, then cube or slice, lightly sautee with your favourite spice, or soya sauce, then add to rice dish hot or cold.
Also you can marinate tofu, it will absorb soya sauce or other flavours easily, then toss in a greek salad instead of fetta, the options are as endless as your imagination

Answer 7

I fry it with Sesame oil, then toss it on some rice or japanese noodles soba rice or whatever with Coconut curry sauce with vegetables in it. Here is one of my favorite recipes for Curry sauce:
2.5 cups unsweetened Coconut milk
2Tbsp. Curry paste (you can make it from scratch by getting 6-8 yellow chilies 1 chopped lemon grass, 4 peeled shallots, 4 garlic cloves, 1tbs fresh ginger, and curry powder mix them all together in a food processor and when a past forms put it in a jar then put in the fridge)
1/2 tsp of salt
1tsp sugar
2 medium tomatoes chopped up
1/2 the juice of a lime

put half the coconut milk in a wok or pan and bring to a boil. Add curry paste stir till it dispenses let simmer for ten minutes.
Add everything but the lime and tomatoes simmer another 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and simmer till the peels are starting roll off the tomatoes.
you can pour it over your noodles and tofu and it will be oh so yummy. I love it. You can also add other veggies to your curry sauce to simmer with it like onions, potatoes, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and many other yummy things.

Answer 8

Chocolate Carob Tofu Pie

2 pkgs. of Tofu, one firm, one silken, drained and patted dry
1/2 to 3/4 cup honey
1 cube butter, softened
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup carob powder
2 T unsweetened cocoa powder
Blend until creamy and smooth. Put in graham cracker crust and refrigerate several hours. Top with whipped cream and serve.

Answer 9

personally I am not a vegetarian or vegan but tofu is yummy. I like to eat it with salsa. Like you know tomatoes, green peppers, the works. Something a little spicy to give it a zing! I cook the salsa in a pan and pour it over the tofu, and wild rice on the side.

Answer 10

Check out www.prevention.allrecipies.com/ Click on advanced search and enter "tofu". Many recipes are available. E-mail me [[e-mail]] with your e-mail address and I can send meatless sloppy joes, barbecued tofu with onions and peppers, stir-fry with tofu and vegetables, plus others. Place in header tofu recipes.