How do like your tofu?

[Alexa]

Hey,

I usually put tofu in smoothies, but I want to try it cooked as a main meal tonight.

How do you cook it?! I've cleverly thrown the instructions away. Also how do you add flavours? And stop it drying out?

I want to have it with roast veg and pesto (with veg on top). Does this sounds plausible?

The kid I have is the only one I can find in the UK - pressed tofu blocks, they are stored in water. Quite firm, but crumble if put pressure on them.

[Miss Phode]

Re: How do like your tofu?

Well......This is good, but I've never found "hot red bean paste" so I use a little Thai Red Curry Paste, you could use a little crushed red pepper instead if you want it spicy.

I press the tofu first to remove as much as the liquid as possible. I wrap it in a clean dishtowel, put it no a cutting board, and then put another cutting board on top and weight it with a heavy cast iron skillet. This helps the tofu to absorb the flavor of the soy sauce and other ingredients. If it's water logged, it doesn't have good flavor.


http://www.lowcarb.ca/karen/recipe030.html

By Karen Barnaby
This is good to have around as a salty and spicy nibble.

Korean-Style Tofu

Serves 4

• 2 blocks firm tofu, drained, 350 grams each`
• vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 Tbsp. Splenda
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
• 1 Tbsp. hot red bean paste, or to taste
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced

Preheat the broiler. Cut the tofu into ½-inch slices. Lightly brushed a rimmed baking sheet(s) with vegetable oil, place the tofu in a single layer on the sheet(s) and lightly brush the top with oil. Broil, as close to the heat as possible until the tofu is lightly browned. Turn over and brown on the other side.

Combine the soy sauce, sesame oil, Splenda, garlic, sesame seeds and hot bean paste. Heat the soy mixture to a boil in a large pan over medium heat. Gently add the tofu in a single layer. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, spooning the mixture over the top of the tofu. Sprinkle with the green onions and serve.

Total Carbohydrates: 25.6

Total Carbohydrates Minus Fiber: 16.3

Carbohydrates per Serving: 6.4

Carbohydrates per Serving minus Fiber: 4.1

[Alexa]

Re: How do like your tofu?

Thanks Miss Phode,

I'll get those ingredients when I next shop. Looks lovely. I might modify it a bit to bring the carb count down (on 25-30g at the mo per day), but I like the idea. Also, the info about pressing is good.

[Miss Phode]

Re: How do like your tofu?

Keep in mind the carb count is for the entire recipe. Not per serving.

Another good thing to do with tofu is freeze it in it's packaging in the water, and then let it thaw, and press the water out the same way as I posted above. It changes the texture completely. If peanut butter isn't a problem for you, you can whisk together a little peanut butter & soy sauce, marinate the tofu in that and stir fry it. That's my other favorite way to eat it, but not everyone can have peanut butter.

[Alexa]

Re: How do like your tofu?

Oh, yum! That sounds great! I think peanuts may be an issue, but as yet inconclusive...

D'uh, ok, I get the serving thing now That sounds much more doable, thanks.

[cherribom1]

Re: How do like your tofu?

I cook it in my wok with pam spray or butter, cut into little blocks & cook it with zucchini chopped up. Then I add Grated Parm Cheese or Hummus or Avocado or all of them mixed together. Sometimes I will boil string beans in water (instead of the zucchini) & have the tofu with that. I also add it to my scrambled eggs with breakfast, chopped up tiny with the eggs or in little blocks.

As for seasoning, tofu is great because it takes on the flavor of anything you put on it.

In the US well NYC, we have a choice between silken, soft, firm, extra firm tofu. I buy extra firm. I usally use half the block and store the rest in the water it comes in, in a plastic container in the refrigerator. I either use it the same day or the next day. Wouldn't trust it sitting too long once the original package is open. Freezing is a good idea to keep for a longer duration.

[Alexa]

Re: How do like your tofu?

Thanks Erica,

We just have 'tofu' LOL, I think it is firm.

