Tofu?

I've tried tofu once a long time ago and hated it.  I also tried those **** noodles and hated them as well, I probably didn't prepare them right. I would really like to like tofu.  What are the benifits of eating it?  I assume it's lower in calories.  Also, can anyone give me any really good flavorful recipes and tips on how to prepare it?

Tofu packs alot of protein into a relatively small amount of calories, and is also very cheap especially at Asian grocery stores. However, its consistency can be offputting depending on what type you buy, so it's important to look at what the texture is. If you are going to be preparing it as a main course, you probably want to use firm or extra firm. Tofu is also good to use in smoothies as a protein boost, but make sure you use silken tofu for that.

As for preparing tofu, the best way to find out what you like is to experiment! Remove from the packaging and pat with a paper towel to soak up extra water. I usually marinate it in low sodium soy sauce, crushed red pepper, and a teeny bit of sesame oil, and then stir fry it with some vegetables and the rest of the marinade. If you don't like the texture, I reccommend chopping it up (so that it kinda looks like scrambled eggs) before putting it in the pan. You can also buy pre-marinated tofu (pete's tofu2go, or Nasoya), but it is generally more expensive.

I hope this helps! Tofu is so versatile, it's a shame so many people have a bad impression of it.

My favourite type of tofu for eating is extra firm (not silken). I only use soft & silken to replace liquid ingredients (or pudding).

I like tofu baked, especially in bbq sauce or with vegetable broth, lemon & herbs. First I press it (as the poster above mentioned), slice it 1/2" thick, spray a casserole with cooking spray & then cover the tofu with the sauce. Bake 350 1 hour until it absorbs the sauce & gets nice & baked & brown. It's really good.

I also love slices pan fried (with cooking spray). You can season it up savory or sweet (like french toast).

Another calorie laden way to eat your tofu is to fry it like chicken. Dip it in soymilk or traditional egg/buttermilk, coat in your coating of choice & then fry it. Yum!

I also eat my extra firm tofu plain with salt. Crazy, I know.

Tofu is very versatile and it will take on the flavours of the food that you cook it with.  Marinades are a great way to inject flavour.  I use it in italian chinese and indian foods and it takes on the flavour of the sauces. 

If you slice a brick of firm or extra firm tofu into 1/2" slices and freeze them in a marinade, they will cook up firmer and lose some of the texture you object to.

Mix up soy sauce, rice vinegar, a touch of brown sugar and a dash of hot sauce.  Soak the slices in this mixture in the refrigerator overnight.  In the morning, wrap them individually and freeze them. 

To cook, take some out and thaw, then press between paper towels to remove as much moisture as possible, and cook as you would a piece of meat.  Pan searing is easiest, or cut it up and use it in stir fries.

Since it takes on any flavor, try different marinades.  Lime, ginger, garlic and cilantro is good.  So is Worcestershire sauce and beef broth for a more traditional beefy flavor.

are you veg,  cause even when i was veg i could never get use too tou,  i just never liked it that much ...so i started eating chicken again,  and i really prefer that.  also all the tofu  was eating was higher in cals than chicken.  i say life is too short if you dont like tofu stop pushing yourself into it.  that is why there is so much variety in the world.  our tastes are always going to be different. that be said bbq tofu a some veg restuarants is awesome, but you never know how many cals they are using in those sauces to make it so good.

bobo,

Thanks as I was wondering the same thing. Why not just eat chicken. I can't stand tofu. Except in a chocolate mousse I made once it was good. But other then that I would rather just eat chicken or home made beans then put all that high calorie sauces on it.

Hmmm well i cant realy tell you, ive just had tofu once in my life, and it was like hmmm, looked like fried chicken, i did like it a lot, but i have NO clue were i can buy tofu :L, ill try to buy some tomorro :P!

I like the extra firm tofu, crumbled up and fried in a pan (only a little olive oil or spray), then add whatever seasonings you like.  I use chicken flavoring a lot and it's like scrambled eggs.  I also like it cut into slices and fried with veggies and noodles/rice with asian spices for stir fry. 

The silken kind is wonderful in smoothies.  I like berry smoothie with frozen berries, silken tofu and however much soymilk (or juice or other milk) it takes to be thick but smoothed out.  Very yummy and doesn't taste as much like tofu as it is plain.  If you add a tad of lemon juice it almost tastes like you put yogurt in the smoothie.  It's great stuff :)

Have any of you guys ever tried Shirataki? It's made from soy and its shapped like pasta (either spaghetti or linguini). It takes a bit of preparation to get the smell out but then its really really good and a great substitute for the real thing. I purchase mine in Publix (I live in Florida) but I think any supermarket will have it or any whole foods store or something like that. Try it with your own pasta sauce, or get creative. Its very low in calories too!!

I don't have an oven (only a gas stove top) but I do have a toaster oven. Would it be alright to try and cook tofu in there?

I eat tofu a lot since I live in an Asian country but I tend to eat it in soups and just plain with warm kimchi. 

Original Post by gagapoppop:

Have any of you guys ever tried Shirataki? It's made from soy and its shapped like pasta (either spaghetti or linguini). It takes a bit of preparation to get the smell out but then its really really good and a great substitute for the real thing. I purchase mine in Publix (I live in Florida) but I think any supermarket will have it or any whole foods store or something like that. Try it with your own pasta sauce, or get creative. Its very low in calories too!!

 Yes, I've tried them and didn't love them.  I am going to try marinating them in soy sauce and them frying them up with stir fry veggies.  Hopefully it will work out well.  We shall see.  Anyone tried this yet?  If so how did you make it work?

well it seems like a really healthy lo-cal protein so I am trying to incorporate it (aka hide it) in my recipes.  so far it is pretty good hidden in an egg white omelet with lots of veges & in zero point soup chopped up really small, very hidden in smoothies & tomorrow am we are trying crustless spinach tofu quiche - hubby is turning up his nose but if I mix eggs with it he will have no idea!

preparation is key, a little extra time goes a long way with tofu. If texture is the issue buy the extra firm and blot it in paper towels for a while to extract extra water that can make it runny. You can also marinate it over night so it is full of flavor, firm but still "juicy" (kind of the same as when you brine chicken). I recommend doing some research the internet is FULL of delicious tofu recipes and I'm sure with a little more effort you will start to like tofu more and more.