Tofu

MissJenova

I bought a package of tofu for a vegan plan I am trying to follow and I HATE IT. Anyone have any recipes or suggestions on how to cook it?

I put it in a pan with some mushrooms, garlic, basil, and lime juice. It wouldn't be so bad, but there's just something about tofu that I do not like.

Help? I don't want to waste the rest of this block of poop ^_^

redraidergirl2009

Tofu is something you have to learn to cook or you're not going to like it. I like it best made crispy style fried up with alittle oil and green beans and teriyaki sauce, I also like it breaded with panko crumbs or baked on pizza with bbq sauce

fultimers

Tofu is definitely an acquired taste but it's full of protein and relatively low in calories. I like to sprinkle tamari sauce or soy sauce on the slices and then saute them in a little oil until slightly crispy. You can also blend it and make desserts. Google tofu for recipes.

ladylaume

A chocolate pie made with tofu is great ive never used it out side of smoothies or pies, but i have some to try just to afraid....

therunninghippie

Oil is your friend. I just fry it and then add it to my stir-fries. Marinating the tofu in your stir-fry sauce will also help!

SailorKnightWing

What kind of food do you like? That's a pretty good place to start.

marniesworld

I don't have any recipes, unfortunately, but I just wanted to pop on and show some solidarity because I, too, HATE Tofu.

I've been a vegetarian for 9 years and and have given it a fair shot numerous times, and I can't get past the feeling that it's like eating pieces of flip flop. Not cool.

That being said, silken tofu, often found in desserts (like the kickass vegan Coconut Cream Pie a restaurant near me makes) is good, but regular old Tofu sucks. I'm with you.

I know that's not very helpful, but sometimes it's nice to just have someone agree! :-)

*edited to fix a grammatically awful sentence!

Dazzleyes

Try this Filipino recipe for Tofu ,you will smack your lips ! http://michellestinykitchen.blogspot.ca/2013/01/luntiang-lunes-tofu-adobo.html

Gdeeaz

First you should press the tofu to get out as much liquid as possible. Put it on a plate with paper towels below it and on top. Set a pan on top of it or something heavy and let it sit for 15-30 mins. I like to pan fry it with a little oil and let it get really crispy. Here are some recipes I like. Obviously I substitute tofu for the chicken in the kung pao recipe.

http://www.food.com/recipe/soy-glazed-tofu-and-asparagus-64829
http://www.food.com/recipe/pan-fried-tofu-with-spicy-peanut-sauce-69191
http://chinese.food.com/recipe/general-tsos-tofu-96563
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/kung-pao-chicken/

JuantonBliss

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tofu My favorite is frying it and eating it with peanut sauce Look on this website called The Flaming Vegan, they have tons of recipes. I don't use it alot so I don't really have any recipes, just kind of through things together when I cook haha

hauntao

Any kind of battered or glazed is usually easier to do. I love the stuff and eat it right out of the package, but I can understand it being challenging.

Also try different types, I find people like the softer texture better.

bigdaddyrobb

Press it for a bit to remove some of the liquid, cube it, then marinate it for a bit in anything, hot sauce, bbq sauce, whatever, then saute it with veggies. Definitely an acquired taste but it can be very good.

perrinjoshua

I like tofu and one thing I have been planning (for years) on making is vegan scrambled eggs using firm tofu. It's not hard to do, basically you are supposed to crumble it in a bowl with salt, garlic, lots of nutritional yeast, some turmeric and a bit of Braggs and then stir fry it with lots of veggies. I have had this at restaurants and loved it, I just have to make myself some soon. I have the stuff in the fridge, just seem unable to produce. Oh well. I do agree though that some people find tofu a challenge in which case smoothies and desserts would be a great starting place.

jonsey_s

1. Take tofu out of packaging

2. open bin

3. throw said tofu in bin

4. Close bin

5. slap yourself for buying it in first place.