Good to hear so many ideas I particularly like the houmous one.

[*Emma*]

Re: How do like your tofu?

I dont think ive even ever seen tofu over here, let alone tried it!

[Alexa]

Re: How do like your tofu?

I'd say it's a bit of an acquired taste, tbh, but I feel a bit sick of meat, meat, meat...so is nice alternative.

You can get it in Holland and Barrett and waitrose. I think even Somerfield have it, so I imagine Tescos and the other biggies would have it too.

[kate58]

Re: How do like your tofu?

To tell you the truth the way I like my tofu best is on the shelf in the shop - I think it's disgusting stuff. I used to torment myself making myself eat it when I was on low-cal low-fat kicks - maybe it has bad memories! I don;t think I ever made anything with it that was not a penance to eat.

The kid I have is the only one I can find in the UK

Oh I dunno, I think if you have a little look around you'll find there is quite a wide range of kids in the UK.

[Alexa]

Re: How do like your tofu?

I don;t think I ever made anything with it that was not a penance to eat.


Oh I dunno, I think if you have a little look around you'll find there is quite a wide range of kids in the UK.

LOL!

The penance thing - it is a fear of mine. I can tolerate it in smoothies however, so I feel ready for the next step. Hopefully won't taste like wallpaper paste.

[sillygirl]

Re: How do like your tofu?

I use a weight to squeeze the water out for a few hours, then I cut it, sautee it in butter and add splenda and cinnamon at the end. What a crunchy treat it is!

[Alexa]

Re: How do like your tofu?

I use a weight to squeeze the water out for a few hours, then I cut it, sautee it in butter and add splenda and cinnamon at the end. What a crunchy treat it is!

mmm, that sounds lovely. Thanks

[Oh.2.B.Fit]

Re: How do like your tofu?

This is my FAVORITE way to have tofu. I posted it in another thread...here is my post lol

Fried Tofu Recipe
Oil
1 Pack Extra Firm Tofu (5 carbs)
2 tblsp. Soy Sauce (0 carbs)
1 1/2 tblsp. Nutritional Yeast (3 carbs)
1 oz grated white cheddar cheese (1 carb)

First cube the tofu. Then heat up a little oil in a frying pan. You don't need a lot. Just enough to coat the tofu. Cook tofu till brown (I never stop stiring it). Once it gets brown pour 1 tablespoon of Soy Sauce over it and continue to stir till it is all coated. Remove tofu from pan and wash out pan (or you could get a new one). Heat up a little oil again. Once oil is hot add Tofu back to pan. Keep stiring till golden brown. Add one more tablespoon of Soy Sauce (if desired). Keep stiring till it gets stiff, then add Nutritional Yeast. Once it's all coated, remove from heat. Serve with a little white cheddar cheese on top.
DEEELISH!!!

I made it tonight. I didn't have any white cheddar this time so I used sharp cheddar. It was good, but the white cheddar is much better on it. The Nutritional Yeast has a really nice cheesy flovor too, so you may not even want extra cheese. Also be careful with Soy Sauce. Mine has no carbs, but Soy Sauce has LOTS of sodium. I need to look into one of the Low Sodium Soy Sauces. The whole thing is 9 carbs, but I only eat half, so I count it as 5 carbs. I had Asparagus with it (I really needed to get in some veggies today), and that was another 4 carbs. It's also good with thinly sliced veggies cooked with it. I hope you can understand my directions I took a pic of it tonight...lol
ENJOY!!!

[danaweb]

Re: How do like your tofu?

Really it is not that bad!!! This is how I make my TOFU!!!

Slice it the TOFU into two finger sized strips.
Marinate it in a couple tablespoons of soy sauce so that it is nice and brown colored all over. Then I sautee it in olive oil, and put it on top of one of those Asparagus stir fry bags of frozen veggies that I had already boiled. I throw some soy sauce on top of that too if it's too bland. Not too much soy sauce though...just enough to flavor!!!