A question for tofu eaters?

borichfan
borichfan Posts: 208 Member
in Food and Nutrition
How do you prepare your tofu? Is tofu a good choice for a substitute for meat?
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Replies

  • laurabini
    laurabini Posts: 257 Member
    I usually eat tofu with soy sauce and some vegetables

    Yesterday I tried "pizza tofu" which is very similar to this one: http://i8.goodness-direct.co.uk/d/418408b.jpg
    and it was delicious! even it it may seem too processed!

    And yes, I use it as a meat substitute :)
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    After 20 years of being vegetarian, I still suck at preparing tofu. So I only eat it already prepared, like at restaurants or in convenience meals.
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
    I like any chinese or japanese style recipes for tofu. Its not a meat replacement though cause nothing really taste like meat. I just eat it for what it is.
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
    Teriyaki sauce!!
  • rlmiller73190
    rlmiller73190 Posts: 342 Member
    I LOVE tofu in any chinese/japanese dish. i've also made baked Caribbean tofu, tofu parmiagiana, etc. I have a bunch of recipes for tofu. I really like tofu :)
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I cook it up with other veggies in a stir fry, shred it into pasta sauce ...

    You can do pretty much anything with it. It is a good source of protein and iron, among other things. And, yes, it's a good sub for meat. Basically, it tastes like whatever you cook it in. It doesn't really have much taste of its own.
  • Vegetablearian
    Vegetablearian Posts: 148 Member
    I just press it to firm it up and throw it in sauce , and eat it :-) om nom
  • girl_afraid82
    girl_afraid82 Posts: 178 Member
    it's nice in a thai curry... really soaks up the sauce, yum!
  • airborne46q
    airborne46q Posts: 5 Member
    Alton Brown has some practical advice and good recipes for preparing tofu.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7TVQewNy3c

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK3ss4tRAVQ
  • MarieAnneN
    MarieAnneN Posts: 205
    Smooth tofu are perfect for shakes and smoothies! Kids just love them!
  • kenlad64
    kenlad64 Posts: 377 Member
    I gotta read this later!
  • jennyspo
    jennyspo Posts: 1
    you slice the tofu like meat to any size than toy use a lil butter or olive oil and fry it in the pan spice it like you would spise and meat and cook untill its crispy than serve ontop of salad or eat as a side dish dip in ketcup, enjoy it will taste like popcorn chicken
  • patty1138
    patty1138 Posts: 196 Member
    bump
  • cmayfield3
    cmayfield3 Posts: 176 Member
    I love tofu. It doesn't have the taste or texture of meat, at all. But nutritionally, it can be a good substitute.

    I like to cube it and put it in salads, crumble it and sautee it with onion and spices to make a sort of scrambled eggs, or bake it in the oven in a marinade until it firms up a bit and just eat it like that.
  • rrrbecca11
    rrrbecca11 Posts: 477
    Beer-battered with panko then pan fried in just a little coconut oil.
  • niklynne
    niklynne Posts: 12
    Here is a pro tip for the new tofu people... Silken Tofu is WAY different that Tofu! They are not interchangeable!
  • SonicaBE
    SonicaBE Posts: 151 Member
    i use it alot in indian cooking...palak paneer ( spinach and ricotta cheese) sub the cheese for tofu..its good. You can google the recipe..super low fat and healthy.
  • vegan1975
    vegan1975 Posts: 6 Member
    In stir-frys or wraps I prefer my tofu crisp on the outside and soft on the inside so (if time permits) I freeze it and thaw it first to create more air pockets, then I press it to remove as much of the moisture as possible, then I slice it up and dry-bake the slices at low temperature for about 20 minutes each side (or in a pan without oil), and then I toss it in a marinade or sauce and add it to whatever I'm making. It sounds like a long process (and I guess it is) but I make a whole batch with one or two blocks at a time and I use it for many meals.
  • mixedfeelings
    mixedfeelings Posts: 904 Member
    I'm terrible with tofu, I screw it up, I rely on a once a week delivery from my local Chinese restaurant, they are amazing at it.

    The only tips I can give is that tofu really needs to be marinated, it absorbs flavour easily. Then, although it's bad, I think the nicest way to cook it is to fry it.
  • AlynnP1005
    AlynnP1005 Posts: 195
    Holy snapdragons I love tofu! I have a couple amazing recipes!