Hope this helps

SkepticallyFit

Avoid tofu if you can or any soy-based product if you can. The environmental impact of soybean production is fairly negative. You can get your protein from lentils, nuts, seeds, and grains. If you're ovo-lacto vegetarian, then you should be able to get plenty of protein from dairy and eggs.

MissJenova

Thank you all! All the responses (even the funny ones) have been really helpful.

herblackwings39

I always get extra firm tofu, freeze it, thaw it, press the water out, and then soak it in a marinade of some type. Sometimes I toss the marinated tofu with nutritional yeast, bread crumbs, and poultry seasoning and pan fry it. Tofu really isn't all that good plain, but you can marinate it or crispy cook it and glaze it with sauces.

Morn66

The thing to remember is that tofu is meant to absorb the flavors of what you surround it with, be it a marinade or a spice blend or whatever. If you don't surround it with rich flavors, it's just not going to taste like anything because it is really a texture, not a flavor.

That said, I like Good Old Tofu Scramble, which is basically making tofu scrambled "eggs." Google "tofu scramble" and you'll probably get a billion recipes, as tofu scramble is a vegan staple. If I'm in a tofu mood, I'll eat tofu scramble for any meal, often as burrito filling. Or, here's one of my favorite weekend breakfast/lunch recipes: http://www.theppk.com/2011/09/blackened-scrambled-tofu-garlicky-grits/ I'm not Southern, but I likes me some grits. Now that I think about it, I haven't had that in a long while. Need to go buy some grits...

Mslmesq

I like tofu. Usually get it at a restaurant cooked for me and it tastes good. That said, I buy it almost never for the house. Only when I'm making miso soup.

Fwiw, I'm not vegan,but eat vegan food or at vegan restaurants a lot. I do not have tofu more than once a month. Just because you are going vegan doesn't mean you have to eat tofu. Were you looking for protein? Or why did you decide to experiment with tofu?

jayjay12345654321

Google recipes for tofu.

I love the stuff. I had my allotted 1/5 portion tonight straight out of the fridge. The extra firm doesn't take too well to marinade since it's so dense, but I hear some people like to coat cubes in a sweet honey mustard glaze and toss with crisp peppers into a pan.

ssavage76

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/tofu-and-black-bean-tacos

I'm a vegetarian who is hesitant about tofu, but I found this recipe to be fabulous.

spoiledpuppies

Love it once I learned how to cook it. I was pressing it between cutting boards with a cast iron pot on top, but just last week I got tofu press from amazon. I've only used it once so far, but it's great!

http://www.amazon.com/Tofu-Presser-P1-Press/dp/B00507GC96/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1377140903&sr=8-4&keywords=tofu+press

hesgro2

A chocolate pie made with tofu is great ive never used it out side of smoothies or pies, but i have some to try just to afraid....

There is a great chocolate pie recipe using tofu on chocolatecoveredkatie.com. I love that site!

Erica262

THIS

---

> http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/the-perfect-baked-tofu

Ingredients (for two portions):

2/3 block extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons EVOO
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Press excess liquid from tofu. (Wrap several paper towels around tofu, and place tofu in between two plates. Let stand for 15 minutes.)
Cut tofu in 1 inch by 1 inch pieces.
In a small, microwave-safe bowl, mix EVOO, honey, chili powder, black pepper, and paprika.
Microwave marinade for 35 seconds and stir thoroughly.
Spray cooking sheet.
Coat each piece of tofu in marinade and place on cooking sheet.
Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of tofu.
Cook at 375 for 30 minutes, turning once.
Viola! Enjoy!




IT seriously is the best recipe I've found. I made it last night without the honey and threw it in with vegetables to make teriyaki. (I made chicken and veggie teriyaki for my husband.)