    First is tofu "bites" with a crispy coating that you can make normal, or spicy.

    Another is a kind of a baked tofu with mustard sauce.

    And third is a faux chicken parmesan using tofu instead of chicken.

    And tofu is an amazing sub for eggs in scrambled eggs. Let me know if you want the recipes!
  • christina_theresa
    christina_theresa Posts: 290 Member
    Tofu and Manwhich= :smile:
  • Ebwash89
    Ebwash89 Posts: 180 Member
    I eat tofu noodles. I've never tried it as a meat subsitute but I'd say avoid anything with water or liquidy recepies because tofu absorbs it and makes it very squishy and unpleasant. Also tofu is very bland so try to flavor it as much as possible. I know there are chicken flavored seasonings you can use that will boost the taste. Hope I helped :smile:
  • gooiyw
    gooiyw Posts: 114 Member
    Harder tofus are great just pan fried with salt and pepper until they turn golden brown, dipped with hot Thai chili sauce. Soft tofus are amazing straight out of the fridge (don't even cook it), drizzled with a little oyster sauce, soy sauce and topped with scallions and fried baby shrimp (last part's optional and replaceable with sauteed minced pork).
  • Vegan_Chick
    Vegan_Chick Posts: 474 Member
    You have to freeze it first! Seriously....it gives it a better texture, more dense. Just overnight
  • Vegan_Chick
    Vegan_Chick Posts: 474 Member
    I like any chinese or japanese style recipes for tofu. Its not a meat replacement though cause nothing really taste like meat. I just eat it for what it is.
    I love your profile pic! I am stealing it to show it to my daughter who is obsessed with kitties and pokemon!
  • TKHappy
    TKHappy Posts: 659 Member
    After 20 years of being vegetarian, I still suck at preparing tofu. So I only eat it already prepared, like at restaurants or in convenience meals.

    Meee too! Its only been 13 years for me but I've only mastered one way and thats to cut it into slices, sprinkle Ms. Dash on both sides, put it on a lightly oiled pan in the oven on 375 until its brown...30 min or so!!
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I especially like mine broiled, the link below is to a blog that includes a few good broiled tofu recipes. I also like tofu scramble with veggies, fried tofu (not so healthy, but good), grilled/BBQed tofu, and sometimes tofu used like ricotta in pasta dishes.

    http://peasandthankyou.com/2011/05/19/you-dont-bring-me-coleslaw-anymore/

    I'm not sure what you mean when you ask if tofu is a good replacement for meat. It is high in protein, so I guess in that sense, the answer is yes. It doesn't really have the taste or texture of meat, so in that sense, no. I think it may be more helpful to think of tofu as a food of its own, not as a "meat replacement." Many high protein, veg*n foods are very good, if you embrace them for what they are, if, however, you attempt to make them "meat like" the results are often disappointing IMHO. Then again, I don't like anything that too closely resembles meat anyway, it grosses me out.
  • cramernh
    cramernh Posts: 3,335 Member
    Tofu comes in different densities... silken to extra firm. I love me a good chicken/tofu tikka masala... I also do alot of asian inspired dishes using tofu as well.

    The chinese make an aromatic tea bath for hard boiled eggs. Ill do the same for tofu but wont marinate it as long as hard boiled eggs. I flash cook it with vegetables and serve it in a simple vegetable stock.. talk about flavor-POWERHOUSE!

    I also love a Mega-Garlicky tofu with sauteed mushrooms and spinach...

    The Koreans make a banchan plate that contains a lightly pan-fried tofu with a spicy-sweet sauce.. OHHHHHHHHHHHHH I had this today and thought I needed a cold shower - TOTAL FOOD PORN BABY!
  • EbonySD
    EbonySD Posts: 142
    I 'press' with a paper towl on the bottom and top for a minimum of 30 minutes. Set something heavy on top (I like to use use a cast iron pot). Refresh your paper towls about 15 mins in. I then cut into long strips and pan fry using pam cooking spray. From there, the sky is the limit! Cut it up and add it into any receipe - it will absorb the flavor of any sauce. My fav is curry w/sweet potatoes, onions and carrots.
  • jching29
    jching29 Posts: 163
    I love blending my tofu and adding in chocolate sauce, cocoa powder and some sweetener to make a chocolate pudding :) it's delicious!

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