If you still hate it, try tempeh instead. It's got a better texture and more easily absorbs whatever flavors you cook with it.

frenchfacey

THIS

---

> http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/the-perfect-baked-tofu

Ingredients (for two portions):

2/3 block extra firm tofu
2 tablespoons EVOO
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tablespoon black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
Press excess liquid from tofu. (Wrap several paper towels around tofu, and place tofu in between two plates. Let stand for 15 minutes.)
Cut tofu in 1 inch by 1 inch pieces.
In a small, microwave-safe bowl, mix EVOO, honey, chili powder, black pepper, and paprika.
Microwave marinade for 35 seconds and stir thoroughly.
Spray cooking sheet.
Coat each piece of tofu in marinade and place on cooking sheet.
Sprinkle sesame seeds on top of tofu.
Cook at 375 for 30 minutes, turning once.
Viola! Enjoy!




IT seriously is the best recipe I've found. I made it last night without the honey and threw it in with vegetables to make teriyaki. (I made chicken and veggie teriyaki for my husband.)


If you still hate it, try tempeh instead. It's got a better texture and more easily absorbs whatever flavors you cook with it.

YUM YUM YUM YUM YUM

i love making tofu like this but i put it under the broiler until it gets kinda chewy and its like a snack i can carry around with me


but i just like tofu in general. all ways. any way. any time.

momtoeandt

Freezing it first (extra firm) makes all the difference in texture (then thaw, squeeze out water, your choice of sauce...)

zombieyoshi

My sister in law cooks and crumbles it and uses it instead of ground beef in her spaghetti sauce. I like to sauté it a little bit and cook it into my fried rice.

redraidergirl2009

Avoid tofu if you can or any soy-based product if you can. The environmental impact of soybean production is fairly negative. You can get your protein from lentils, nuts, seeds, and grains. If you're ovo-lacto vegetarian, then you should be able to get plenty of protein from dairy and eggs.

the environmental impact of dairy and eggs far exceeds that of soy..js

SkepticallyFit

Avoid tofu if you can or any soy-based product if you can. The environmental impact of soybean production is fairly negative. You can get your protein from lentils, nuts, seeds, and grains. If you're ovo-lacto vegetarian, then you should be able to get plenty of protein from dairy and eggs.

the environmental impact of dairy and eggs far exceeds that of soy..js

Yeah, no. Not even close. Soy monocultures are destroying rain forests right now and killing quite a few animals (many of which are endangered), which seems to contradict a lot of the reasoning behind veganism and vegetarianism. Raising cows for dairy is also far less wasteful than raising them for meat. However, it should be stated that the vast majority of soybean production goes to animal feed. Still, contributing to it by consuming soy-based protein is unnecessary.

Morn66

Whoops, double post. Sorry.

Morn66

Yeah, no. Not even close. Soy monocultures are destroying rain forests right now and killing quite a few animals (many of which are endangered), which seems to contradict a lot of the reasoning behind veganism and vegetarianism. Raising cows for dairy is also far less wasteful than raising them for meat. However, it should be stated that the vast majority of soybean production goes to animal feed. Still, contributing to it by consuming soy-based protein is unnecessary.

Unless, of course, you think tofu is delicious, in which case it is very necessary.

And, like you said, the vast majority of soybean (and corn, I believe) production is for animal feed and, in corn's case, for vehicle fuel nowadays. The dairy cows and beef cattle and the chickens, etc., are eating a lot more soy (and corn) than the people are eating. So, if everyone were to suddenly cut out meat/dairy consumption, you'd theoretically see soybean consumption and the environmental damage its production is causing go down correspondingly, too. Granted, we don't have enough arable land for vegetarianism/veganism to be a viable way to feed everyone on the planet, even if everyone would want to make that decision, but if environmentalism is your bag, it's not a bad way to go.

In short, everything we do has an impact on the environment and causes "damage" or at least change. Like, every time you fart you're contributing to global warming. (And bovines fart way more than humans do, of course.) It's just a question of what sort and how much. Not eating soy for environmental reasons is kind of silly, really, given that what humanity as a whole eats is greatly offset by what the animals that we raise for meat/dairy/eggs eat. I suppose every little bit counts if you're into environmentalism, but there are lots of other things that you can do that will have far more of a positive impact on the environment than just foregoing tofu.